An Intergenerational Plea for Climate Action

FMR. SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): I gave speeches on and off the Senate floor. And I would say people are going to look back at us and say, what were you doing? I mean, we still have many, many coal-fired powerplants in America. Get rid of them. We don’t need coal. It’s a thing of the past, yet we have a president whose — every place he goes, he trumps — I guess that’s a play on words — but he talks about the importance of coal. The importance of coal is just ruining our environment. We have to get away from fossil fuels. And young people are driving this. Alexandria, I am so proud of you and those young people who feel this more than anyone else, because you’re going to feel the detriment that’s taken place in our country. What we all need to do is look at the worst fires in California. We look at the — we have four major storms developing in the Atlantic as we speak. That’s never happened before. So, keep it up. It’s up to you young folks to make sure that you don’t let up or take your foot off the gas. Push.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Well, that is really exceptional advice, and the thing is, Alexandria, that you guys have been doing that. I mean, the Greta Thunberg school strikes for the climate, I think you were inspired by her as well. And if I’m not mistaken, you have filed a complaint with United Nations against powerful countries that have not met their targets and their pledges. Tell me a little bit about that.

ALEXANDRIA VILLASENOR, CLIMATE EMERGENCY ACTIVIST: Yes, so actually, as of yesterday, it’s the one-year anniversary of a complaint that I am a part of. And so, the complaint was filed to the committee on the rights of the child by myself, Greta Thunberg, and 14 other children from all around the world. And what we’re saying is that five countries are violating our rights as children by their inaction on the climate crisis. And so, those countries are Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Turkey and France. So, the reason why it were those countries, some people say, well, why not the United States? Well, the United States did not ratify the rights of the child. And so, this complaint is also bringing attention to what countries are committed to actually upholding these rights. And so, the reason why I think that this illegal action is very important is because it shows we are holding all these powerful countries accountable. And so, legal actions, I’m seeing so much more young people are standing up and doing this, because they see what’s happening to our planet, and it’s unfair that we are being given this. And so, we are seeing lawsuits by children in Canada and Mexico, and now, there’s even a Portuguese lawsuit by six children who have taken their fight to the European Commission on Human Rights. So, young people are rising up and really demanding action from all different sectors of our society. And legal actions is what remain — is what we’re focusing on with this.