Greta Thunberg is Making History, and She’s Not the Only One

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Greta Thunberg delivers remarks at the UN Climate Summit.

Greta Thunberg began her activism work in 2018, and her focus is on saving our planet. She is a 16-year-old girl with Asperger’s Syndrome and has organized climate strikes in over 150 countries. She has become the young face of climate activism, and recently addressed a speech in front of the UN. The transcript, published in full on NPR and other news sites, included some strong statements and passionate pleas: “Entire ecosystems are collapsing,” Thurnberg told her adult audience. “We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and economic growth! … For more than 30 years the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and continue to come here and say that you’re doing enough?” asked Thurnberg, who is known for her book, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference

Thunberg has become such an important role model, and has met world leaders.  According to counrtyliving.com, she has met the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, as well as the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Although Greta Thunberg is the voice of the climate strikes, she isn’t the first person to fight for the environment. Here are three other teenage activists speaking up for their planet, showing everyone that young people can make a huge difference.

 

Autumn Peltier

Peltier is an Indigenous Canadian clean water activist. She just turned fifteen years old and is already recognized as Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner, which is a position she inherited from her great aunt. She spoke at the United Nations once in 2018 and again this year on the subject of Canada’s water crisis. In Canada, many people in rural areas must travel large distances for a drink. Peltier isn’t a fan of that. She believes everyone should have access to clean, close water, and she has shown the will to fight for her cause. 

Learn more about Peltier’s efforts here and here, and you can follow her socials, @autumn.plieter on Instagram, for current updates on her work.

 

Isra Hirsi 

Hirsi is a sixteen-year-old African American activist. Although you may not recognize the name, you’ve likely heard of her most successful project–she’s the co-founder of the Youth Climate Strike. She’s the daughter of Congresswoman Illhan Omar and is following in her mother’s footsteps to the path of politics. She, like Peltier, is a voice for the minority–Peltier speaks for indigenous girls, and Hirsi speaks for black, Muslim teenagers. Hirsi is outspoken and is determined to fight for her future.

Read more about Hersi here and here. If you want to keep updated on her situations, follow her socials, @israhirsi on Twitter and Instagram.

 

Mari Copeny

Mari Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, is only eleven but already a major activist for climate change and the Flint Water Crisis. She’s written to Presidents and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for aid to students with a lack of drinking water. Although she is one of the youngest major activists, she isn’t letting her age stop her from the action. 

Read more about Copeny here and here, and follow her socials @littlemissflint.