ISSUE 48/DEC2022 - Flipbook - Page 55
Elizabeth Wathuti
KENYA
Founder: The Green Generation Initiative
CIVIL SOCIETY & ACTIVISM: Climate Defender
Elizabeth Wathuti, is the Founder of the Green Generation Initiative (GGI),
a grassroots tree-growing initiative inspired by the late Nobel Laureate,
Professor Wangari Maathai.
Other than getting her hands on the soil,
Elizabeth heads the activism and campaigns
of the African Youth Climate Leaders Hub
at the Wangari Maathai Foundation as an
emerging young Kenyan climate leader
and environmental activist. Her compelling
climate activism roused the world during
Glasgow COP26 climate conference in
2021 and is now actively engaged calling
for action even as COP27 climate change
negotiations in Egypt took place as we went
to press. But her words at COP26, remain
gripping and a call to action:
■
“
Every day we see that when we
look after the trees, they look
after us… but these trees and
the lifesaving fruit they bear
will not survive on a 2.7 degrees
celsius warmer planet.”
Photo by: Karwai Tang
“I was inspired by the great professor
Wangari Maathai [and] I founded the
Green Generation Initiative, a tree growing
initiative that enhances food security for
young Kenyans. So far, we have grown
that 1000 fruit trees to maturity, providing
desperately needed nutrition for 1000s of
children. Every day we see that when we
look after the trees, they look after us… But
these trees and the lifesaving fruit they bear
will not survive on a 2.7 degrees Celsius
warmer planet… The decisions you make
here will help determine whether children
will have food and water. I believe in our
human capacity to care deeply and to act
collectively. I believe in our ability to do
what is right if we let ourselves feel it in our
hearts. So for these next two weeks, let us
feel it in our hearts.
The children cannot leave on words and
empty promises.”
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Dec 2022 New African Woman
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