Youth Climate Activists: Voices of The Future

Young people are growing up as our climate is breaking down irreversibly. They have a special moral authority at international climate summits, as they will be the ones bearing the consequences of high carbon emissions, ecologically destructive activities, and inadequate climate action. During COP26, many youth activists, particularly from developing countries, have fought for greater ambition and commitment.

COP26 is seen as one of the last opportunities to make lasting change in the fight against climate change, and the exclusion of voices from developing countries could have not only regional adverse effects, but also global ones. Fighting climate change means investing in clean energy, climate-smart agriculture, early-warning systems and resilient infrastructure – and all of these initiatives take money and resources which developing countries often lack. In 2009, developed countries promised $100 billion yearly by 2020 to support developing countries to adapt to climate change, but so far they fell short of succeeding in their goal. 

Considering that “environment/pollution” was only mentioned by 3% of the public in a 2019 poll by Gallup about the most important problem faced by the US, it seems many people in developed countries have trouble believing in and imagining the possible devastation of climate change. While this ignorance inhabits many risks itself, it poses an even bigger danger for developing countries, who rely on developed countries for their monetary support. As climate activists from developing countries bear witness about their effort against the social, economic and political chaos resulting from climate change, for example food insecurity and adverse weather changes, they are especially important representatives to learn from and listen to. 

However, youth climate activists have felt excluded. Many campaigners and climate activists have described COP26 as the mostexclusionary event they have ever experienced. They criticised logistical difficulties, the exclusion of people with disabilities and a lack of attendees from the Global South. Additionally, the Colombian activist Laura Aguilaradded that that the fight against climate change is rooted in racism, classism and discrimination by the Global North. This is problematic not only because itundermines COP26’s own credibility, but also because it exemplifies the structural problems of climate justice.