​

Youth Climate, AI & Environmental Research Initiative

​

Launched by the Canadian Center for Climate Change Law and Policy Center, this initiative provides a structured research platform for students from Grade 9 through undergraduate and select graduate levels, working at the intersection of climate change, artificial intelligence, clean technology, critical materials, environmental health, and just transition.

Participants formulate research questions, engage with interdisciplinary evidence, and develop outputs including policy briefs, research reports, white papers, scientific posters, and conference materials. Selected work connects to international climate dialogues and COP-related forums.

Building on foundational activities and pilot studies since 2022, CCCLP is expanding this framework for structured youth research participation in 2026 and beyond.

​

2026  Research Themes​

Theme 1: AI, Climate Adaptation and Digital Infrastructure

How AI and data infrastructure reshape climate adaptation, energy demand, and social resilience, and at what environmental cost.
Sample questions: AI for climate-risk assessment and disaster preparedness; energy and land-use implications of data center growth; clean-energy integration and grid reliability.

​

Theme 2: Critical Materials, Battery Recycling and Clean-Energy Supply Chains

The material foundations of clean energy, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earths, and how recycling and circular economy strategies can reduce scarcity and supply-chain risk.
Sample questions: Recovery potential of battery recycling; comparative recycling technologies; how EV and AI infrastructure reshape future material demand.

​

Theme 3: Electronic Waste, Urban Mining and Environmental Health

E-waste as both environmental hazard and material resource, from AI hardware to consumer electronics.
Sample questions: Urban mining potential; health risks of informal recycling; AI hardware's contribution to future e-waste streams.

​

​​

Participation Opportunities

1. Research Assistant Track

An 8–12 week structured research experience for students who wish to contribute to ongoing research projects.

Participants may support literature reviews, data collection, public dataset analysis, visualization, case studies, annotated bibliographies, and short research memos under mentor guidance.

​

2. Student Research Fellowship Track

An intensive pathway for students seeking deeper academic engagement and stronger research outputs.

Fellows will develop a focused research question, conduct literature and data analysis, and produce a final deliverable such as a research paper, policy brief, scientific poster, oral presentation, or white paper contribution.

Outstanding participants may be considered for co-authorship opportunities on selected reports or white papers, subject to contribution quality and project needs.

​

3. Advanced Undergraduate Research Track

This track is designed for undergraduate students and advanced high school students with prior coursework or research experience in science, engineering, public policy, environmental studies, public health, economics, or related fields.Participants will work on more specialized topics such as battery recycling, critical-material recovery, electronic-waste management, AI infrastructure sustainability, material-flow analysis, environmental-health risk assessment, or climate-finance governance.

This track is especially suitable for students preparing for graduate study or future research opportunities in materials science, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, energy systems, sustainability, public health, climate policy, or technology governance.

Who Should Apply

We welcome students interested in: Climate change and just transition; Artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure; Clean energy and energy storage; Critical materials and battery recycling; Electronic waste and circular economy; Environmental health and public health; Climate finance and carbon markets; ustainability, technology policy, and global governance.

​

This program is particularly suitable for students who want to transform a broad interest in climate, technology, or sustainability into a focused research project with academic and real-world relevance. 

​

How to Apply

Each research theme and participation track may have a different start date, research agenda, mentor arrangement, and participation format. Prospective participants are encouraged to contact CCCLP for the latest program agenda, available research topics, eligibility expectations, timeline, and application procedures.

For inquiries, please contact: grace@ccclp.ca