Andrea Koehle Jones: Growing Hope and Inspiring Young Climate Leaders
Andrea Koehle Jones is an award-winning Canadian environmental education advocate, climate journalist, children’s book author, and advisor to the UNICEF Innocenti Youth Fellowship on climate education. She is the founder and executive director of The ChariTree Foundation and co-founder of The FirstLine Foundation.
Andrea founded The ChariTree Foundation on Earth Day 2006. Based in Greater Vancouver, ChariTree is a registered Canadian charity and United Nations Climate Observer Organization working locally, nationally, and internationally to connect children with nature and inspire environmental stewardship.
For 20 years, The ChariTree Foundation has empowered thousands of young people through hands-on climate and biodiversity education, outdoor learning, tree planting, habitat protection, and ocean conservation. Andrea also served as a communications strategist with Greenpeace during the landmark campaign to protect British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. From local conservation initiatives and the creation of outdoor classrooms to international environmental education projects, her work inspires children to connect with nature, build confidence, and discover their power to make a positive difference.
A former CBC journalist and CBC Kids writer and producer, Andrea is the author of The Wish Trees: How Planting Trees Can Help Make the World a Better Place and Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree THERE! (2026). She donates 100% of her author’s book profits to children’s environmental education initiatives.
Andrea is also a mentor with Nature Canada’s Women for Nature initiative, championing children’s rights, youth leadership, and accessible environmental education.
At the heart of Andrea’s work is a commitment to transforming climate anxiety into hope and meaningful action, giving children the confidence, knowledge, and opportunities to protect the natural world.
“Let’s give children opportunities to fall in love with nature because you protect what you love.”
— Andrea Koehle Jones
