Words by Smiley Team
You're reading Patrons of the Planet, a weekly series where we hear from climate heroes of the global south and the world’s indigenous communities.
As someone who studied environmental engineering back in Argentina, I've always been in love with our planet and all life on Earth. Over the years, I've spent time volunteering, picking up litter from rivers, planting trees and doing education or outreach with other citizens.
One of my biggest inspirations is seeing how many people are trying to take positive actions every day themselves. It’s not enough though, and we need to scale it up, getting our politicians to take real action.
I think the uncomfortable truths have been very important to me. Learning the science behind the crisis, and from joining the environmental youth movement, Fridays for Future, I understood that the climate crisis is in fact a social cause. By this I mean that it requires us to act collectively, asking our leaders to take positive action while we still have time.
For this to be successful requires as many people as possible to get involved.
[Meet other incredible climate activists dedicated to protecting life on Earth]
I understand the urgency because I’ve seen the effects of the climate crisis firsthand. At home in Argentina, I grew up in a wetland, an area of land usually covered by water. However, from the last two years of fires in Brazil, the river that carries water from there to where I live, has dried up due to drought and we experienced the driest season in history.
It’s this experience that leads me to attend COP26, where I am trying to bring the Global South’s perspective on how we can drive positive climate action. For me, this requires our leaders to empower young people from the Global South.
I’m following the negotiations, especially the part my country plays. Because there are two main topics that concern me: how they will transform Argentina’s energy sources and how they will make our food production system more sustainable.
[Read more positive new stories that offer a source of inspiration and optimism]
What I hope for most of all, is that COP26 will result in a timeline of projects to bring concrete changes to communities worldwide, especially for those in the most vulnerable regions of the world.
I hope it will emphasise justice, diversity and gender equality. And I sincerely wish that community-based solutions will be woven into a vision for a sustainable new world.
Because if we are to find hope anywhere, it's in everyday people, standing together, raising our voices, and fighting to reduce global warming to 1.5℃.
We really, really need everyone involved in this fight.
Find more information about Fridays for Future and get involved at fridaysforfuture.org.
Patrons of the Planet is a weekly series to amplify the voices of heroes on the frontline of climate campaign work, as told to Blyth Brentnall. Every Tuesday, we meet individuals from the global south and indigenous groups who have risen above increasing adversity to support their communities, conserve nature and protect the planet for future generations.
