They just want to save the world, you know
COP27: Without Greta, activists make waves at climate summit
Young people are a more powerful force than ever in the UN climate summit, the UN’s youngest climate advisor tells BBC News in Egypt.
“Young people are definitely shaping outcomes here at COP27,” Sophia Kianni says.
Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg has skipped the Sharm el-Sheikh meeting, calling it a forum for “greenwashing”.
But young people from countries at high risk from climate change say they are “calling it out” from inside.
In an address on Tuesday, climate activist Vanessa Nakate from Uganda will tell governments to wash their “oil-stained” hands.
Speaking to G20 nations, she will tell ministers that they must end the “moral and economic madness” of funding fossil fuels and prioritising short-term politics.
Does no one in the media see the irony of Ms. Nakate, along with all the others, taking fossil fueled trips to complain about the use of fossil fuels? Did it even cross the minds of the reporters? Or, are they just altogether bought in on the climate cult?
Ayisha Siddiqa, 23, travelled from Pakistan to speak at the Youth Pavilion. It’s the first time young people have had a dedicated space like this, where last week activists held a formal meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
It’s one of the most buzzing areas of COP27, with activists jostling to find space to sit and chat on the floor, and Ayisha tells me she’s proud of the space.
“This is for the youth, organized by us. Unlike government and business areas, there’s no corporate branding everywhere,” she says.
So what are their degrees in? Anything? How about their business experience? Do they have a clue as to the way the world works?
Imran and his colleague Sohanur Rahmen explain they got grants for travel and hotels, but they cannot afford to eat at the conference.
Delegates faced costs of about $4,000 a week for accommodation, as well as the costs of travel and visas.
Activists say future climate summits must include special funds and accommodation for young people from civil society.
LOL, how cute. Someone else needs to pay for their climate cult activism.
At 20 years old, I’m the youngest United Nations advisor
Here’s what I do ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vpyxXlatEq
— Sophia Kianni (@SophiaKianni) November 14, 2022
The media is making a big deal of her. She took a fossil fueled trip all the way from Stanford. Who payed? It’s more fun scrolling through her twitter feed, seeing just how many clothes she brought, and how many times she changed them in just a few days. Like so many other of the youths, they’re turning it into an Instagram/TikTok event. Gotta get those selfies and videos, eh?