Conservationist Jane Goodall is praising youth activists for their efforts to press world leaders on the need to combat climate change, saying young people have given her “hope” about the future of the planet.
“The young people altogether give me hope,” Goodall told Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball on “Rising” in response to a question over the rise of youth-led activism to combat climate change thanks in part to Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg.
Goodall warned that people shouldn’t write-off young activists, saying she personally saw the change that young people can inspire through her own national, community-based program started under the Jane Goodall Institute.
“They’re planting trees, they’re removing trash, they’re lobbying governments, they’re raising money to help earthquake victims,” she said. “Every child is passionate because they’re doing something that they really care about.”
The conservationist also emphasized that people cannot leave the need to combat climate change to politicians alone, saying many political systems have swung to the right on the issue and have also gotten bogged down by corruption.
“Most of our political systems have swung to the far right and it’s all about money and a lot of corruption out there, and no, I don’t have confidence, and so it’s up to us,” she told Hill.TV.
Goodall’s remarks come after world leaders gathered in New York City this week for the United Nations General Assembly where they discussed the issue of combatting climate change.
The event featured an impassioned speech by Thunberg, who made headlines for confronting leaders over their inaction on climate change.
“You say you hear us, and that you understand the urgency, but no matter how sad and angry I am I do not want to believe that,” Thunberg said. “Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act you would be evil, and that I refused to believe.”
President Trump made a quick stop at the climate event, where he was caught on video crossing paths with Thunberg following her speech. The clip quickly went viral across social media.
—Tess Bonn
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