Young people are changing the conversation around climate change. Over past few years, youth movements have made global headlines and gotten the attention of political leaders.

Scientists warn that without major, rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the world faces crises including food shortages, extreme weather, wildfires, and a mass die-off of coral reefs as early as 2040. While the effects of man-made warming are already being felt, the most serious impact would be experienced by today’s youth and future generations.

In August 2018, 15-year-old Swedish teen Greta Thunberg began striking from school. She sat outside her country’s parliament with a sign that read, “School strike for climate.”

The images went viral--sparking student strikes around the world, with many young people joining the #FridaysforFuture movement. Thunberg recently spent two weeks taking a sailboat from Europe to the U.S. to attend an upcoming United Nations climate summit in New York City. Her journey was meant to draw attention to the greenhouse gas impact of air travel. The UN hosted a Youth Climate Summit, calling it, “a platform for young leaders who are driving climate action to showcase their solutions at the United Nations, and to meaningfully engage with decision-makers on the defining issue of our time.”