On 16 March, I was lucky enough to speak to Inés Yábar and Azeez Tobi Abubakar, two young climate leaders who participated at the 26th UN Climate Change conference (COP26).

Both were inspired at a young age to become climate activists. Inés, from Peru, was 15 years old when she investigated plastic pollution at school - this ignited her activism journey. Inés has since been chosen to represent the Global Plastic Action Partnership and has started a podcast called Mullu on the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This was Inés’ second experience of participating at COP, accompanying the Peruvian Government.

Azeez grew up in Nigeria and has experienced the effects of climate change firsthand. As a teenager, he was stuck on a bridge with his brother during a storm, which he described as a ‘very horrific and terrible day’. The event had clearly traumatised him, but he used it as his motivation to get to where he is today. Since then he has been selected as one of ten Global Citizen Fellows in Nigeria and represented the Nigerian youth voice at the Youth4Climate Summit and COP26. He too has started an eco-lifestyle podcast called The Earth Podcast.

Through their work with Restless Development, Inés and Azeez continue to galvanise support from young people to achieve a more just and sustainable world. Both represent the voices of marginalised young people on the frontlines of the crisis, who are often underrepresented in decision-making forums. ‘My major mission was to amplify the voices of the missing majority, especially African communities’ Azeez says.

Having already seen the effects of climate change, Azeez reflected on how the crisis is deepening inequality, ‘every impact of climate change right now is further pushing people into poverty, and further increasing hunger due to low yield’. 

I was curious as to what a climate activist actually does and from what they told me, it sounds busy but energising. ‘No day looks the same’, Inés said. There are many campaigns to join and build, workshops to lead and social media advocacy to keep on top of. Inés mentioned that it is not only important to communicate with other climate activists, but to interconnect with activists fighting for different causes. That way, it is easier to create larger campaigns, with more people behind them.

They both view their activism journeys as rewarding, even the smallest actions are seen as victories. ‘Small things are generally the ones I look back at and smile’ Inés says. For example, when she explained to a member of her local community how disconnecting a household appliance could conserve energy, the whole community began doing the same. ‘I know that impact came from me, and has now affected so many people that I don’t even know’. Her main message is that these are actions that anyone can do, ‘whatever you do, it isn’t too small to make a difference’. 

There are of course challenges with being an activist too. Inés reflected on how ‘young campaigners today can have a lot of negativity surrounding them online’. They both agreed that knowing when to take a break is extremely important, and can help prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.

It is clear that just like the speed at which wildfires and droughts are ravaging this planet, young activists are soaring ahead with their campaigns. I was truly inspired by Inés and Azeez’s determination to raise awareness about the climate emergency. However big or small, we all have a part to play and it’s time we learned a thing or two from young people.


@azeezt_abubakar
@InesYabar