A day after demonstrations were held worldwide, calling for action against climate change, youth leaders including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg gathered at United Nations to demand radical moves against it, reported Associated Press. “We showed that we are united and that we, young people, are unstoppable,” said Thunberg. According to the UN special climate summit envoy, more than 700 young activists attended the Youth Climate Summit.

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Activists say 'Enough is enough'

In a build-up to climate summits, debates, a climate science report and pledges by countries and corporates, youth conference was held. The activists demanded money to fund the poorer nations so that they can adapt to the changes and provide greener energy to reduce carbon emissions. “Stop the criminal contaminant behaviour of big corporations,” said Bruno Rodriguez, an Argentine climate activist. “Enough is enough. We don’t want fossil fuels anymore,” he added. “Young people from different parts of the world are living in constant fear and climate anxiety, fearing the future, the uncertainty of a healthy life or a life for their children at all,” said Komal Kumar, a Fiji climate activist to AP. “I do not want our future generations to submerge with our sinking islands,” she added.

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Antonio Guterres credits the participants

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres credited the participants for turning him to an optimist from a pessimist in the fight against climate change and global warming and blamed his generation for failing to preserve the planet. “I encourage you to keep your initiative. Keep your mobilization and more and more to hold my generation accountable,” Guterres said. “My generation has largely failed until now to preserve both justice in the world and to preserve the planet,” he added. To this, Kumar said, “we will hold you accountable and if you do not, remember we will mobilize to vote you out.” Last week, Thunberg had led a protest near the White House against climate change and global warming. Thunberg, along with 1,500 protestors, marched and chanted slogans calling for immediate action to halt global warming and avert environmental catastrophe. The protesters called for a reduction in the use of fossil fuel. "You can't breathe money, you can't drink oil," they chanted. 

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(Inputs from AP)