Inspiring Voices of Youth Climate Activists Demanding Action

Global youth activists have emerged as the most inspiring voices in the climate movement. They have organized and campaigned to demand concrete and ambitious action from world leaders, and they have successfully put the climate emergency at the center of the global political agenda. Youth activists are rightfully challenging the status quo: showing us exactly how ineffective our current actions are and offering us solutions on what needs to be done today to ensure a climate-safe future…because it’s the only option left.

Featured guests:
Pamela Escobar-Vargas is an activist, speaker, and an environmental researcher. She graduated with a degree in international relations from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and has been an Adjunct Professor of Public International Law, Foreign Policy of Mexico II, and Constitutional law. Pamela has participated in forums such as COP26 and the Pre-Summit on Food Systems. She is currently a youth delegate for the C40 Global Youth and Mayors Forum. You can read Pamela’s article, “Keeping 1.5°C Alive in the Global South: Life or Death” in the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, volume 1, issue 1.

Betty Osei Bonsu is a circular economy enthusiast from Ghana currently pursuing her Masters degree at the United Nations University in Germany. She serves as the Uganda Country Manager for the Green Africa Youth Organization, implementing sustainable community projects while enhancing youth climate activism. She hosts the YouTube show B. Inspired with Stories from Africa, a storytelling platform focused on community values. She is a member of the C40 Global Youth and Mayors Forum. You can read Betty’s article, “The Grassroots Story: Why Keeping 1.5°C is Vital from the Global South Perspective” in the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, volume 1, issue 1.

Juliet Oluoch is an environmental conservationist and climate activist from Nairobi, Kenya. Growing up, Juliet saw the devastating impacts of flooding in the neighbouring community of Kisumu County, and was inspired to pursue a degree in Environmental Conservation and Natural Resource Management to find answers to pressing climate issues. Juliet has also been involved with the African Youths Initiative on Climate Change, first as a Communications Coordinator and now as the Deputy National Coordinator. She supports her activism with academic research, with a special focus on sustainable cities.

Esther Yealie Kamara is a gender equality and climate advocate born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Esther is a student at Sierra Leone Fourah Bay College studying Gender and Development Studies. She is involved with organizations such as Women Deliver, and supports food security initiatives like urban farming and seed banks in Freetown. She graduated from Hilance Intern

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/

Our executive producers are Peggy Whitfield and Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/