Youth voice and climate action: being a Youth Advisor for the Climate Action Fund

Niamh Mawhinney, 24, Leeds

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a passion for climate action. I vividly remember standing in Trafalgar Square at the age of eight with my sister and dad, ready to join my first climate action walk. It wasn’t until much later that I began to fully comprehend the complexity and urgency of the global situation we find ourselves in. Over the past four years, it has been my goal to be part of the solution on an individual and community level; mobilising myself and others to do more to protect our natural environment.

While volunteering for Our Bright Future this year, I came across the opportunity to act as a Youth Advisor for round two of the Climate Action Fund which is focused on tackling waste and consumption. I was intrigued by the prospect of being involved in such an exciting project. We live in a consumption-driven society, it was reported that in 2018, the UK alone produced 222.2 million tonnes of waste. It’s hard to know where to begin with such a multifaceted issue, particularly when we consider the impact of the fast fashion, food and tech industries. We often hear what is happening at an international level, exemplified by the recent media coverage of the COP 26 Climate Action Summit. However, I was keen to learn more about what is happening at a grassroots and community level.

It was both refreshing and uplifting to see first-hand the inspiring initiatives the Climate Action Fund is supporting. Projects run by organisations such as Fuse Youth Café in Glasgow and Global Action Plan go beyond seeking to reduce waste and overconsumption (which will inevitably have a positive effect on reducing carbon emissions) but they actively mobilise people and communities to collaborate, an effort we need now more than ever.

Moreover, my role as a Youth Advisor has allowed me to appreciate the extent to which both The National Lottery Community Fund and their partners value youth voice. So often, we are surrounded by media coverage sharing the harmful effects of climate change, followed by a blame game of who is responsible. It is no surprise that for some young people climate anxiety is a real concern. This is why it is crucial that we give young people the opportunity to have a front-row seat at the table. Through initiatives like the Climate Action Fund, young people like me have the opportunity to have a direct voice in prioritising and highlighting the issues that young people and marginalised communities are facing.

My involvement with the Climate Action Fund has fuelled my ambition to continue making a difference in every way I can. Whether that is by emailing my landlord for better recycling facilities at my accommodation, making more conscious choices of where I buy my clothes from or sharing sustainable initiatives on social media. I’ve learned that no action is too small. I have also recently joined the UN Young Leaders educational programme, an academic course where I will conduct in-depth research on the global 2030 sustainable development goals as well as champion global youth leadership. My aspiration is to continue to help build a more sustainable future for all of humankind.