Omaha has joined a growing list of cities that aim to place climate solutions in the hands of teens and young adults.
With City Council approval Tuesday, Omaha joined Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund, which will provide $50,000 to mobilize young people in designing and delivering solutions to climate-driven issues.
The program calls for proposals from Omaha residents ages 15 to 24. Applications can be submitted online and are due by Sept. 8. The minimum project award is $1,000, and the maximum is $5,000. Ideas can touch on a wide range of climate-related topics, including public green space, strengthening infrastructure and mitigating disasters.
Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. said the grant supports a key priority of bolstering Omaha’s climate risk and resilience.
“The city is already working on implementing the Climate Action Plan. Young people are a vital part of that plan,” Ewing said. “We need them engaged now in this effort to build Omaha’s resilience to climate change.”
Council member Pete Festersen said he foresees a lot of interest in the program.
“Things like neighborhood park cleanups, things like preventing food waste, food rescue type things, certainly outreach to our schools, neighborhood gardens, food nutrition, things of that nature,” Festersen said. “I think all are good examples of what young people might want to do, but it’s up to them, which is the whole point.”
In addition to the Youth Climate Action Fund grant, the City Council approved more than $180,000 in grants for “Beat the Heat: Trees for Neighbors.” The initiative will bring new shade trees to densely populated Omaha neighborhoods.