Generation Now: Youth Leading the Climate Shift - AlterCOP 30 Day 4

Generation Now: Youth Leading the Climate Shift

Day 4 celebrates the leadership, resilience, and creativity of young people in shaping Australia’s low-emission, nature-positive future. This session has been brought to life thanks to the dedication of the Generation Now youth group, who have worked tirelessly to design, plan, and lead it:

• Heidi Osborne, a civil and humanitarian engineer at GHD, champions nature-based solutions, circular economies, and inclusive development, with experience spanning Indonesia, Nepal, and Australia.

• Kirsten Berkhout a Future Leader at Climate 200, where she works on a team of young people who support people-powered campaigns that fight for climate action. She is deeply committed to helping communities fight for better representation in our democracy.

• Joel Lindsay, Vice President of Communications at UNAA Young Professionals, led the 2024 campaign to establish the network as a national charity and is passionate about engaging young Australians in the UN’s mission and values.

• Grace Beattie, UQ Law/Arts graduate and founder of Plant It Forward, with international study experience in Denmark and Indonesia. She has worked in environmental law, including wetland restoration at Restore Blue and Indigenous land initiatives at the Northern Land Council.

• Zali Fisher, a final-year Law/Arts student passionate about intergenerational climate justice and climate security. Her Honours thesis explores how legal systems can protect future generations through multispecies justice. As a Youth Advisory Board member at EcoMind, she focuses on the links between climate change and mental health, advocating for belonging—to both community and place—as the foundation for resilient, meaningful climate action.

• Jess Stone, a first-year Laws and Humanities student at the University of Queensland — and a multi-award-winning youth advocate shaping change on the global stage. She leads the World Economic Forum’s Brisbane Global Shapers Hub, holds leadership roles with Future Forward Australia and the Dove Foundation for Global Change, advises the U.S. Consulate, and directs SDSN Youth’s Asia-Pacific operations, connecting changemakers from India to Indonesia, Korea to Kazakhstan. At home, Jess is a passionate child abuse survivor-advocate, serving as a Youth Advisor to NAPCAN, Orygen, the Raise Foundation, and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

• Jess O'Donoghue, passionate about creating a world without waste! With over seven years of experience empowering young people as ‘world changers’, she recently graduated with a degree in Environmental Science. Jess aims to work as a Ranger in remote Indigenous communities, reducing waste-related diseases, and inspires city dwellers to use their privilege to cut waste. This year, she led waste management at two national youth conferences, diverting 80% of waste from landfill — and she’d love to help you do the same!

• Peter Edwards, a passionate climate activist and co-organiser of School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) Meanjin, as well as a leader with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) on Yuggera and Turrbal land. Dedicated to youth-led climate action and a just transition, he helped organise the 2024 School Strike for Climate, worked on election campaigns assessing parties’ climate policies, and advocated in Canberra for net zero by 2030.

• Angus Brawley, Angus is a graduate engineer working in the renewable energy sector, focused on climate adaptation and resilience across energy systems in Australia and the Indo-Pacific. He is passionate about ensuring the clean energy transition is equitable, sustainable, and community-strengthening through collaboration across technology, policy, and industry.

• Dr Yolanda Waters, is a marine social scientist and climate communications researcher whose work empowers ocean-connected communities to drive inclusive climate action, drawing on environmental psychology and evidence-based storytelling. She is the founder and CEO of Divers for Climate, Director of Research at the Multicultural Leadership Initiative, and a global ocean leader through roles with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Ocean Uprise, and the University of Queensland.

• Arlian Ecker, also known as Plastic Free Boy, Arlian is a passionate and inspiring young leader who has been on a 7-year mission protecting the ocean by enabling school students to have agency over their learning and as global citizens to create a just and sustainable future.

Special video guests:

• Sophia Skarparis, known as PlasticFreeSophia, is a youth changemaker who began her fight against plastic pollution at 14, gathering over 12,000 signatures to ban single-use plastic bags in New South Wales—a campaign that helped lead to the 2022 NSW Plastics Action Plan. Recognized internationally for her leadership, she continues to inspire collective action through grassroots activism, youth empowerment, and collaboration with political and business leaders.

• Kal Glanznig, a young Australian environmental advocate, filmmaker, and Sutherland Shire councillor, known for his work in ocean conservation, youth climate empowerment, and plastic pollution reduction.

Together, we’ll explore strategies to equip youth with the knowledge, skills, and platforms to lead climate action—while ensuring equity, mental wellbeing, and intergenerational collaboration.

Programme highlights:

• Equipping Youth with Climate and Nature Literacy: Building critical understanding of climate science, biodiversity, and solutions while tackling misinformation.

• Youth-led Innovation and Green Careers: Showcasing opportunities for young changemakers to innovate and lead in the transition to a low-emission economy.

• Ensuring Equity and Access: Removing barriers so disadvantaged and underrepresented youth can access training, skills, and paid opportunities.

• Intergenerational Alliances: Partnering youth with experienced leaders to accelerate systemic change.

• Youth Activism and Citizen Action: Supporting grassroots movements that drive policy shifts and community resilience.

Special features:

The session will open with footage from COP, including pre-recorded messages from young climate leaders, followed by a panel discussion on youth in the climate movement—covering activism, mental health, and how today’s movement compares to historical struggles for change.

About AlterCOP

Co-founded by The Matcha Initiative and The Transmutation Principle, AlterCOP Summits aim to keep corporate and the public informed of COP proceedings and outcomes, facilitate discourse and knowledge learning on corporate sustainability in a localised context, foster collaboration among various actors (professionals, academics, youth, NPOs, community groups, and policymakers) and inspire action.

As Australia prepares to potentially host COP31, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to open up climate dialogue to all and show that local actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change are already happening across different communities. 

Running alongside the United Nations (UN) COP30 agenda, the four-day event will foster grassroots ownership of global climate goals while amplifying local and regional engagement across Australia. 

Learn more about AlterCOP 30 Australia: www.altercop.com/australia

About People For Nature

People For Nature is a volunteer-powered environmental charity empowering communities through climate and biodiversity education, citizen conservation, and science. We believe that when Australians understand and connect with nature, they’re more likely to protect it — safeguarding our climate, ecosystems, and well-being.

Your tax-deductible donation helps us bring initiatives like AlterCOP30 to life and inspire real change for nature. https://www.peoplefornature.org.au/donate

For any questions or support:

Audrey Barucchi | a.barucchi@peoplefornature.org.au | 0406 683 018