Aliso Viejo, California — July 11–13, 2026 — This summer, approximately 100 emerging young leaders representing 27 countries will gather at Soka University of America (SUA) for a dynamic global Youth Summit co-convened by Earth Charter International (ECI) and Soka University of America (SUA).
Titled “Redesigning Tomorrow’s World: Uniting Global Youth for Climate Justice and Collective Healing — An Intercultural Call for the Earth Community”, the summit is designed as an experiential, participatory, and globally collaborative forum. It will bring together a diverse cohort of youth changemakers to foster collaboration, share experiences and inspire efforts toward social change. As SUA President Edward M. Feasel emphasizes, “education must empower individuals to become agents of global change,” and this Summit is designed to ensure that young leaders not only discuss global challenges but also actively shape solutions with “courage, wisdom, and compassion.”
Through dialogue, workshops, and co-creation, participants will explore responses to climate change while building lasting friendships and international networks rooted in shared purpose. Reflecting on the ethical foundation of the gathering, Mirian Vilela, Executive Director of Earth Charter International, notes that “the Earth Charter calls on us to recognize our shared responsibility for one another and the planet,” adding that this global convening of youth serves as “a catalyst for transformative action.”
The summit will integrate the ethical principles of the Earth Charter—emphasizing respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace—with SUA’s mission to foster global citizens committed to living a contributive life. This alignment is central to the summit’s goals, as Michael J. Bracken, Board Chair of Earth Charter International, highlights the importance of “creating space for collaboration, reflection, and innovation” so that young leaders are equipped to build solutions that are “just, sustainable, and enduring.”
Uniquely, the event is being organized in collaboration with participating youth leaders from both Earth Charter International and SUA, ensuring that the program reflects the voices, ideas, and aspirations of the next generation itself. SUA’s Southern California campus — perched on a ridge surrounded on three sides by a 4,000-acre wilderness park — will give participants a setting as removed from the ordinary as the work ahead
The summit, which has the support of 14 partner organizations, is by invitation only and is now at full capacity, with selected youth leaders representing diverse regions, disciplines, and lived experiences. Outcomes from the gathering—including youth-led initiatives, collaborative frameworks, and shared commitments—will be documented and disseminated to extend the summit’s impact beyond the three-day gathering.
For more information about the Youth Summit and the work of the co-sponsoring organizations, please visit:
Soka University of America — https://www.soka.edu
Earth Charter International — https://earthcharter.org
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