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‘Being The Solution’: A Young Climate Activist’s Story, Leadership and The Youth Climate Justice Movement
Young climate activist, Niamh Purcell, has recently published a book called ‘Being the Solution’ about her journey as an activist and includes both educational and empowering components to encourage children and young people to see the true leaders that they can be!
“We are not going to solve this crisis unless and until everyone works together - and young people are a vital part of that ‘everyone’.”
Hi!! My name is Niamh Purcell. I’m an 18-year-old activist from southeast Ireland and this is the (very summarised!) story of how I fight climate change and became an author! In 2022, I was lucky enough to become a Young Advisor for Ireland’s first-ever Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss - since then, my work has just taken off! I’ve presented speeches and arguments in the Oireachtas (Ireland’s Parliament), and even to UN Committees. I’ve been lucky enough to work closely with UCC’s own Youth Climate Justice Project - an initiative that is very close to my heart. And more recently, I have become a Youth Climate Justice Advisor for the Children’s Rights International Network and the Right to a Healthy Environment Campaign, as well as a personal advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur for Climate Change and Human Rights.
And now, I’m an author! Recently I’ve published a book called “Being The Solution”, sharing my experience of helping to shape global youth climate justice. This book, aimed at young people, follows my journey as an activist in a time of such an interesting and tense nature, as well as providing quality education in relation to basic climate science, amongst other issues such as climate anxiety, biodiversity loss, and the importance of intergenerational collaboration when finding solutions to the climate crisis. I’m trying to show other young people that their presence is becoming increasingly desired in democratic and decision-making processes, and that each of them is a much valued, and terribly needed, leader.
For a very long time, children have been excluded from the discussions about their own future. We can’t deny it - children are simply not consulted enough! This book calls for change. For us to recognise our young people’s potential to lead. Because unfortunately, climate change isn't going away any time soon, and the old solutions haven’t worked - so why don't we find a new way of taking action? This book is perfect for helping worried young people to recognise their own value as a leader, and to see that they can make long-lasting and effective change. After decades of being ignored, I think they deserve to be reminded of their true and undeniable value!
If you’re looking to encourage the young people around you to take the future into their own hands, and fight for their rights, then this book is the perfect way to do it - I promise you, it’s worth the read!
“Being The Solution” by Niamh Purcell
Available now on Amazon