Young Climate Activists You Should Be Following in 2024

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Climate change has been a hot topic for many years — and for a good reason. The changing of the earth’s weather patterns and temperatures is something to be concerned about because it’s real, and it’s here. The impact it has on the environment is astronomical. It has altered life and livelihoods of many people. 

Fortunately, the younger generation is speaking up and speaking out against climate change. They are here to transform the way humans treat the environment. For example, in August 2023, a Montana judge sided with youth climate activists who argued that expanded fossil fuel permits were unconstitutional, posing an environmental and public health risk. However, this is just one of many new cases of this kind. Check out these nine young climate activists that you should be following this year. 

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg has undoubtedly become a household name ever since her appearance in 2018. Now, at 18 years old, the Swedish environmental activist is still fighting for the earth. She regularly posts on Twitter, and she also participates in many climate strikes, even those online. 

The speech that blew up across the globe was the one she delivered to the world leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, claiming all they worry about is economic growth rather than the environment of future generations. Thunberg lives a sustainable life by eating vegan and using eco-friendly modes of transportation and was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2019. 

Autumn Peltier

Another young woman who is leading the way for environmental change is Autumn Peltier. Peltier is from Canada and is a teenage water activist. She advocated for clean drinking water after reading a warning sign at a reservation that the water was toxic. She fights for water conservation and indigenous water rights.

Autumn spoke at the United Nations World Water Day in 2018. Additionally, she has been honored on multiple occasions for her advocacy work. Autumn’s great aunt inspired her, who was also an indigenous activist. 

Yusuf Baluch

Coming from Balochistan, Pakistan, Yusuf Baluch grew up experiencing climate change to the fullest, with floods, droughts and extreme temperatures. He is the organizer of Fridays for Future in Balochistan. Additionally, he is making efforts to have climate change be a subject taught in schools. 

Baluch is only 17 years old and has done so much to fight climate change already. Greta Thunberg inspired him after watching her talk at the UN Summit in 2019, although he has cared about the trees and environment from a young age. Yusuf wants to continue to be an activist because he has seen firsthand the effects of climate change in his own community. 

Nyombi Morris

Nyombi Morris comes from Uganda. He is a climate activist who has experienced repercussions, such as a confiscated cell phone and protest sign, from protesting in cities in Uganda. Additionally, due to standing up for the environment, his Twitter account was suspended in September 2020. 

However, these hardships have not stopped Nyombi from fighting for the climate. Through his studies and research on climate change, he realized just how much his home country is affected by climate change and global warming. Morris campaigns to protect the Bugoma Forest and urges the government to make plans to take action for the environment’s sake.

Mitzi Jonelle Tan

Based in the Philippines, Mitzi Jonelle Tan is a full-time climate activist. She leads the Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) and the Fridays for Future of the Philippines. The Philippines is vulnerable to climate change, and Tan wants to ensure she’s doing everything she can to advocate for the environment.

Mitzi consistently posts on her social media pages, keeping everyone updated on climate news in the Philippines and how people can individually take action. She is optimistic that the youth of today can revolutionize the way the government handles climate change.

Sarah Goody

Sarah Goody lives in California in the United States. She began her climate activism when she noticed that the California wildfires seemed to worsen year after year. Once she turned 12, she realized that the reason for the worsening wildfires was the climate crisis. This is what has fueled her passion for climate change activism.

Currently, she is the chair of her hometown’s Climate Action Committee. Goody helped create and pass a Climate Action Plan for her town as well. Now, she’s more involved in renewable energy and preparing and participating in climate protests. She encourages young people to remain hopeful and get involved in their own climate change action plans.

Tahsin Uddin

Finally, there’s Tahsin Uddin, a young climate activist from Bangladesh. He’s 22 years old but has a lifetime of knowledge about climate change. Bangladesh, like the Philippines, is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. He participates in many climate protests, plants trees and takes action to clean the environment. 

In 2015, he founded a youth organization called Lal Sabuj Society, which aims to keep young people involved in positive change. The organization’s members travel on bicycles throughout the region to speak out about climate change and how others can help. Uddin also helps train teenagers in mobile journalism so they can take action virtually.

Lesein Mutunkei

Kenyan-born Lesein Mutunkei combines his love for soccer with fighting deforestation. For every goal he scores, he plants 11 trees representing each of his teammates. His efforts have helped Kenya boost its tree coverage, which now stands at 6%.

In 2018, Mutunkei launched Trees4Goals to inspire other athletes in his area to follow suit. The campaign even grabbed FIFA’s attention, with the organization emphasizing the importance of such a movement for the climate crisis.

Qiyun Woo

Climate activist and digital artist Qiyun Woo started The Weird and the Wild on social media — a platform where she demystifies climate change to her audience through her artwork. Her illustrations have allowed her to connect with like-minded people who value the planet as much as she does.

Being from Singapore, Woo also uses her illustrations to illuminate Southeast Asia’s environmental issues and solutions that the rest of the world doesn’t hear about.

Let These Young Climate Activists Inspire You

No matter your age, take advice from these young people from around the world. They are raising their voices so we can have a sustainable future — join them.

This post was updated on Apri 29, 2024 to provide updated information.