Young people fighting for climate action

The world has been progressing and yet, we face destruction in many ways. Did you know that if we don’t take water conservation seriously, we could start to look like Mars? And that the world lost the first Icelandic glacier due to climate change? Well, if you didn’t, now you do. In 2019, many forests, water bodies, rivers got dried up in Chennai and approximately 40% of India’s population may not have water to drink by the year 2030. Before the lockdown, we also witnessed the hottest month ever (July) recorded in the history of Earth and these are not just information but a warning for us to start being careful and protect the Mother Earth that has been there for us since the beginning. The world wasn’t even aware about these rising situations as global warming and climate change until the activists and youth environmentalists came to our rescue. Now, that we do know about these facts, shouldn’t we do something about it and listen to these people fighting for climate action? Well, to do so, you need to know some of the young environmentalists and join them, because why not? Here’s a list of some of them.

Greta Thunberg (Sweden)

“Yes, we are failing, but there is still time to turn everything around — we can still fix this. I want you to act as if the house was on fire. Because it is”

She does not need any introduction. She is the first person who made it to every Television screen in the world to raise awareness about Climate Change at the age of just 16. It could be argued that without Greta Thunberg, there would be no youth climate strike movement. The 16-year-old Swedish climate activist has been striking outside of the parliament building in Stockholm since last August, and is the founder of the Fridays for Future youth climate strike movement. Her impassioned speeches have left politicians speechless and millions of young people inspired around the world.

John Paul Jose (India)

“India should declare a climate emergency. The rich biodiversity and culture are under direct threat from our climate crisis.”

India has not been aware about the issues associated with Climate Change and many of the citizens still aren’t aware. And so, 22-year-old climate activist, writer, and global peace ambassador John Paul Jose provides a commentary on our environmental crisis through an Indian lens. He reluctantly makes us, Indians see the truth about the issue and spreads awareness about the consequences of it which can be seen by the rising temperature in some of the states.

Nkosilathi Nyathi (Zimbabwe)

“There’s no other time for acting than now.”

Nkosilathi Nyathi, 17, is a UNICEF climate activist from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He walks us through changes he has witnessed first-hand as a result of climate change. He feels that although young people can see and feel the effects of climate change, many don’t know what’s happening and he wants to change that.

Tahsin Uddin (Bangladesh)

“Though we the young people are not responsible for climate change, it will have a greater impact on us.”

There needs to be more awareness about Climate Change in every Asian State and young activists like Tahsin are trying to make that possible. Tahsin Uddin, 22, is a climate activist in Bangladesh – a country where many people are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. He promotes cycling as an eco-friendly vehicle through his youth organization and trains teenagers on mobile journalism, while also planting trees and organizing clean-ups. He urges young people to take part in their country’s climate movement.

Isra Hirsi (USA)

“It is my future, it is the younger ones’ future, and it’s less the older ones’ future.”

The article clearly shows how much we need young activists for climate change awareness because Isra is another 16 year old who is ready to fight for the Earth. Isra Hirsi is the 16-year old co-founder and co-executive of the US Youth Climate Strike, the organization that leads the student climate strikes. Highly inspired by the Flint water crisis, Isra fights for climate justice. As a Black Muslim woman, she emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in the movement for climate justice. She is also a part of MN Can’t Wait, a youth coalition of organizations calling upon the Minnesota government to take action.

Lilly Platt (The Netherlands)

“You don’t have to be a grown up to do something. Children are allowed to help the environment. If they don’t, they won’t have a future. They won’t have anything to go to school for.”

Another commendable human effort as Lilly Platt, just at 9 years old, started going on a war to end plastic pollution. When Lilly first moved to Holland her grandfather began teaching her to speak Dutch, and to help her learn numbers, they collected pieces of plastic trash and counted them. She no longer needs the practice but she’s still picking up plastic. Today, Lilly is a Youth Ambassador for the Plastic Pollution Coalition and a Child Ambassador for HOW Global and World Clean-up Day.

And there are many more young activists that are spreading awareness for saving the Earth. They are trying their best for us and what can we do? Even the smallest steps such as acknowledging the problem and gathering knowledge about the same is a very good first step. Spread awareness and be more aware, that’s all.

If you have more thoughts on the topic and would like to share them with us, write to us and get featured on BeStorified.