Ecology Ottawa × Climate Legacy
The Intergenerational Dialogue on Climate Change Project is a collaborative initiative bringing together youth interested in climate action and long-time climate advocates to share experiences, exchange perspectives, and explore how generations can work together to strengthen climate action.
Climate movements are shaped by people of different ages, experiences, and backgrounds. Younger and older advocates may bring different approaches, priorities, knowledge, and understandings of change. This project creates space for those perspectives to be shared openly and respectfully.
Through facilitated conversations, recorded dialogues, and a larger community event, participants will explore how climate action has evolved, what different generations can learn from one another, and how knowledge, strategies, and motivations can be shared across age and experience.
Why Intergenerational Dialogue?
Climate change affects every generation, but people may understand and respond to it differently depending on their lived experiences.
Long-time climate advocates bring decades of experience in organizing, policy, community building, and social movements. Younger climate leaders bring new perspectives, emerging strategies, and direct experience of growing up during an accelerating climate crisis.
These differences can create opportunities for learning, but they can also lead to misunderstanding or division. Meaningful intergenerational dialogue can help participants:
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Better understand how different generations experience climate change and climate action
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Share knowledge, organizing strategies, and lessons learned
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Explore differences in priorities, language, and approaches
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Build stronger relationships across Ottawa’s climate movement
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Identify opportunities for collaboration and collective action
The goal is not to assume that every member of a generation shares the same perspective. Instead, the project recognizes that age is one of many factors that shape how people engage with climate change.
Photo from last year’s Intergenerational Dialogue on Climate hosted by our friends at Climate Legacy
Learn more about last year’s Intergenerational Dialogue event here!
How the Project Works
Collaborative Question Development
The project begins by bringing together younger and older participants to identify the questions, themes, and issues they believe are most important to discuss.
These conversations will help shape the recorded dialogue sessions and ensure that participants have a meaningful role in determining the direction of the project.
Topics may include:
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Climate emotions, including hope, frustration, fear, and resilience
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What different generations want to learn from one another
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How climate activism has changed over time
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What motivates people to become or remain involved in climate action
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The strengths and limitations of different organizing approaches
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Barriers to participation in the climate movement
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How intergenerational collaboration can support stronger climate action
Recorded Intergenerational Dialogues
Participants will take part in a series of small-group conversations involving youth climate leaders and long-time climate advocates.
Each session will focus on questions developed during the initial brainstorming process. Participants will have time to share their individual perspectives before engaging in a broader discussion with the group.
The conversations will be recorded and edited into short- and long-form videos. These videos will highlight key ideas, personal experiences, areas of agreement, and points of difference that emerge during the discussions.
Community Dialogue Event
Following the recorded conversations, Ecology Ottawa and Climate Legacy will host a larger in-person community event. Participants and members of the broader community will gather to reflect on the recorded dialogues, discuss key themes, identify remaining questions, and consider how the project’s lessons can be applied within climate organizations and communities. The event will also help shape the project's final report by identifying key themes, recommendations, and lessons learned.
Project Goals
Through this initiative, Ecology Ottawa and Climate Legacy aim to:
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Create meaningful opportunities for dialogue between younger and older climate advocates
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Document lived experiences and perspectives from across generations
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Strengthen relationships within Ottawa’s climate movement
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Identify barriers and opportunities for intergenerational collaboration
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Share lessons that can support future climate organizing and community engagement
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Develop practical resources that other groups can use to host similar conversations
Project Timeline
The project will take place from summer to fall 2026.
July–August: Participant outreach, recruitment, and project preparation.
September: Collaborative brainstorming and question-development session.
October: Recorded intergenerational dialogue sessions. Video development and community dialogue event.
November: Final report and project reflections.
Project Partners
Ecology Ottawa
Ecology Ottawa is a local environmental organization working to strengthen community action and advance a greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient Ottawa.
Youth participation in this project comes through EcoYouth Ottawa, Ecology Ottawa’s environmental leadership program for youth and young adults.
Climate Legacy is a network that supports older Canadians in using their experience, skills, influence, and collective voice to advance climate action and climate justice.
Together, Ecology Ottawa and Climate Legacy are creating a space for younger and older advocates to learn from one another and explore new possibilities for collaboration.
Follow the Project
Videos, project updates, event information, and the final report will be added to this page as they become available.
For questions about the project, please contact: