The Road to Green 9: Meet the next generation of climate and environmental campaigners

Are you too young to care about the environment or be a climate activist? Well, think again, because in this episode of 'The Road to Green', Euronews hears from young activists in Spain who are taking matters into their own hands. At the same time, many Europeans are also taking action to address the climate and nature crises across the globe as part of the EU’s #ForOurPlanet campaign.  

Euronews takes us around Spain and begins in Barcelona. Catalonia is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in living memory. There, one of the world's youngest climate activists Francisco Vera Manzanares explains how the climate crisis affects plants and animals, how humans can reduce their carbon footprint, and most importantly, the power of optimism.  

“It's up to you to change the world”, says 16-year-old EU climate pact ambassador Olivia Mandle, who has dedicated her early years to protecting nature and the oceans. She has been nicknamed the new "Silvia Earle", and invented the Jelly Cleaner to collect microplastics from the sea when she was just 12. 

Euronews also travels to Begur where volunteers from the LIFE medCLIFFS project, – supported by the EU’s LIFE programme – are gathering data on invasive plants. They explain why they are spending a rainy Saturday protecting the floral diversity of the Catalan coast and preventing biodiversity loss. 

Watch the full episode

Background  

#ForOurPlanet is an EU campaign to address the climate and nature crises across the globe.  

Together with EU Delegations and Representations, the Commission aims to encourage all citizens and civil society to take action #ForOurPlanet. From planting trees to restoring wetlands, or just bringing nature to your house, roof or garden. Every action counts! 

Want to take it a step further? Register your newly planted trees and contribute to the EU’s 3 billion trees pledge. 

#ForOurPlanet was organised for the first time in autumn 2022, in the context of the United Nations negotiations on climate change (COP27, Sharm El Sheikh) and the first-ever global biodiversity agreement (COP15, Montreal). More than 70 actions were taken by Representations and Delegations in only a few months, expressing large scale support for ambitious action at those negotiations. 

The world has changed since then, but taking action to address the triple climate, biodiversity and pollution crises has never been more urgent. With #ForOurPlanet, the organisers invite everyone to take a small step, leading to big change. It's time to act, not just talk, and bring nature back into our lives. 

Watch previous episodes from 'The Road to Green'

Disclaimer 

DG ENV co-finances the production of the Road to Green, while Euronews retains full editorial independence. Views and opinions expressed in the programme are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the European Commission or any other entities.