It’s been one year since lockdown. Since the pandemic put the world on pause, youth climate activists have been gathering online. However, internet access is a privilege. In acknowledgement of that, I sought to collaborate with 21 youth activists worldwide who represent numerous organizations and movements. We spoke about how their activism in 2020 shifted—and what they want to see achieved in November at COP26, the global climate change conference hosted annually by the United Nations. A virtual photoshoot followed each conversation.

We created this project to urge leaders to make 2021 the year we truly take climate action and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable.

Each portrait has been paired with an environmental image that connects with the organizer’s work. Take Daniela Balaguera, for example, an environmental defender of La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range in Colombia. She asked to be represented with a forest image. On the other hand, Finlay Pringle, a shark ambassador in Ullapool, Scotland, wanted his photograph surrounded by water.

By projecting visuals of nature over the digital portraits I took during the interviews, I intended to convey what this past year has looked like for youth climate organizers: a confinement to our screens where we have been networking, organizing, and learning mostly online. Some of us may have been tucked safely inside during lockdown, but that does not mean the climate crisis has gone away. It is more present now than ever. Just look at all that occurred in 2020: record wildfires, record storms, and record ice loss.

The project’s backdrops of ecoscapes represent the beautiful places that are alive today and at risk of disappearing within our lifetime. Further damage to these ecosystems—from rainforests to oceans—will worsen existing injustices that are disproportionately experienced by the most vulnerable people and communities.

Despite our grief, we are still optimistic. Our voices are more powerful than before. COP26 is an opportunity to come together inclusively to commit to reducing our emissions and building resilience through green recoveries. So far, only 18 percent of the global economic response to the pandemic is going toward environmentally friendly initiatives. The conference is an opportunity to unite around the need for bold climate action.

The words the youth shared with me for this project reflect their optimism and agency. We need more of that at this moment.

Daniela Balaguera (26): Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia ON WHO GETS TO HAVE A VOICE IN COP26:

I feel that there is a lot of discussion on who is privileged enough to be considered appropriate to speak at these conferences. That person needs to meet a specific profile and be able to speak a foreign language fluently. This is a huge limitation; it’s a barrier that limits many people with genuine knowledge of the climate crisis.

Kevin Mtai (24): Soy, Kenya

ON YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN COP26

It is crucial for conferences such as COP26 to incorporate the youth in the decision-making process and implementation of climate policies.

Ayisha Siddiqa (21): Jhang, Pakistan & New York

ON FOSSIL FUELS IN COP26

“I don’t want to see any more fossil fuel companies, executives, CEOs, lobbyists, and handlers at that conference. It is a blatant conflict of interest. It is like inviting the wolf to your house after he ate the rest of your family for dinner. It doesn’t make sense. In addition, we as a society need to realize how damaging green capitalism is if we are going to get anywhere.”

Uriel Medina (17): Colima, Mexico

ON YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN COP26

“I hope that by seeing all the mobilizing the youth around the world are doing, COP organizers understand that we don’t need three doctorates in climate mitigation to be worthy of having an impact on decisions that will affect our future. Youth participation is fundamental for fighting climate change.”

Jefferson Estela (20): Calamba, Philippines

Valentin Abend (25): Mallorca, Spain

Veronica Mulenga (26): Lusaka, Zambia

ON GENDER EQUALITY IN COP26

“The effects of the climate crisis disproportionately affect women the most, yet most of the time, we are not included in the decision-making process. We need stronger female representation at these types of conferences. The majority of climate justice activists are women; we understand that the climate crisis is and will affect us the most; we want to participate in making the decisions that will influence our lives. Not have men decide our present and future for us.”

Catalina Santelices (18): Talca, Chile

ON HAVING A ‘SEAT AT THE TABLE’ AT COP26

“It is not true that young people are not interested in anything. We are here, we are interested, and we want to change things. Change needs to happen now because, by the time we are old enough to be in a position to make decisions, it will be too late.”

Talia Woodin (21): London, UK

ON BEING HOPEFUL ABOUT COP26

"Even if the actual conference doesn’t come up with anything substantial, even if those in power don’t make any decent decisions, there’s been so many significant mobilization and organization within activist groups. Everything that's come out due to people doing work around the COPs, like Polluters Out, for example, I think that's kind of the thing that we have to be more hopeful about."

