Five Climate Leaders: Two Questions Part 2

By Zainab Bie, Girl Rising Student Ambassador

Part Two: If the World Was Listening, What Would You Say?

“If you had the mic and the whole world was listening, no filters, no time limits,  what would you say?”

That’s the second question I asked these five remarkable young women leading climate work across the globe. Their answers weren’t rehearsed. They were raw, layered, and deeply personal. Some offered three clear takeaways. Others shared a range of thoughts, ideas and feelings. But each message is a call:  a call to act, yes, but also to connect, to think, to feel, to live.

This is what they said.  Zainab Bie

Fatemah Sultan, Pakistan

Stop talking. Start acting.

I’m so tired of institutions and conferences that focus on semantics but do nothing. We face massive, urgent change - political, social, environmental, and yet it’s all talk.

Second, I wish people could think in more nuanced ways. We always break the world into binaries: Global North vs. South, good vs. bad, right vs. wrong. But reality is layered. Our diversity is our strength, if we actually listen.

Third, I think we’ve forgotten how to think critically. AI, social media, academia - it’s like we're consuming so much that we’ve stopped reflecting. Mistakes can't be forgiven. Growth isn’t allowed. I believe in holding people accountable, yes, but I also believe in making space for learning, unlearning, and evolving.

Sumaya Mohammed, Ireland & Somalia

Talk to people. Then push yourself. Then live.

My first message is simple: Talk to communities. Especially the ones on the front lines. If world leaders and decision-makers could connect with people as humans, a lot would change.

Second: Push yourself beyond what you think you can do. I was painfully shy. I couldn’t speak in class without shaking. But someone believed in me. And that belief helped me grow. We need more of that - more people who see what others don’t yet see in themselves.

And finally: Live with intention. Not just survive. Not just tick boxes. Find meaning in what you do. It won’t be linear. You might not know right away. But live a life that feels real, not factory-made.

Fernanda Gabrielle Lagoeiro – Brazil

Gender issues are climate issues. Sometimes, no one says that out loud. But we need to. Climate justice must be gender justice too.

Women belong in climate spaces. Women’s voices matter-  not just in theory, but in decision-making. We need more platforms, more power, more respect.

Look to the Global South. We are not passive victims. Our countries, our communities, have ideas, innovations, and knowledge. Listen. Respect. Collaborate.

Praneetha Monipi, India

You matter. Your actions matter. Even the small ones. Even when you feel like an imposter. You are shaping the world.

Hold space for each other. For our mental health. For struggle and growth. Be present. Be real. Be kind.

Dismantle what no longer serves us. We were all born into systems built on division. You have the choice to build something better. Sitting back, staying neutral-  that doesn’t change anything. Be bold. Be principled. You don’t need to be liked, just intentional.

Sama Samy Egypt

Center the Global South. We are living the impacts of the climate crisis. Yet our knowledge, our solutions, our voices — are still sidelined. True action must be equitable, local, and built on our wisdom.

Invest in young women. We’re not just future victims. We’re leaders, educators, connectors. When young women lead, entire communities grow stronger. Give us the tools, and we will build lasting change.

Act now. The climate crisis is here. It won’t solve itself. We need urgent, inclusive, well-funded action — backed by environmental education and real participation. Everyone has a role to play.