The Period of Digital Protests and Advocacy

The Period of Digital Protests and Advocacy

In the heart of Glasgow, Scotland, the United Nations' annual COP26 conference is underway, and a group of passionate youth activists from around the world are making their voices heard.

One of these activists is Veronica Mulenga (26) from Lusaka, Zambia, who is advocating for gender equality in the climate discussions. Mulenga emphasizes that the effects of the climate crisis disproportionately impact women, yet they are often excluded from the decision-making process. She calls for stronger female representation at conferences like COP26.

Another youth activist, Uriel Medina (17) from Colima, Mexico, expresses the importance of youth participation in fighting climate change. He hopes that their involvement will be fundamental at COP26.

The project "The Frontline," initiated by photographer and youth climate activist Pamela Elizarrarás Acitores, features 21 youth activists from various countries who represent numerous organizations and movements. Each portrait in the project is paired with an environmental image that connects with the organizer's work. Among the participants are Valentin Abend (25) from Mallorca, Spain, Ayisha Siddiqa (21) from Jhang, Pakistan & New York, and Catalina Santelices (18) from Talca, Chile.

The youth activists are demanding urgent, ambitious climate action grounded in intergenerational justice, the reduction of fossil fuel use, and systemic changes like zero-waste policies. They focus on holding governments and corporations accountable for their disproportionate impact on future generations and push for inclusion of youth voices in climate governance.

Key demands include applying an intergenerational equity framework recognizing youth rights to a healthy environment and a liveable future, stopping fossil fuel expansion, and closing the emissions gap through concrete national plans excluding waste-to-energy incineration.

The activists use visual storytelling extensively to convey the urgency of climate action. This includes graphic images and videos highlighting the impacts of climate change and pollution, particularly on children and vulnerable communities, organizing global youth forums and social media campaigns that blend powerful visuals with personal testimonies, and using creative art, photography, and infographics that link climate justice to health, city resilience, and equity.

Catalina Santelices (18) from Talca, Chile, expresses the desire for young people to have a 'seat at the table' at COP26, stating that change needs to happen now because by the time they are old enough to be in a position to make decisions, it will be too late.

In 2020, the project's participants spoke about how their activism shifted and what they want to see achieved in November at COP26, the global climate change conference hosted annually by the United Nations. It's important to note that only 18% of the global economic response to the pandemic is going toward environmentally friendly initiatives.

As the conference continues, these youth activists are determined to make their voices heard and push for the urgent, ambitious climate action that is necessary to secure a liveable future for all.

[1] UNFCCC COP26 Youth Climate Summit 2021 [2] Youth4Climate [3] Youth for Climate Justice

1. At the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Veronica Mulenga (26), an activist from Lusaka, Zambia, is advocating for gender equality and stronger female representation in climate discussions, emphasizing the disproportionate impact of the climate crisis on women.
2. Uriel Medina (17), another youth activist from Colima, Mexico, is focusing on the importance of youth participation in fighting climate change, hoping their involvement will be fundamental at COP26.
3. Photographer and activist Pamela Elizarrarás Acitores initiated the project "The Frontline," featuring 21 youth activists from various countries who are connecting their work to environmental images in solving the climate crisis.
4. The activists are demanding intergenerational justice, reduction of fossil fuel use, and systemic changes like zero-waste policies, pushing for inclusion of youth voices in climate governance and holding governments and corporations accountable for their impact on future generations.
5. Catalina Santelices (18) from Talca, Chile, desires for young people to have a 'seat at the table' at COP26, stating that change needs to happen immediately because by the time they are old enough to make decisions, it could be too late.
6. In preparation for COP26, the youth activists are conducting global youth forums, social media campaigns, and using art, photography, and infographics to link climate justice to health, city resilience, and equity, in light of only 18% of the global economic response to the pandemic going toward environmentally friendly initiatives.

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