The answer to the global warming crisis, America's dependence on oil, and a staggering economy is a clean energy economy!

Global Exchange is working at the forefront of this new youth-led movement, galvanizing youth across the country to lay the groundwork NOW for a just and sustainable energy future.

For the past year, from the 2008 elections to the first 100 days of the Obama Administration, Global Exchange has joined Energy Action Coalition to first organize youth to vote in favor of a clean energy economy through POWER VOTE, and then mobilize youth to join this growing movement through POWER SHIFT. Hundreds of thousands of youth are now committed to a sustained effort to work locally and nationally to eradicate the threat of climate change.

Our work focuses on four areas: campuses, communities, corporate practices, and changing environmental policies.

Midwest

As the upper Midwest economy has struggled and workers face an increasingly unpredictable future, Global Exchange has worked with students and young people to advance a vision of a clean energy economy, strong enough to rebuild the mid-west manufacturing base, but focused on sustainability, equity, and justice.

• In 2008, our "Renew Michigan" campaign helped pass a comprehensive energy package that included mandates for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. This campaign is in partnership with Michigan Clean Energy Now and the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition.
• In October of 2008 GX worked to pass the President's Climate Commitment with Lansing Community College—committing the college to become carbon neutral by 2030.
• GX is organizing students on 20 college campuses across the region to pass similar climate friendly policies, to provide working models for future city, state and regional governments to follow suit.
• We have helped develop 2 student networks, spanning all of Michigan state.

California

California has a history of setting benchmarks for progressive policy nationwide. Despite this fertile environment, there remain major questions of equity and justice, especially around who will drive the new clean energy economy. Global Exchange wants to ensure youth take leadership roles in deciding how these efforts will affect their communities.

• GX youth leadership efforts focus on Cal State University and Community Colleges, directly supporting students to pursue school-specific goals and run campaigns such as the Campus Climate Challenge, Power Vote and Power Shift (a national non-partisan effort spearheaded by the Energy Action Coalition).
• In partnership with local organizations and schools, GX organizers plug students into local campaigns such as the San Francisco Clean Energy Act, and the ongoing fight against the Chevron refinery in Richmond.

Northwest

The Northwest region maintains an impressive track record in organizing environmental conservation efforts. Here Global Exchange plays a leading role in bringing together traditional labor and community groups with students and youth focused on the new clean energy economy.

• Global Exchange works directly with over a dozen campuses in the region to develop relationships, build political power bases, and create projects and campaigns for clean, just energy and localized, sustainable systems—such as local food campaigns.
• Throughout the build-up for POWER VOTE and POWER SHIFT, campuses have gained support from campus labor unions, community groups and the local music scene.
• Students joined forces with rural Washingtonians to oppose dirty energy projects for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).