Voices of Change
Speak up and act now!
Climate activists around the world are relentlessly pursuing global solidarity and transformational change with a clear and urgent message: act now to protect people and save our planet from the worst impacts of the climate crisis. As a tribute to those who persist, the Voices of Change series looks at the determination and drive of young people mobilizing for climate justice. It brings into perspective the severity of the vast and varying impacts of the climate crisis, while highlighting the growing movement to protect our future.
This series explores the vision and values of climate activists and their courage to persevere, against all odds, and make invaluable contributions to the global climate movement.
Rewa Assi: Adapting to the changing environment
Rewa Assi is an agricultural engineer from Lebanon - a country that has experienced decades of political and socio-economic crises. Today, climate change is worsening Lebanon’s challenges and has led to heatwaves and droughts, further affecting its water and food security. In this Voices of Change interview, she talks about the importance of sustainable agriculture and water management for climate action in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Monzir Mohammed: Protect the planet from danger
UNICEF Youth Advocate and Sudanese Climate Activist Monzir Mohammed believes in the power of innovation and the empowerment of young people. Coming from Sudan’s Blue Nile region, where the air temperature has increased by 1°C every year since the 1970s, he has seen first-hand the devastation caused by climate disasters such as droughts and floods. In this interview, he talks about giving young people the chance to lead climate action - and why he joined a group of likeminded young people to build Sudan’s first solar-powered car.
Nicole Becker: Turn that anger into collective action
When Argentinian climate activist and UNICEF Youth Advocate, Nicole Becker, learned that the climate crisis was one of the greatest threats to justice and human rights, she was determined to make some important changes in her life. In 2019, her organization, Jóvenes por el Clima or Youth for the Climate, a social and political movement, helped to organize Argentina’s first mass climate strike. In this interview, she talks about the importance of turning “that anger into collective action.”
Archana Soreng: Our voice matters
Climate activist Archana Soreng belongs to the Kharia tribe in Odisha, India. Indigenous communities like hers make up only 5 percent of the world’s population. But they protect more than 20 percent of our planet’s land and 80 percent of its biodiversity. Archana explains why we need to preserve the rights and recognize the critical role indigenous communities play in protecting our planet and its natural resources.
Ashley Lashley: The health of our people and our environment are all interconnected
Climate activist Ashley Lashley leads a movement called the HEY (Health and Environment-friendly Youth) Campaign - where she works with young people across the Caribbean to help to foster sustainable lifestyles and understand the impacts of climate change on our health - and the health of our planet.
Elizabeth Wathuti: We can change so much in the world
Elizabeth Wathuti, a Green Climate Fund Youth Champion, and the founder of the Green Generation Initiative, calls for solidarity and compassion in our efforts to address the world’s growing climate and ecological crises.
Vanessa Nakate: Climate change is about the people
Vanessa Nakate, a Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals, started her journey as a climate activist in 2018. The climate crisis has been one of the greatest threats affecting the lives of many Ugandans - and she became increasingly aware and concerned about communities particularly vulnerable to the crippling impacts of a warming planet.