Toronto teen is passing climate hope on to children — one story at a time

Jul 8

Ahmad Chattha wants his stories to feel like a hug: warm, reassuring and grounding. He is passing on climate hope to the children who come next. Photo courtesy: Ahmad Chatta

By Patricia Lane & Ahmad Chattha

Ahmad Chattha is passing on climate hope to the children who come next. This 18-year-old Toronto highschool student is determined to ensure that young children have stories of climate hope and resilience to lift them up.

Tell us about your work.

When my family immigrated to rural Alberta, I thought moving to Canada meant leaving those fears behind. Instead, in our very first year, a massive wildfire devastated Fort McMurray. Watching families evacuate under smoke-filled skies, I realized no place was truly untouched by climate disasters.

What made it harder was the absence of spaces for young people to talk about these fears. Adults discussed climate change through science, politics and debate, but no one addressed the emotional impact. I often felt alone with my worries. I had always enjoyed drawing and painting, but now art became a way to process feelings I couldn't easily explain.

Over time, I realized I was not alone. Many young people were quietly carrying the same fears. That realization inspired me to create spaces where those emotions could be acknowledged through storytelling. My project exists because I know what it feels like to carry these worries in silence…

What impact are you having?

Through my books, I aim to create emotional comfort alongside awareness. I want my stories to feel like a hug: warm, reassuring and grounding. I want young readers to understand that their feelings are valid, that they are not alone and that hope is still possible.

My work focuses on showing that small actions, empathy and community care truly matter, so young people see themselves not just as witnesses to climate change, but as people who can make meaningful contributions. My book Ripples and the River of Trouble has been animated and has connected with over 800,000 people on YouTube. This interest reveals a strong appetite for storytelling that addresses the emotional side of climate change.

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Peter Allan

Toronto teen is passing climate hope on to children — one story at a time

Tell us about your work.

What impact are you having?

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