Young Climate Leaders Speak - and All of Us Are Listening: Conversations from COP30

by Zainab Bie, Girl Rising Student Ambassador

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Climate Leader and Girl Rising Student Ambassador Zainab Bie met with young women from around the world whose lives and leadership are shaped by the climate crisis.

Their perspectives are rooted in lived experience, advocacy, and deep commitment to justice. They know from personal and professional experience just what is at stake - and their demand that the voices of girls and young women must be central in climate negotiations is non-negotiable.

Harshita Umesh, India What does climate justice mean to you personally, and why are you here at COP30?

“To me, climate justice means human dignity and universal health coverage. I believe no one should be discriminated against for any reason. There is much to be done in terms of reparations and development, but development must not come from extraction or exploitation.

People often say we need finance to flow to locally led adaptation projects, but how often are local partners truly included? How often do we measure success with something other than big numbers that look good on paper?

When I think about climate justice, I think about the poorest of the poor, the trauma people continue to carry, and the toll on mental health. How many times can communities beg for action and still return home with no progress, feeling they’ve failed their people again?

I’m at COP because I don’t know what else to do. I became a doctor to give people hope, yet I am losing hope. I’m here to fight for the lives I took an oath to protect, and to remind people that these negotiations are not just words—they are a gamble. Inaction is loss of life. Every decision must be rooted in justice and equity, because anything less is a failure to the people we serve.”

Hajar Al-Beltaji Egypt

How has the climate crisis impacted your life?

“I’ve witnessed the impacts of climate change at many levels throughout my life. In the past five years, my home city of Mansoura has experienced flooding without the infrastructure to cope with it. While I wasn’t personally affected as severely, many people—especially those with fewer resources—suffered greatly. Some even lost loved ones to electric shocks because exposed electrical infrastructure met floodwaters.

When the city floods, transportation shuts down. For at least two days, it becomes nearly impossible to move around. This wasn’t the norm years ago.

Looking back further, my grandfather’s generation also faced climate impacts without knowing what climate change was. Their farms suffered, and their livelihoods were threatened.

In recent years, both Mansoura and Cairo have seen widespread tree loss and extreme heat events stretching from June through October. October used to be cool. Now, even December is unusually warm. None of this was the case just a few years ago.”

Maria Iqbal Shah, Pakistan

How has the climate crisis impacted your life?

“The climate crisis affects every part of life where I come from. My family is originally from northern Pakistan, where floods, landslides, and natural disasters have become more frequent. Because of these pressures, and the push and pull of opportunity, my parents moved us to southern Pakistan.

I now live in Karachi, which faces its own climate challenges. As one of Pakistan’s major industrial hubs, Karachi experiences extreme heat and recurring heat waves. Rising temperatures and pollution have led to many upper respiratory infections—before leaving for COP30, I saw numerous cases of flu, cough, and fever due to poor air quality.

Heavy rainfall overwhelms our drainage system, leading to outbreaks of malaria and dengue. Climate change is also affecting mental health, contributing to climate grief, anxiety, and even PTSD after disasters.

The crisis intersects with nearly everything: poverty, food security, education, agriculture, technology, and healthcare. It has also worsened vulnerabilities for women and girls. For example, cases of gender-based violence and even FGM have increased in some displacement camps. The climate crisis is harming communities in ways both visible and hidden—and it is harming us every single day.”

Haddijatou Ceesay, Gambia

Can you share a challenge or breakthrough from your educational journey?

“As an environmental researcher trained in environmental science, I’ve seen how essential capacity strengthening is, and how limited it can be for young people in The Gambia.

Research skills, scientific understanding, and policy knowledge are all required to address climate change. Yet many young people lack access to the training and tools needed to contribute fully.

It’s crucial for government stakeholders and civil society organizations to work together to build young people’s capacity through workshops and programs. Strengthening these skills would greatly improve our ability to participate in climate decision-making.”

Kuissi Takedjo Erica Audrey, Cameroon

Can you share a challenge or turning point in your educational journey?

“One of my biggest challenges was learning to feel legitimate in international spaces, especially in highly technical climate discussions. But that challenge became a turning point.

Through programs like the Climate Leaders Initiative, YALI, and my work leading the Green Soldiers program, I learned that climate education is not just about science, it’s about leadership, engagement, and storytelling.

I discovered that sharing knowledge with young people, even with simple tools, can create powerful change. That realization reshaped my path.”