Vhon Michael Tobes (17): Philippines

ON ACHIEVING CONCRETE ACTION IN COP26:

"I want leaders to keep trying harder and harder and to let us know that they care, that our lives matter to them, us people who are living in areas and countries who are most suffering and disproportionately affected by climate change. And I want politicians to be out. I want leaders who care, not politicians to boss around. I don't want promises and thoughts and prayers. I want action. I want them know."

Alejandro Vasquez (19): Washington, D.C., USA

ON ENVISIONING WHAT COP26 WILL BE LIKE

"I feel like next year, COP 26 will be revolutionary. Not because of the politicians

and celebrities there. Because we know they will never deliver the change we need. But because the youth and the organizers are going to take charge literally or figuratively."

ON COP26 DECIDING THE FUTURE OF PEOPLE IN MOST AFFECTED AREAS:

“2050 is too late for those already suffering the effects of climate change. There’s no point in talking about 2050, we need to talk about tomorrow and today. India has already run out of ground water, we are just one country who’s not even in the top 5 most affected by climate change.”

Arshak Makichyan (26): Moscow, Russia

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF COP26

“A lot of people in Russia don’t know that there are International meetings about climate. They don’t know what it is called, and they don’t understand how it works. So, I think it’s crucial for people in Russia to see that they can influence the situation by participating in the COP and putting more pressure on the Russian government by demanding things during international conferences.”

Sofía Hernández (22): San Jose, Costa Rica

ON ACHIEVING THE NEGOTIATION OF ARTICLE 6 IN COP26

“What worries me is how the issue of Loss and Damage is being dealt with. We are talking about human rights being negotiated. Human rights should not be negotiated, especially by the one percent who have the most significant wealth and are the most polluting. It is crucial to make these conferences increasingly diverse and have fewer polluters using the forum to lobby.”

Kyuri Kim (12): Soul, South Korea

ON HOPES AND WISHES REGARDING COP26

“Scientists say there are only 10 years left to save our planet, and global leaders are not doing much about it. I hope that in COP26, we can finally see a plan to end climate change in the next ten years, and for that to happen, high-ambition treaties and clear NDCs are crucial. I hope to see the ambitions of global leaders being set and promised.”

Lara Rudar (19), Dubai, UAE

ON WORKING TOGETHER IN COP26

“Collaboration is extremely important and I hope that all the countries will give equal efforts towards working together to achieve zero-carbon economies. I expect to see the announcement of numerous plans to reach net-zero emissions through drastic systemic changes and the investment of green technologies.”

Derrick K.E Nyamedi (23): Accra, Ghana

ON MORE SOLUTION-DRIVEN CONVERSATIONS

“This upcoming COP, I am hoping there will be more solution-driven talks within world leaders and more commitments from them. We already have the solutions to climate change, but it is on them to implement these solutions.”

Tara Santos (22): Manila, Philippines

ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT COP26

“I am hopeful this year has brought new global awareness about climate change. With the wildfires burning celebrity homes, we no longer see the effects of climate crises only in BIPOC communities. While I believe there has been growing awareness about these issues. If there is no space for voices like ours: women, BIPOC, in decisionmaking places like COP26, I don’t think any real change will happen.”

Finlay Pringle (13): Ullapool, Scotland

ON COP26 BEING CRUCIAL FOR MITIGATING THE CLIMATE CRISIS

“We need to act. We don’t have time to mess around anymore because if we don’t act now, then there won’t be a planet to act for.”

Andrea Villareal (20), Monterrey, Mexico

ON THE URGENCY OF COP26

“We are getting closer and closer to disastrous and irreversible tipping points. I urge my representatives to stop talking about targets and start actually implementing the sustainable measures they discuss so much. Most governments involved in COP25 have failed to deliver on their promises. Urgent climate action is the only way we can limit global warming to less than 1.5°C.”

Valentina Prada (20): Bogota, Colombia

ON COP26 BEING CRUCIAL FOR MITIGATING THE CLIMATE CRISIS

“When COPs are coming up, many people say that ‘this is the moment.’ And yes, I mean every year is very definitive, but I feel that right now, we are in a significant moment in time, and the success of this event is crucial for our survival.”