Tomorrow’s Leaders are Speaking Out
Youth have a voice and when it comes to the environment and climate action, their opinions matter. eCards is helping to capture student voices and channel them for the greater good. GreenLearning facilitated an eCards session with students from around the world at the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COnference of the Parties (COP) held in November 2025. One student from Costa Rica shared a powerful message.
“Children all around the world are fighting to be included in climate decision-making. We are the ones who are going to live with the consequences of today’s actions. We call on governments to establish policies as a universal right so that every child is capable of understanding the climate crisis and have the tools to act on it.” — Montse, Costa Rica.
Another student from Brazil wrote:,
“Climate education shouldn’t be voluntary, it should be mandatory. We mandate core subjects because they are important for our future success, but why isn’t climate education? Environmental awareness is fundamental for us, because with its lack, we will be preparing for a future that won’t exist.” — Melissa, Brazil.
This demonstrates that young people are observing world events with keen interest and enthusiasm. They are considering the ways in which these happenings will affect their future. They are eager to create positive change through climate action. And their voices need to be both heard and considered. eCards can help!
What is eCards?
eCards is a tool for students in grades 4-12 that combines environmental learning and creative messaging with art to teach youth about creating positive change for the climate. With educator support, younger grades can also successfully use this tool to create themed eCards for any holiday as a way of taking climate action. This tool empowers youth to act for the climate by learning about environmental issues, creating informed messages and art, and acting on them.
We provide many backgrounders in French and English for students to research topics of interest. Then, the students create an eCard with a key message and art on that topic, after which they submit their completed work using our submission form for review. Once approved, it may get sent to a decision maker of the student’s choice orGreenLearning will then post the creative work on our website’s eCards gallery. eCards may be completed in English or French.
By taking climate action and sending an eCard to a decision maker or sharing it publicly, learners express what matters most to them. Through art and writing, eCards empowers youth voices to advocate for people to take meaningful, collective action.
You Can Create Different Types of eCards
You can take climate action by creating an eCard for themed-holiday events throughout the year such as World Oceans Day, Earth Month, Valentine’s Day and more. Although the days and themes might differ, you can maintain a consistent message that spreads awareness about the environment and climate change. For example, you can focus on the effect of microplastics in our oceans on wildlife and then create an eCard with a message about protecting ocean health. To create the message, you can use a combination of art, writing and graphics. In the process, you get to learn how visuals are imbued with meaning that the viewer can then interpret. Below are examples of some creative and innovative eCards from our gallery that students have created over the years. Think about the meanings for each one. Consider the types of feelings and emotions they elicit. If you were a decision maker looking through them, how would you react?
COP2024: Planet B?
There is no planet B, we need to cherish and protect what we have.
Created by: Selin, Azerbaijan
Affecting Wildlife
We always talk about how climate change affects humans, but what about our wildlife?
Created by: Sara I., Lily K., and Brooke L.
Maggot Sausages? - A Critique of Our Relationship with the Climate
Humans were one with nature before - we had trees as our staff, swans as friends, and eagles for our wings. However, our bottomless desire has caused us to be separated from nature. We've lost our eyes. Now it's just one blind man to the other, telling them to eat maggot sausages to save the earth.
Created by: Jasmine
COP2024: Include Indigenous Groups
We need to include Indigenous groups in decision-making at all levels of the climate crisis.
Created by: Payton E, Canada
Hopefully, these examples of student work from our published eCards gallery have inspired you to dream big for your creative eCards class activity. Every year, we run eCards contests with opportunities to win prizes and gift cards. Our latest contest has a Valentine theme - a perfect chance for young people to show how much they care about nature.
Create a Valentine eCard!
We invite you and your students to take climate action and pledge your love for the earth this Valentine’s Day. You will be entered into a contest to win a book bundle for your class. For example, you can have students write a “Letter to the Earth” with a pledge to show it more love through actions, using our eCards tool to create designs and art work.
The four books included in the bundle are…
And we’ll be sending them to you via the Outdoor Learning School and Store (and we also have a French book bundle).
Getting Started!
Gather your students or break them into groups and discuss some of the ways to be more environmentally-friendly and mindful of waste. Let them think about what they usually notice in their environment and how it impacts nature - positively or negatively. How can we reduce the negative effects? What individual or group actions can we take to ensure a happy earth?
Use Our “Letter to the Earth” Template
We’ve created a simple template that your class can use - as one big group or individually to create your eCard. This is a chance to let those creative and writing skills flow through art and literature. Don’t forget to reflect on your own impact and brainstorm some real solutions to different environmental issues.
Question Prompts for Brainstorm:
- What environmental impacts do you notice outside?
- How could we reduce, reuse, or recycle everyday?
- Why do you love the Earth?
Sentence Starters for the Letter:
- I can protect and show love to the Earth by...
- I promise to be more environmentally-friendly by...
- I love the Earth because…
Submit Your Students’ Work for a Chance to Win
After your students have created their eCard artwork and/or message during the in-class activity, you can submit their eCard(s) using the button on the submission page or by e-mailing us at [email protected] and we will enter you into the draw. The contest closes February 17th so make sure to submit your eCards!
Bonus Entry:
Take a picture of your students' work and share on social media tagging our profile @GreenLearning on the image or post. You will receive a bonus entry in the draw for the book bundle.