From Witnessing Natural Disasters to Becoming a Climate Activism Champion: Anuska’s Inspiring Mission
Believing that children are not simply the future, but the agents of change today, 17-year-old Climate Advocate and Red Alert and Generation Hope Campaigner of Save the Children, Anuska, is committed to creating a more equitable and sustainable future.
Anuska, a remarkable 17-year-old climate activist from Nepal and Save The Children’s Red Alert and Generation Hope Campaigner, brings a deep understanding of the urgency of climate action informed by first-hand experience. As a child, she witnessed the devastating effects of numerous natural disasters, from earthquakes and wildfires to landslides and floods. While these events may seem isolated, collectively they pose a serious threat to her people, the local economy, and the overall development of Nepal.
These experiences led her to become commitment to climate activism. She learned firsthand the power of integration and community support, and realized that addressing these daunting challenges requires collective effort and an unwavering commitment to change. Anuska firmly believes that just as her local community has come together to recover and rebuild, the world can come together to create positive, far-reaching change, especially the youth.
“I truly believe that children are not simply “the future,” but they are agents of change today.” — Anuska
We spoke with Anuska about what she identifies as the barriers that keep us from achieving the 2030 Agenda, what solutions she proposes, and how she Unites to Act for a more sustainable future:
Already at the age of 13, you decided to become a climate activist and engage in activities like conferences, speech competitions, and MUNs. What motivated you to become an activist at such a young age?
Talking about motivation, I think one of the very first inspirations was my mother, a social worker involved with different clubs. She would take me to various programs, but I loved plantation and participating in cleaning campaigns the most. These experiences instilled in me a profound connection with nature, where I felt most secure and joyful.
My personal journey into climate activism began when I won a National Speech Competition focused on the “Roles of Youth and Children in climate action”, organized by National Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) Pokhara, a nonprofit I now work for in my city. Before that, I was a kid, an ignorant one I believe. I didn’t know people fought for their environment. However, the allure of climate action captured my attention, and I devoted my first year of high school to it, especially during the lockdown when I had more free time.
I began participating in conferences and awareness video campaigns to deepen my understanding of our planet’s condition. I was a novice with a strong desire to contribute positively. I never littered around, plucked plants, or did other things that caused detriment to our environment, but this was like on a whole new level. I was actually being heard. To be able to represent a lot of children, mainly girls, is pure bliss for me.
Building a sustainable future for all means taking action today and flipping the current global narrative on everything from climate change and gender inequality to food insecurity. Zooming in on one priority, what challenge speaks to you the most and how are you uniting to act for the SDGs?
Climate change is my top priority. I also stress on gender inequality and poverty, particularly in Nepal, where 21% live in absolute poverty, especially in rural areas lacking basic necessities. I support SDG 1: No Poverty and Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality, recognizing their interconnectedness with other SDGs like Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 2: No Hunger.
I stress on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 through sustainable agriculture and reforestation. Natural disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods, are global challenges. I believe in creating job opportunities for proper green farming, which solves the problem of food insecurity as well as global warming. Developing countries, produce fewer anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, are vulnerable due to industrial countries’ emissions. Thus, industrial countries should pay developing countries for emissions reductions, while the developing countries should focus on mitigation of global climate change.
As a part of the Red Alert Digital Hangout within Save the Children’s Steering Committee, could you elaborate on how you and the other members are translating discussions and ideas into actionable initiatives that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs?
My Red Alert Steering Committee members are incredibly dedicated towards our planet. We meet virtually quarterly to share our climate change initiatives, exchange ideas, and plan upcoming activities. I get to hear about lots of new ideas from them which I can bring into practice in my own city. One of the ideas was the Human Library about climate activists; I really loved that notion. We speak about upcoming opportunities like COP28, G20, UNGA where we children and youth can take part in. We all work together and explore what we are capable of even as children because of the guidance from the advocates.
Among the 17 SDGs, we focus on a lot of similar goals. We raise awareness about clean water and sanitation, address gender inequality, especially among girls in underprivileged villages, and work to improve the quality of education for them. Disaster risks and disruptions to our education due to damages to our schools are also topics we collaboratively address. By setting shared goals, tracking our progress, and exchanging experiences, we contribute effectively to achieving the SDGs.
This year marks the halfway point to Agenda 2030, and yet indicators show that progress on the SDGs is lagging. Only about 12% of the Goals are currently on track while close to 50% are moderately or severely off track. What do you want to see happen right now in the climate sector that can contribute to reversing this negative trend and putting us back on the right path?
In my opinion, the obstacles primarily revolve around a lack of political will. Governments often prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term sustainable development. Additionally, there are overwhelming global challenges that, no matter how hard we try, seem to resist balanced solutions, resulting in disparities in resilience. Climate change often takes a back seat to more immediate concerns, hindering progress in addressing it.
However, there are solutions to these problems. Meeting emission reduction targets under the Paris Agreement and investing in clean energy are vital. Vulnerable communities affected by climate change need support through adaptation strategies and warning systems. Initiatives like the “Teach The Teacher” campaign, where students educate their teachers about climate change, can raise public awareness about climate change and its interconnectedness with other SDGs.
To get back on the right track, we should also focus on engaging youth and children, amplifying voices from marginalized communities, ensuring that support reaches those in need during times of distress, holding governments and businesses accountable for their commitments to SDGs, aligning national policies to promote green innovation and sustainable projects, and, of course, protecting our natural ecosystems.
For many, the quest for an equitable and sustainable future starts from within. What has been a key turning point in your life? What have you learned from this that gives you hope for the current turning point we find ourselves in?
I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of natural disasters in my community, including earthquakes, forest fires, landslides, floods, erosion, droughts, erratic rainfalls, and monsoons. These events threaten our economy and overall development. For instance, food shortages occur with insufficient rainfall, and rising temperatures lead to crop failures. In Nepal, an agricultural country, these ecosystem changes are significant. Landslides damage hilly region roads and infrastructure, and avalanches from melting glaciers are heartbreaking.
All of these experiences were key turning points in my life. When I became involved in climate activism, I realized that there’s no turning back now. It’s evident that addressing these challenges requires collaboration and a shared commitment to change. I believe the world can come together to bring about positive change on a larger scale, just as my community rallied together to recover and rebuild. Every positive change starts from within and gradually evolves into a united driving force that gives us hope that we can still do better. I truly believe that children are not simply “the future,” but they are agents of change today.
