In this article, we will take a look at five young climate change activists leading the waging war against climate change. Showing that regardless of age or background, you have the power to create a difference.
Greta Thunberg
Greta is a 20-year-old Swedish environmentalist activist who has been challenging the world's leaders to respond to the recent rise in climate change since the young age of 15. She first started her activism within her own household by urging her parents to reduce their carbon footprint. From there, she then began spending her free time protesting outside the Swedish parliament demanding they take a more serious approach regarding climate change. Her efforts then created a movement where several other students would conduct similar protests in their local community, further highlighting the issue of climate change. She then organised and galvanised the students, creating the 'Fridays for future movement. Gradually, she began to create more buzz and traction around her movement and, surprisingly in 2019, was invited to speak at the United Nations Climate Action Summit. This is where she created that iconic 'HOW DARE YOU?' moment which gripped the world and shocked the public. This moment is now imprinted in history as the turning point in the fight against climate change.
Leah Namugerwa
Leah is a 19-year-old Ugandan climate activist who began her work at the age of 13 being inspired by none other than Greta Thunberg. Taking Greta as a form of inspiration, Leah conducted similar Friday protests to her teaming up with her cousin and other activists calling her movement 'Fridays for the future Uganda'. She currently is now continuing the fight against climate change by planting trees and speaking at different climate change conferences. She most recently attended the COP27 Climate Conference in Egypt. Leah is yet another example of regardless of background, you can make a difference to the environment.
Anjali Sharma
Anjali is an Indian-born Australian who is most notorious for taking the Australian federal government and minister for the environment to federal court at the young age of 16. She and seven of her other classmates decided they would take the minister for the environment to court as Sussan Ley (the environment minister at the time) authorised the expansion of a coalmine which we all know increases greenhouse gases thus causing climate change. Anjali's perseverance saw a rise in court cases related to climate change, showing she made a difference. However, in March 2022, it was reported the Australian government won its appeal against the ruling that favoured Anjali thus overturning the case. This is proof that there is still much to be done and that we can all make a difference.
Licypriya Kangujam
I will now shed some light on one of the youngest climate activists of this generation, Licypriya often touted as India's Greta Thunberg at 11. She was first inspired to fight against climate change in 2018 when she attended the UN disaster conference in Mongolia (taken by her father). She constantly regards this point as the turning point and her source of inspiration in her fight against climate change. Later that same year she donated her savings of 100,000 rupees to help the victims of the tragic Kerala flood. This is a testament to her kindness and unselfishness, as few would give up their own money for others. In 2019 she started the 'Great October March 2019' which garnered a lot of support throughout India. Since then she has continued her exploits; attending and speaking to world leaders at COP25 and publishing a letter to the world economic forum. I believe we should all take a leaf out of her book and be more willing to sacrifice for the betterment of society.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Lastly, I will be talking about Xiuhtezcatl an American environmental activist of Aztec descent. He gained notoriety whilst speaking at the UN general assembly on climate change at aged 15. In 2015, he and 21 other youths filed a lawsuit against the US federal government stating that the government is denying them their constitutional right to life, liberty and property by ignoring climate change. Unfortunately, the case was dismissed, but it still didn't stop his drive. Up until 2019, he was the youth director of the earth guardians (an environmental activist organisation with a goal to inspire the next generation of youth to take a stand against climate change). Xiuhtezcatl now aged 22, is still protesting but now in a unique form; his music, creating a new form of activism.
All these trailblazing youths are proof that regardless of age and background, we can make a difference regarding something we care about. I hope this inspires whoever is reading to take a stand for something they believe in, you can never start too small.
