Climate Change Activism In The 21st Century: A Closer Look At Greta Thunberg’s Impact
Climate change activism refers to a global social movement, the aim of which was to highlight climate changes and their impact on the environment. Just like any other social movement, it was to put pressure on the government and authoritative industries to take necessary action against it.
From non-profit government organizations to recognized people, the movement garnered attention from all over the world. As time passed, climate activism became increasingly prominent.
In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss how people joined this cause, which ultimately led UNICEF to raise awareness about climate change. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
What Led To Climate Change Activism?
Climate activism is nothing new; activists have been calling for effective action against climatic changes since 1970. Earth Day movement was the first one in 1970 to focus on the protection of lives on the Earth. Activism regarding climate change continued till the 1980s.
Fast-forward to 2006, when the climate change campaign began with the support of British organizations. It staged a plethora of demonstrations that encouraged governments to think more carefully about climate change issues. In 2009, a United Nations Climate Change Conference took place in Copenhagen.
This UNFCCC continued with more than 100,000 people joining the march. Activists in 2019 were mostly young, and they took part in the global climate strike and criticized the lack of governmental efforts. Between all of this, Greta Thunberg, a Sweden activist, became the lead of the movement.
Greta began her first school strike at the age of 19 to protest Stockholm’s climate action. In 2019, she was honored as the Time Personality of the Year.
A List Of Young Climate Activists Making An Impact Globally
Greta Thunberg was not the only recognized name when climate change activism was concerned; there were many. Greta definitely had an edge over the awareness issue, but here’s a list of other activists who were also the reason for the change:
- Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a 21-year-old environmental advocate and activist who supports marginalized and indigenous communities. Most of these communities have already created massive waves in the entire climate change scenario. Also known as “X,” Xiuhtezcatl has always been very vocal against the impacts of fossil fuels.
In the lawsuit Juliana vs United States, he played a major role in 21 plaintiffs. The campaigner has spread awareness about climate change by giving speeches at the U.N. on various occasions. Furthermore, he highlights how world climate action has a larger role to play in the fight against inequality.
- Tahsin Uddin
This 22-year-old Bangladeshi climate activist has also made remarkable differences in the climate change movement. Bangladesh has always been vulnerable, as the effects of climate change are more visible here. As a result, Tahsin had to promote cycling as an eco-friendly means of transport and planted trees.
Tahsin urges youth to participate actively in the climate movement taking place in the country. He says we might be solely responsible for the change, but it will continue to have an impact on all of us. A lot of people have already joined Tahsin’s cause to make the planet more sustainable.
- Xiye Bastida
Xiye Bastida has been an environmentalist since she was born to two climate change activists who met at the 1992 conference. She has been continuing her inherited legacy, which is why she is recognized as a name in Mexico. Bastida not only lobbies for aggressive global climate action but also has a great knack for indigenous visibility.
In her personal realm, Xiye is the lead organizer of New York’s Fridays for Future and the co-founder of Re-Earth Initiative. The latter is a global NGO that focuses on intersectional and inclusive acts by people promoting climate change.
- Russell Raymond
This 17-year-old reporter hails from Dominica’s Caribbean nation. His country faced massive devastation in September 2017 when Hurricane Maria blew off roofs and submerged streets. This incident made him cautious about the environment, and that’s when he pursued photography to record the hurricane’s impacts on the island.
Later, UNICEF collaborated with Fridays for Future and pointed to young activists who were the pillars of climate change. One of them was Russell, who had an impeccable effect on capturing the chronicles of flood in his homeland and, subsequently, in climate change activism.
- Licypriya Kangujam
Licypriya Kangujam belonged to the list of young climate activists around the world and began advocating for climate action at a very young age. Kangujam had protested right outside the Parliament of India, where she listed down a set of specific demands. Among them, air pollution laws and climate awareness were also included.
Ever since then, Licypriya has been addressing world leaders. In 2019, she addressed the United Nations Climate Change Conference. She also participates in TEDx Talks, which she has already done six times. One of her memorable works is “The Child Movement,” a young climate justice group that focuses on environmental challenges.
Why Does Climate Activism Matter?
Environmental or climate change reformation is nothing but individuals acting on environmental protection. People taking part in activism have not only identified issues like climate change that have an everlasting effect on the environment but also made an effort to solve them. Participation has been there from all across the world.
How do we know about climate change?
One of the questions I am often asked is how to determine the climate is changing. Is it just about changing weather or seasonal floods? All around the world, there are stations that measure sea and air temperatures. These measurements make it clear that the temperature is at a continuous rise.
In the case of knowing that the Earth is having impacts, we have various indicators. For instance, a warming planet like Earth is most likely to have melting glaciers and polar icebergs, and yes, they have started melting. Additionally, the greenhouse gases are making all these changes.
Various studies define the absorption of infrared radiation and its harmful impact on the environment. The more awareness, the better it becomes for climate scientists to develop the theory that increasing carbon emissions are causing global warming.
Climate change activism: how does it save us from the deadly effects?
No, we aren’t talking about the environmental effects we studied in the second standard. The picture is a lot bigger than that. Climate change is not having the same impact everywhere. Since the planet keeps getting hotter, some seasons and regions are interestingly cooler.
Extreme weather events like heat waves or wildfires have already destroyed several places. But do cool places denote that greenhouse gases do not affect them? That’s not the case!
Climate change has more or less affected any weather event. But talking about it is important. Unless people aren’t talking about it or protesting against illicit environmental actions, there won’t be a push to adjust things rightly. A warming world would make the Arctic Sea disappear, and ice sheets in Greenland might get destabilized.
Impact Of Climate Change On Biodiversity and On Us
The impact of climate change depends on the region. 190 million people thriving in a rising sea level region expect to be under high sea tide. This will cause people to move to different locations, thus creating a population imbalance. The natural world was always balanced delicately. But climate change is having a negative impact- here’s some statistics to prove it:
Facts and Statistics Related to Climate Change
A study conducted in the UK, considering more than 700 species, showed that over 80% of trends between 1976 and 2005 show seasonal events occurring earlier. Distinctive change rates might denote that the lives of species are not synchronized with their dependents.
Similarly, another 2019 report confirms that more than one million flora and fauna species worldwide are at risk of extinction. Most of these are caused by human activities. Many plants were flowering earlier, and migrating birds were leaving later.
The impact on us is also worth mentioning. Four billion individuals thrive in urban areas that experience greater changes in climate change activism. The figure might increase to 6.7 billion by the end of 2050. Pasterze Glacier recedes by 10 meters every year. Aren’t these alarming signs enough for us to take action?
Natural disasters affect vulnerable and poor populations, clearly depicting the results of neglecting social changes. The extreme rise of the weather will put this population at a major risk.
Parting Thoughts
Various social movements have taken place around the world, which have brought remarkable changes. Climate change activism plays a major role because it puts the government under pressure to keep a tab on environmental triggers. But none of it would be possible without these activists.
They have certainly played a critical role, highlighting instances that weren’t noticeable for so long. It’s time that we also participate in a noble cause because this Earth is our home. It is the responsibility of every person to take necessary measures for its protection!
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