Snow Dong, G9, The Stony Brook School   董婉儿 石溪中学 9年级

The mental toll and physical harm of climate change are undeniable, but they have also ignited a sense of urgency — a determination to act rather than succumb to hopelessness.

Teenagers and young adults, often dismissed as powerless, are emerging as fierce protectors of our planet.

Youth leading the charge

Young activists worldwide have shattered stereotypes, proving that age does not dictate impact. Greta Thunberg, at just 15, sparked a global movement with her school strike for climate, inspiring millions to join Fridays for Future. By September 2019, an estimated 4 to 7 million people across 150 countries marched for the planet, pressuring governments to declare climate emergencies. Thunberg’s fiery UN speech — “How dare you?” — embodied the fury of a generation betrayed by inaction. “We will not let you get away with this,” she declared. “Change is coming, whether you like it or not.”

Beyond individual activists, organized youth networks like YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, are influencing policy. Members like Ayisha Siddiqa, part of the UN Youth Advisory Group, assert that young voices are not token inclusions but essential stakeholders. “Young people aren’t just a quota to fulfil,” Siddiqa stated.

The path forward

The question remains: What can we do? UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized in 2023 that youth must be equipped with the skills to drive sustainable innovation — from renewable energy to green industrial practices. Education is crucial, but so is advocacy. While awareness of climate change has spread, systemic action lags, often hindered by economic and political interests.

We must demand accountability from leaders while adopting sustainable lifestyles ourselves. Grassroots efforts — tree planting, waste reduction, renewable energy adoption — matter, but systemic change requires pressuring policymakers.

The climate crisis is our inheritance, but it does not have to be our fate. Young people worldwide are proving that passion and persistence can drive change, even against entrenched power structures. Our future is not yet written. If we unite, fight, and demand change, we can still rewrite it. The time for action is now, and we will lead the way.