Author: Elizabeth Venter
In an era of environmental challenges, the youth are a powerful force driving innovation and change.
From tackling climate change to promoting sustainable development, young innovators worldwide are at the forefront of creating a more environmentally conscious and sustainable future.
1. Greta Thunberg: Climate Activism Extraordinaire
One name that has become synonymous with youth-led climate action is Greta Thunberg. This Swedish environmental activist, barely a teenager when she started her climate strike outside the Swedish parliament in 2018, sparked a global movement known as "Fridays for Future." Her relentless advocacy has compelled millions of students and adults alike to join climate strikes, urging governments to take immediate action to combat climate change.
2. Boyan Slat: Cleaning Our Oceans
Boyan Slat, a Dutch inventor and entrepreneur, founded The Ocean Cleanup project at 18. His innovative idea involves using passive systems to clean up plastic waste from the world's oceans. This ambitious project deploys long floating barriers that use natural ocean currents to collect and concentrate plastic waste, making it easier to remove. The project aims to rid the oceans of plastic pollution and protect marine ecosystems.
3. Jamie Margolin: Youth Climate Leadership
Jamie Margolin, a climate activist and author, co-founded Zero Hour, an organisation that empowers young activists to address climate change at the intersection of social and environmental justice. Margolin's work highlights the importance of youth voices in climate policymaking and advocates for comprehensive climate action that considers the most vulnerable communities.
4. Kelvin Doe: Engineering for Change
Hailing from Sierra Leone, Kelvin Doe, also known as "DJ Focus," is a self-taught engineer and inventor who started creating batteries, generators, and transmitters from scrap materials at the tender age of 13. He founded the Kelvin Doe Foundation to inspire and empower young innovators in Africa, proving that resourcefulness and determination can lead to remarkable technological advancements.
5. Fionn Ferreira: Tackling Ocean Pollution
Fionn Ferreira, an Irish innovator, developed a groundbreaking method for removing microplastics from water. His project, which won the 2019 Google Science Fair, involves using a magnetic liquid to extract microplastics, offering a promising solution to one of the most insidious forms of pollution threatening marine life.
6. Bioelektra Group: Turning Waste into Energy
A group of young innovators in Poland known as the Bioelektra Group is leading the charge in converting organic waste into renewable energy. Their innovative system, which employs microorganisms to break down organic waste and produce biogas, reduces landfill waste and generates clean energy that can be used for heating or electricity.
7. DIY Solar Panels: A Sustainable Energy Solution
Young innovators worldwide are creating DIY solar panels to promote clean energy adoption. These affordable and easy-to-assemble solar panels make renewable energy accessible to communities in developing countries and remote areas, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
8. Urban Farming Initiatives: Growing Sustainability
In cities around the world, young innovators are pioneering urban farming projects. These initiatives promote local food production, reduce food miles, and increase access to fresh, sustainable produce in urban areas by utilising rooftops, vertical gardens, and small spaces.
These remarkable young innovators are not just dreaming of a sustainable future but actively shaping it. Their ideas and projects demonstrate the power of youth-driven innovation and the vital role young people play in addressing pressing global challenges like climate change, pollution, and sustainability.
As we celebrate and support these young change-makers, we can look forward to a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow, driven by their passion, creativity, and determination to positively impact our planet.