There are many passionate young eco-warriors fighting for a greener and cleaner earth, hoping to wake up to a better world than the one they inherited. The movement for climate change is swinging in full force today, but the credit for this goes beyond just Greta Thunberg. The young Swedish climate activist has made remarkable strides in raising environmental awareness and curbing global warming, but there are many other trailblazing youngsters around the globe that we should be talking about too. Take a look at five young climate activists fighting to save our planet. Artemisa Xakriabá, Brazil Artemisa Xakriabá is a 19-year-old Brazilian activist at the UN Youth Climate Summit in New York City. Hundreds of indigenous tribes come together each year to protect the Amazon rainforest; Xakriabá was seven when she joined students from her Xakriabá community to reforest areas around their homeland in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. This inspiring activist is a representative of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, which protects six hundred hectares of forest across the Amazon Basin, Brazil, Indonesia, and Mesoamerica. Melati Wijsen, Indonesia Melati Wijsen is an 18-year-old Indonesian-Dutch climate activist who founded ‘Bye Bye Plastic Bags’ with Isabel, her sister, in 2013 to promote the use of alternatives to plastic and encourage a ban on single-use plastics. Wijsen’s campaigns like online petitions, beach cleanups, and international speaking engagements (from the IMF-World Bank Group forum to the UN) were a mind-blowing step to coax the government to ban single-use plastic in Bali in 2019. Autumn Peltier, Canada Autumn Peltier is a 15-year-old activist from Canada and has been advocating for clean water from the time she was 8. Her activism began when she started speaking at community events and has now risen into prominence, making her way to the forefront of the global climate movement. The young activist has been addressing the United Nations since 2016 at various forums and events, emphasizing the need to conserve water. Misimi Isimi, Nigeria Misimi Isimi is a 13-year-old climate activist who goes by the moniker of Miss Environment. Isimi from Lagos is on a mission to curb pollution. She started a club known as Eco Kids Green Club that hosts activities to encourage waste management, and apart from being an environmental waste activist, she is also a popular panellist on girls' rights. Ayakha Melithafa, South Africa The teen activist from Cape Town was one of the 16 members to sign a legal complaint, protesting the inaction of the government regarding the climate crisis with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. She is also a part of the Project 90 by 2030 initiative that is working towards the creation of a sustainably developed economy. It is impressive how the boomer generation is fighting for the planet and combating the burning issues.
