Mikaela Loach
U.K.-based climate justice activist and medic Mikaela, who uses both she and they pronouns, is a force of nature. At the age of just 23, the young activist is not only mid-way through a demanding medical degree, but also using her spare time to fight for the future of the planet—whether that’s via her social media platform, camping outside parliament, or taking the UK government to court for handing over taxpayers’ money to oil and gas companies.
Vanessa Nakate
Vanessa is an Ugandan activist who shared the story of how her father’s generation had witnessed a significant decrease in rainfall in Uganda. The reduced rainfall has meant crops have suffered, countless farmers have lost their farms and their income, food has become scarce, and food prices have gone up.
“The climate and ecological crisis is not just about weather patterns,” she told the crowd. ‘It’s about the people. It’s about real people.”
Elizabeth Wathuti
Elizabeth is a Kenya-based climate activist, and the founder of the Green Generation Initiative. She made an incredible speech at the World Leaders Summit Opening Ceremony, in which she spoke to world leaders on behalf of Earth, asking them to open their hearts to the pleas of those who care passionately about our planet.
Txai Suruí
Txai, a law student, activist, and member of the Paiter Suruí people of northwestern Brazil, said during Sunday’s COP26 opening ceremony. “The Earth is speaking. She tells us that we have no more time.”
“Indigenous people are in the frontline of the climate emergency, and we must be at the center of the decisions happening here.“
Brianna Fruean
Brianna is an environmental advocate for Samoa, said at COP26 on Monday.“We are not just victims to this crisis. We have been resilient beacons of hope. Pacific youth have rallied behind the cry:
‘We are not drowning, we are fighting.’ This is our warrior cry to the world.”
Farhana Yamin
Farhana is a climate lawyer and advisor to the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group that represents about 48 nations on the front line of climate impacts, told CNBC in the run-up to COP26 that the summit must constitute a “justice reset” if it is to be considered successful. “What is the code after code red? I don’t know,” Yamin said, referring to Guterres’ comments.
“Success can only come from grasping hard truths, speaking honestly and recognizing the situation of vulnerable countries.”
Nicki Becker
Nicki is a Buenos Aires native and co-founder of Jovenes Por El Clima. She knew she needed to educate her fellow Argentinian residents on world warming in 2019 after she noticed younger folks from everywhere in the world demonstrating and realized nobody around her was speaking concerning the problem.
“The local weather disaster is a human rights problem, as a result of our current and our future is in danger.”
Thomas Lopez Jr.
Thomas Lopez Jr. is a local weather partnerships coordinator at the youth-led nonprofit “Future Coalition” whose heritage consists of Otomi, Diné, Apache and Lakota. He makes use of the teachings handed down by way of his elders to propel his organization to battle for the planet.
“This Earth is asking you to defend her, and every one in every one of us should reply to that decision.”
Let us know if you have an activist that you would like us to discuss here as we move through COP26! Activist voices are arguably even more important than the delegations going on inside of the conference. Research COP26 activists to get a diverse perspective on how climate change is effecting different communities across the world.
