Many of today’s youth are aware of the climate-control crisis. Caroline Jo, a first-year Arts and Science student from Westmount, has gone beyond environmental awareness. As a matter of fact, she has done so much that she has been named one of Canada’s Top 20 Under 20™ “for having demonstrated a significant level of leadership before reaching the age of 20,” according to the national youth awards program presented by Youth in Motion and sponsored by ING Canada, ING Foundation, Bell Canada, BMO Capital Markets, CTVglobemedia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

Caroline, 18, is one of two students from Montreal to have the distinction. She will receive up to $5,000 to be applied toward her education as well as leadership development, such as entry into Youth in Motion’s mentoring program and an invitation to a four-day leadership summit where she will rub elbows with prominent business leaders in various sectors of the Canadian economy.

Born in Colorado, Caroline came to Marianopolis College from The Study. In the fall, she will begin Princeton University, with an eye on international-trade law.

“My passion for the environment started through years of debating and getting involved in the Model United Nations. It was through initial exposure and then through awareness that I was able to realize how important it was to take action in combating climate change,” says Caroline, who traveled to The Hague on behalf of Marianopolis’ Model UN Club. At Marianopolis, she also served as Student Congress’ social justice coordinator.

She and Julie D’Aoust, a fellow former Study student who is now studying Arts and Science at Marianopolis and, like Caroline, has been named by the British Council a Canadian Climate Champion, were among 200 students worldwide who were selected to be part of the British Council's International Climate Change (ICC) Program.

Says Caroline, “Our goal was to help students become part of the solution to climate change.” Last December, she and Julie presented ICC’s project ICCommit at various Montreal high schools.

“We asked students to make personal environmental commitments, for instance, walking to school or letting their hair dry naturally versus using a hair dryer. And we gave them ICCommit bracelets to wear that week to remind them of their promises. Then on Friday, December 5, 2008, they were to reflect on the changes they had made that week and to consider making them permanent.” A report will be sent to the Copenhagen UN Climate Change Conference this coming December.

Caroline calls it “a simple idea with a powerful message.” Those are the kinds of ideas that can make a big difference, the kind of difference Caroline aims to continue making.