Youth battling climate change

Good Morning America

5 Nov 202103:15

Summary

TLDRThe video highlights a young climate activist, Chia, who is making waves on the global stage with her efforts to combat climate change. Inspired by her parents' environmental concerns, she became a leading force in the movement, organizing school strikes and massive protests like the 300,000-strong New York climate strike. Chia believes that small, immediate actions can make a big difference and is now preparing to confront global leaders at the Glasgow Climate Conference, determined to ensure a stable future for current and future generations.

Takeaways

🌍 A woman is making waves internationally as a climate change activist, inspiring younger generations.
👥 Generation Z is leading the charge in climate activism, driven by the visible effects of a warming planet.
🔥 The climate crisis is urgent, and young activists are taking direct action, refusing to wait for future solutions.
🌱 The activist was deeply influenced by her parents, with her father from an indigenous community and her mother fighting environmental damage in Chile.
💪 She became involved early on by joining an environmental club but quickly realized she wanted to do more.
📢 She organized a school climate strike, and 600 students joined her, underscoring the widespread support among young people.
👊 The activist helped organize a large-scale climate strike in New York City with 300,000 participants.
🌟 She emphasizes that saving the planet can start with small acts and that solutions are already available.
🌍 Her next big step is attending the global climate conference in Glasgow, where she plans to confront governments on their insufficient climate actions.
👶 She is motivated by a desire to protect future generations from climate instability and disasters.

Q & A

Who is the main person featured in the video and what is she known for?
-The main person featured is Chia, known for her work as a crusader against climate change and for inspiring younger generations to take action.
What is Chia’s background and how did it influence her activism?
-Chia’s father was indigenous from the Mapuche community and understood the importance of protecting both people and nature. Her mother in Chile also saw the government's disregard for the ecosystem while building dams. These influences inspired Chia's activism.
What motivated Chia to join the environmental movement during her school years?
-Chia was eager to take care of 'Mother Earth' because of her upbringing and understanding of the connection between people and nature. She felt compelled to do more than join an environmental club, which led her to organize a climate strike.
How did Chia’s first climate strike go?
-Chia organized a strike by putting posters up around her school. Despite the posters being taken down, she persisted, and on the day of the strike, 600 students gathered in the lobby to walk out in support.
What was the scale of the climate strike organized by Chia in New York?
-Chia helped organize the largest climate strike in New York, with 300,000 people participating on September 20th.
What message does Chia convey to people who want to help fight climate change?
-Chia encourages people to get involved by telling them they don’t need to make massive changes to their lives. She emphasizes that many solutions already exist and can be implemented right now.
What major international event is Chia looking forward to attending?
-Chia is looking forward to attending the global climate conference in Glasgow, where she plans to confront governments that are not doing enough to address climate change.
Why is Chia passionate about fighting climate change?
-Chia is motivated by a desire to protect both present and future generations from climate instability and disasters. She wants her children and future generations to live without the worry of climate crises.
How did Chia inspire her peers to participate in the climate strike?
-Chia's persistence in putting up posters and her message about the importance of protecting the planet resonated with her peers, leading to the participation of hundreds of students in the strike.
What does Chia hope to achieve by attending the global climate conference?
-Chia aims to hold governments accountable for their inaction on climate change and push for more effective solutions on a global scale.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 A Climate Crusader Making Waves

The video introduces a young woman who is making an impact on the international stage as an advocate against climate change. She has been a source of inspiration for generations, motivating people to take action in the fight to protect the planet.

👥 Gen Z Leading the Climate Fight

The urgency of climate action has increased dramatically in 2021, with Generation Z at the forefront of efforts to address the global crisis. These young activists have grown up in a world already affected by climate change and are determined to make a difference.

🏞 A Personal Mission Rooted in Family Values

The activist, Chia, shares her personal connection to the climate cause. Her father, an indigenous man from the Altiplano community, and her mother from Chile, both inspired her with their passion for protecting nature. Growing up, she absorbed their dedication to safeguarding the environment.

🏫 Early Activism and the Birth of Climate Strikes

Chia's activism began in school, where she joined the environment club but quickly realized she wanted to do more. Determined to raise awareness, she organized a climate strike, even though her efforts faced obstacles. Despite opposition, 600 students participated in her first strike.

👣 Expanding the Movement

Following her early success, Chia aimed higher, helping organize the largest climate strike in New York, with 300,000 people participating. Her commitment to the cause grew as she continued to push for greater action.

♻️ Small Acts for Big Impact

Chia emphasizes that meaningful action to protect the planet can start with small, everyday changes. She encourages others to get involved by showing them that solutions exist today, rather than waiting for future innovations.

