There are billions of people who live on Earth, and the planet can’t supply enough resources or absorb enough waste to sustain them. By 2030, we’ll need two planets to sustain human life.
Humanity’s impact has caused many environmental issues, most notably global warming.
We’re now emitting greenhouse gases at an increasing rate, which traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. These actions are a leading cause of global warming, which is a danger to our environment, our ecosystems, and life itself.
More people are joining the environmental movement and educating the masses on climate change. Here are five young activists to follow.
1. Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg’s name is synonymous with climate change. The 17-year-old Swedish activist became famous when she would skip school and protest outside of Swedish Parliament.
She founded the Fridays for Future movement, where students skip school on Friday to strike, inspiring leaders to work toward putting environmental protections on the rest of the world.
Today, Thunberg speaks with world leaders about protecting our planet and has also inspired many young activists from around the world.
2. Kallan Benson
Fridays for Future expanded to the U.S., and Kallan Benson is the national coordinator. She is also the co-organizer for the Outreach Working Group for Fridays for Future International.
She is also passionate about art and co-directs Parachutes for the Planet, which encourages activists to express their environmental concerns through art.
In less than a year, Benson has been an inspiration to the country. She helped pass a fracking ban in Maryland and is also behind many fossil fuel restrictions in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
3. Xiye Bastida
Bastida is another Fridays for Future organizer and is known as “America’s Greta Thunberg.” She sits at the administrative committee of the People Climate Movement. In 2018, she received the Spirit of the UN award.
Bastida has experienced the effects of global warming firsthand.
She grew up in the Mexican town San Pedro Tultepec, where she suffered through drought and sudden heavy rainfall and flooding. She also endured Hurricane Sandy, which hit New York and various other states and islands.
4. Ted Halstead
Ted Halstead is an American climate expert. Even though he’s not young (he was born in 1968), he’s one of the most influential climate activists in the world. He founded four non-profits, including the Climate Leadership Council.
Halstead wrote two books and his work has appeared in numerous publications, such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
In 2017, Halstead gave an inspiring TED Talk on a solution to climate change. The TED Talk has over 1.5 million views and has been translated into 20 languages.
Listen to These Young Activists and Join the Environmental Movement
All over the world, the effects of climate change are occurring and they will only worsen if we don’t start acting.
These young activists are inspiring world leaders and others from around the world. From Greta Thunberg’s work in Europe to Kallan Benson’s work in the U.S., these activists will help create a better future.
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