Nick, 24, El Salvador - My idea is called Aquaponics. Aquaponics is very much like hydroponics but instead of using chemicals to supply plants with nutrients it uses fish and bacteria. Along with solar power this system is almost completely independent and can be placed anywhere (jungles, deserts, etc.). It is 100% organic and environmentally safe. It can provide an excellent source of nutrition from fish to vegetables and fruits.

Because it involves creating an artificial environment crop diversification has no limits thus providing a key opportunity for increased nutrition in rural and/or poor areas. Maintenance is extremely cheap and potentially can provide a steady source of income for poor families.
Thus, it could potentially provide subsistence living support, better nutrition, increase environmental awareness, and educational opportunities for children. The project is designed primarily to create a practical training curriculum to teach Aquaponic techniques to farmers but has many other broad applications as well.

The project includes the construction of a training system and primary training. With this new technique farmers will be able to farm year round, diversify their crops, feed their families, and do it all cheaply without impacting the environment.

Govinda, 20, India - Microbial fuel cells make it possible to generate electricity using bacteria. We experimented by using sludge for fuel in the anode and the oxygen released by a water plant or algae as the oxidant in cathode. This process has been referred to simply as the bacterial electrolysis of organic matter because the protons and electrons are derived from the organic matter and not water.

This plan will be just an addition to an existing biogas plan where this plant will give electricity and semi treated water which will be passed to send filter then this water can be used for household purposes and semi-decomposed sludge will pass to biogas plant for further decomposition along with cow dung and crop residue.

Initial investment will be high but future output is very profitable. rural people will get electricity, water, and manure for farms and biogas as fuel and they can save lot of money. Again this will be provide job opportunity and extra manure and biogas can be sold to get income.

Andy Posner, 24, USA - Van Jones and others are showing how a green collar economy can solve both social and environmental problems. My idea is to take that one step further by using the power of micro-credit and targeted green entrepreneurship training and mentoring to ensure that the green businesses of tomorrow are started by women, people of color, and low-income individuals, all of whom have been traditionally left out of the old, “grey” economy.

By providing affordable loans of $500 to $10,000 and combining them with additional support and training, my initiative will create jobs, a more vibrant, inclusive green economy, and solve environmental problems through the power of entrepreneurship.

I am working with experts in the fields of business skills and green job training to create a curriculum to support the entrepreneurs. In addition, I have spent the last five months laying a groundwork for the creation of a micro-finance program in Providence, Rhode island–a city with both high unemployment and poverty rates.

Working collaboratively with a number of community partners, a “buzz” has already been generated in the community. The impact of this program will be that all entrepreneurs with great, green ideas will have the chance to realize their dreams.

Fernando, 17, Mexico - My twin brother, a couple of friends and I are developing a project in which we are making an ecological movement. In this movement that is named ecofit, we are selling solar chargers for cell phones, ipod. And a wristband distintive from our group that comes with a small booklet that says simple ways of helping with the global warming issue.

A percentage will be given to a foundation that helps ecology. We are negotiating with maple.org and pro valle.  We think it’s a very accessible way to show Mexican people how they can start using renewable energy.

Publicity is made through our blog http://exafit.blogspot.com, and our groups in facebook and hi5.

Sindre, 15, Norway - My idea is to have electric generators in all of the workout centres in the world.

Every bike in every centre could be connected to a generator.  The centres could make theie own power, and maybe enough to sell or give to others.

I want to do this because I want the next generation to have the same good life as I have.  I think that this could, maybe not save the world, but maybe it is a step in the right direction.

Blake, 20, USA - Climate change caused by greenhouse gases threatens our environment. To decrease and halt greenhouse gas emissions we must replace polluting energy sources like oil and coal with clean energy technologies like wind and solar. While these technologies function safely and efficiently, they’re not widely used in the United States.

Young Americans, who will be most effected by global climate change, feel unable to control energy production sources, and many Americans don’t see wind as a practical choice.

My project will empower young people by bringing together a group of high school students over the summer to build a working wind turbine. The turbine will provide power for a local demonstration farm, which hosts a day camp. The turbine will provide both clean energy and an example of implementing wind power on a small scale. Visitors will learn about wind energy’s ability to ameliorate climate change and provide local energy.

The wind turbine team will share our experiences and technical know-how with local schools and businesses. Through workshops, and using the working turbine as an exemplar, we will educate the community on wind energy solutions. We plan to inspire further construction of wind turbines at local schools and businesses.

Clay, 14, USA - I will get my community to use LED and compact flourescent bulbs, and recycle their CFLs, which contain mercury. I’ll install LED and CFL bulbs in a test location. I will do this at the beginning of an electrical bill cycle so that the reduced energy costs can be tracked on the bulletin board for people to see how this effort can save them money.

I will install many different types of bulbs and wattages, so that people will understand that they can get the same effect as incandescents with new, more sustainable lighting options. LED lights use only about 4% of the energy used in an incandescent, and can last for thirty years. The cost/benefit analysis of each option will be highlighted so that people can decide how quick of a payback they will need.

Educating the public through my brochures, presentations, and articles in the newspapers help make them aware of the potential energy and cost savings, potential problems associated with m ercury in CFLs, and ways to face those problems. Making CFL recycling bins available provides a way for conscientious citizens to recycle CFLs. I’ll also teach about LEDs, which will soon become the most cost-effective bulb choice.

Chloe, 16, USA - We are a school club at Lincoln Academy in Maine. We launched four advocacy campaigns. We successfully implemented a school-wide no-idle zone for buses and cars on our campus.

We talked with idling car and bus drivers about the pros, cons, health hazards, and pollution factors of idling. As of this spring of 2008, 6 months after we began the project, we did not see any buses or cars idling. We plan on continuing to monitor the amount of idling on our campus.

A short documentary by American teen, Chloe Maxmin, on the need to eliminate plastic bags.

Link: First Here, Then Everywhere (Official Website)

Every community needs champions for the environment.  In more and more communities, those champions are young people just like you.

You can take the lead in educating your peers as well as adults on key environmental challenges facing our planet, and show everyone what simple actions they can take to make things better.

Green Teens, USA is a great example of such a club.  After launching with seed funding from Ashoka GenV, Green Teens has organized events to promote the use of cloth bags, compact fluorescent bulbs, and biodegradable cups.