🌍 Preparing for Glasgow's Global Climate Conference

Chia looks forward to attending the global climate conference in Glasgow, where she will join other activists and leaders to push for urgent action. She wants to ensure a better future for current and future generations, fighting for a world free from climate instability.

👏 Celebrating Youth Activism

The video wraps up by praising Chia's impressive work and the drive of young activists like her. It underscores the importance of youth engagement in global movements, especially when they show such deep understanding of the issues.

🧑‍⚕️ Upcoming Topics on GMA

The show announces what's coming next, including a Q&A session with Dr. Jen on children's COVID-19 risk during contact sports, followed by a colorful ceremony celebrating those who came before. Viewers are encouraged to stay tuned for more.

📺 GMA Wrap-Up and Invitation to Subscribe

Robin Roberts invites viewers to subscribe to GMA’s YouTube channel for more daily content, encouraging them to stay connected with news and stories from the show. A warm closing message thanks the audience for their support.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Climate Crisis

The climate crisis refers to the urgent global situation caused by human-induced climate change, leading to extreme weather, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation. In the video, this term is central to the narrative, as the young activist is focused on mobilizing people to address the pressing dangers the planet faces. It highlights the environmental urgency motivating her activism.

💡Gen Z

Gen Z, or Generation Z, is the demographic cohort born roughly between the late 1990s and early 2010s. They are portrayed in the video as the generation leading the fight against climate change, having grown up with constant warnings about a warming planet. Their activism and involvement in climate strikes exemplify their proactive role in addressing environmental issues.

💡Indigenous Community

Indigenous communities are groups of people who are the original inhabitants of a region, often with a deep connection to the land and its ecosystems. The activist’s father was part of the Ulkatcho community, and she credits his teachings about the importance of respecting and protecting nature as foundational to her environmental advocacy.

💡Climate Strike

A climate strike is a protest where individuals, often students, walk out of schools or workplaces to demand action against climate change. In the video, the activist organized a successful strike at her school, which grew into a larger movement. The strike is used to raise awareness and pressure governments and institutions to take climate action.

💡Mother Earth

Mother Earth is a symbolic representation of the planet, often personified as nurturing and life-giving. The activist in the video emphasizes the reciprocal relationship between humans and the Earth, saying that we must take care of Mother Earth because she takes care of us. This concept ties into indigenous beliefs about environmental stewardship.

💡Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. The activist's mother witnessed the destruction of ecosystems in Chile due to government projects like dam construction. This destruction serves as an example of how unchecked industrial activities harm natural systems and motivates the activist’s environmental efforts.

💡Glasgow Climate Conference

The Glasgow Climate Conference, also known as COP26, was a major international summit focused on addressing the global climate crisis. In the video, the activist is preparing to attend this conference to confront world leaders about their insufficient actions on climate change, showcasing the importance of international cooperation in solving the crisis.

💡Small Acts

Small acts refer to everyday actions that individuals can take to help address climate change, such as reducing waste, conserving energy, or supporting sustainable practices. The activist mentions that people don’t need to drastically change their lives to make a difference, but that small, simple actions can collectively contribute to larger environmental solutions.

💡Future Generations

Future generations are the people who will live on Earth in the coming decades and centuries. The activist in the video emphasizes that her climate work is not just for present-day humanity but also for future generations, hoping to leave them a world free from climate instability and disasters. This concept drives much of her motivation to create lasting change.

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the development of new methods, products, or technologies that can help solve problems. In the video, the activist notes that while people often wait for technological innovations to address climate change, there are already solutions available that can be implemented right now. This highlights a focus on immediate, practical actions rather than waiting for future advancements.

Highlights

A young woman is making a splash on the international stage as a crusader against climate change.

Gen Z is leading the charge in the fight to protect the planet, having grown up with warnings of a warming world.

The climate crisis is happening now, not in 50 or 100 years as often portrayed by the media.

Chia, inspired by her parents, both of whom had strong ties to environmentalism, became an advocate for climate action.

Her father was Indigenous from the Aymara community, aware of the need to protect the connection between people and nature.

Her mother in Chile noticed government projects that ignored environmental impacts, further shaping Chia's views.

Chia first became active by joining her school’s environment club but soon sought to do more.

She organized a climate strike at her school, rallying 600 students to participate in a walkout.

Chia and her peers organized their largest climate strike, gathering 300,000 people in New York on September 20th.

She advocates for small, actionable steps, emphasizing that people don’t need to change their lives drastically to help the planet.

Chia believes many people are waiting for the next big innovation, while solutions already exist that can be implemented now.

Her next big goal is attending the global climate conference in Glasgow to meet with other activists and leaders.

Chia wants to confront governments at the conference who she believes are not doing enough to address the climate crisis.

Her motivation includes protecting both present and future generations from climate instability and disasters.

The segment ends by celebrating her efforts and showing admiration for her impact at such a young age.