Climate change is caused by the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases. Human activities like processing fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, livestock farming, and chemical production create the most well-known greenhouse gas: carbon dioxide (CO2).
Young people are also feeling the effects of climate change. It seems they are more aware of the current situation than we might think and are among the loudest advocates for our planet.
As a climate ambassador, I meet this new generation every day – a generation that refuses to stay quiet. They’re the generation that doesn’t ask “what should someone else do?” but instead asks: “what can I do today?” In this article, I’m highlighting a few names, but really, I’m showing you a whole global movement of young people who are no longer asking for permission to protect the planet – they’re already doing it.
Inspiring Young Climate Activists
These are just a few examples of young people actively fighting to protect the environment:
1. Greta Thunberg
Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist addressing the problem of climate change. In 2018, she founded the Fridays for Future movement (also known as School Strike for Climate), which gained international attention. Thunberg is credited with changing some people’s views and behaviors regarding climate change, and her influence is known as “the Greta effect.”
Image source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Greta-Thunberg
2. Maria Reyes
Since childhood, Maria has witnessed the impacts of the climate crisis firsthand, especially the water crisis across Mexico. While droughts and rising temperatures cause forest fires, cyclones lead to floods and crop losses. To combat this, she became a full-time climate activist. She believes that water scarcity cannot be viewed in isolation but as part of the larger ecosystem.
Image Source: https://assembly.malala.org/stories/how-leaders-can-meaningfully-involve-young-women-at-climate-events
3. Nkosilathi Nyathi
Nkosilathi Nyathi, a 17-year-old UNICEF climate activist from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, describes the changes he has personally witnessed due to climate change. He feels that although young people can see and feel its effects, many don’t understand what’s happening, and he wants to change that.
Image Source: https://4783129.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4783129/hubfs/Nkosi%201.jpg?width=540&name=Nkosi%201.jpg
4. Luisa Neubauer
Luisa is a prominent German climate activist. After meeting Greta Thunberg in 2018, she co-founded the climate movement in Germany, organized global strikes, and met with world leaders. In 2021, she and others won a historic climate court case against the German government. Luisa holds a master’s degree, has published three books on the climate crisis, and hosts a podcast.
Image source: https://thenew.institute/en/people/luisa-neubauer
5. Anuna De Wever
Anuna De Wever is a policy officer for Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe. She is also a climate and human rights advocate and co-founder of Youth for Climate Belgium, which sparked a global movement of student-led climate strikes in 2019. She authored the book “We Are The Climate” and actively works on climate policy and public advocacy.
Image source: https://www.beyond-growth-2023.eu/speaker/anuna-de-wever/
From these examples, it’s clear that young people are more than aware of the Earth’s current situation. They are a strong indicator of the urgency and seriousness of the climate crisis, and it’s essential to join forces with them to build a society that is more considerate and careful with Planet Earth.
Source:
Europa.eu, https://climate-pact.europa.eu/about/climate-change_hr
Unicef, https://www.unicef.org/stories/young-climate-activists-demand-action-inspire-hope
Beyond growth, https://www.beyond-growth-2023.eu/speaker/anuna-de-wever/
The new institute, https://thenew.institute/en/people/luisa-neubauer
Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Greta-Thunberg
As an ambassador for the European Climate Pact, I would like to point out that the views expressed in this article are solely my personal views and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission or the European Climate Pact. – Zoran Pavletić
author: Zoran Pvletić
