Youth Climate Leadership Act of 2026

Purpose and scope

• Bill: Youth Climate Leadership Act of 2026 (H.R. 8363)
• Objective: Establish Youth Advisory Councils within five federal agencies to provide recommendations on environmental issues as they relate to youth communities.
• Agencies involved: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Commerce.
• Focus: Advise on environmental justice, climate change mitigation and resilience, pollution reduction, and related impacts on youth and disadvantaged communities.

Key provisions and changes

• Definitions

  • Covered agency heads: EPA Administrator; Secretaries of Interior, Energy, Agriculture, and Commerce.
  • Designated Federal Officer: Officer appointed for each Youth Advisory Council.
  • Disadvantaged Community: Defined using the Justice40 Initiative (or successor) and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (or successor).
  • Environmental justice: Emphasizes fair treatment and meaningful involvement across health, environment, and climate impacts, addressing systemic barriers.
  • Youth Advisory Council: A council established under Section 3(a) to advise a covered agency head.

• Establishment and purpose of Youth Advisory Councils (Section 3)

  • Each covered agency head must establish a Youth Advisory Council within their agency.
  • Purpose: Provide recommendations on governmental approaches to youth-related environmental issues, including:
  • Programs to help disadvantaged communities address environmental issues.
  • Performance measures to assess climate change and environmental harms affecting youth.
  • Research and reports on environmental justice, climate mitigation and resiliency, and pollution reduction.

• Membership and composition (Section 3(b))

  • Size: 15 to 25 members.
  • Appointment: Members are non-Federal individuals with knowledge/expertise in environmental issues, appointed by the respective agency head.
  • Age requirements: Members must be 16 to 29 years old at appointment or reappointment.
  • Geographic diversity: Efforts must be made to ensure geographic diversity across the U.S.
  • Background considerations: Selection should include candidates from business/industry, academia, state/local/Tribal governments, public interest groups, environmental organizations, and service groups.
  • Representation of disadvantaged communities: At least 50% of members must come from, reside in, or work in disadvantaged communities.
  • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility: Selection should follow DEIA considerations per Executive Order 14035.
  • Terms and appointments: 2-year terms; potential for reappointment.
  • Vacancies: Filled in the same manner as initial appointments.
  • Designated Federal Officer: Each council must have a full-time agency employee as designated Federal officer.
  • Leadership: Each council will have 2 co-chairs and 2 vice-chairs chosen from council members.

• Meetings and operations (Section 3(c))

  • Meeting frequency: At least annual; can be called by the designated Federal officer.
  • Open meetings: Generally open to the public unless closed per 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).
  • Agenda and presence: Agendas must be approved in advance; meetings cannot proceed without the designated Federal officer (or designee).
  • Public participation: Public may attend, present testimony, and submit written comments.
  • Subcommittees: Councils may form subcommittees as needed.
  • Adjourning: Officers may adjourn meetings if it serves the public interest.

• Education and reporting (Sections 3(e)-(f))

  • Education: Agencies must provide an educational curriculum to council members, including briefings on agency structure and work.
  • Annual reports: Councils must submit a report to the agency head detailing recommendations made.

• Administrative support and legal applicability (Sections 3(g)-(h))

  • Agencies must provide administrative support to the councils.
  • The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) does not apply to these Youth Advisory Councils.

• Applicability to existing councils (Section 3(i))

  • EPA may designate the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council as the EPA’s Youth Advisory Council under this Act.

• Funding (Section 4)

  • Authorization of appropriations: $250,000 per agency per fiscal year from 2027 through 2037 to carry out the Act.

Who would be affected

• Primary: The five covered agencies (EPA, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, Commerce) and their youth-focused advisory bodies.
• Participants: Youth aged 16-29, with emphasis on representation from disadvantaged communities and diverse geographic and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Stakeholders: Communities affected by environmental justice concerns, environmental groups, academic institutions, local and Tribal governments, businesses, and service organizations involved in environmental issues.

Procedural and timeline details

• Introduction and referral: Introduced April 20, 2026; referred to multiple committees (Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Agriculture).
• Funding window: Authorized appropriations span 2027–2037 (10 years) at $250,000 per agency per year.
• Implementation timing: If enacted, agencies would establish Youth Advisory Councils and begin operations, with annual reporting starting after establishment.
• Public participation and transparency: Meetings open to public (with usual exemptions); regular public comment and reporting requirements intended to ensure accountability.

Summary

The Youth Climate Leadership Act of 2026 seeks to formalize youth input into major federal environmental policy through structured advisory councils within five key agencies. It emphasizes environmental justice, inclusivity, and accountability, mandating diverse, age-appropriate representation from disadvantaged communities, regular public engagement, and annual reporting of recommendations. Funding is modest but structured over a decade to support council operations, education, and administrative needs.