Somerville Awarded Grant To Launch Youth Climate Action Program

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city will soon join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund, Mayor Jake Wilson announced this week. The fund will support residents between the ages of 15 and 24 in designing and delivering climate solutions aligned with Somerville’s Climate Forward community climate action plan. Somerville is among 300 communities selected to receive funding through the global initiative.

The city was awarded $50,000 through the program and plans to use the funding to launch a youth climate action microgrant program. Officials said the effort will leverage existing change-making spaces, including Somerville Public Schools’ Community Design Lab, to create a youth-led climate and civic action hub. The hub will serve as a catalyst for youth-led projects focused on strengthening the city’s climate resiliency.

“Participation from our younger residents is critical for climate work because they’re already living with the consequences of today’s decisions and will inherit the responsibility for shaping what comes next,” Wilson said. “It’s vital that Somerville has this opportunity to bring our youth’s ideas to the forefront, and I look forward to seeing the creativity this initiative inspires.”

Examples of projects supported through the Youth Climate Action Fund in other communities have included composting initiatives, tree planting efforts, solar-powered phone charging stations, and other hyper-local climate solutions. Somerville officials anticipate rolling out the microgrant program in fall 2026, with the city’s Office of Sustainability and Environment leading the effort in partnership with Somerville Public Schools. The city also plans to work with higher education institutions, nonprofits, and industry partners to support participating youth.

“If we want to reach Somerville’s ambitious climate goals, it’s imperative that we help create the next generation of climate leaders,” Director of Sustainability and Environment Steven Nutter said. “This grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies will help us expand opportunities for the City’s youth to learn, collaborate, and get inspired.”

The Youth Climate Action Fund supports young people in developing and implementing projects that address climate challenges in their communities. The organization invests in cities and countries around the world and focuses its work on the arts, education, environment, government innovation, and public health.

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