Raising The Voices of Young Activists At COP

In case you missed it, the big news at the latest COP climate conference was the arrest and banning of 12-year-old Indian activist Licypriya Kangujam for storming the stage and calling for an end to fossil fuel production.

Her arrest makes your blood boil, doesn’t it? Especially given that young women in the Global South are going to inherit the mess our leaders leave behind on climate justice.

Amidst the U.N. 's carefully stage-managed climate conference, voices like Licypriya’s speak powerfully about young people’s frustrations. With the organisers limiting access, tons of activists couldn’t even attend the conference. But social media meant their voices were still loud in the rooms, backing up young women like Licypriya as she raised up her voice, speaking truth to power.

Meanwhile, as observers pointed out, “Dubai denied climate science and pushed for oil production deals during the summit, came up with language that gives clearance to produce oil and gas for another generation, and yet…was still hailed as a climate champion.”

What’s up with that?

We’ve worked with Global Witness at COP conferences for the past three years to lift the voices of climate activists and amplify them on social media. Global Witness works to redress the balance of power between the polluters profiting most from climate breakdown and the people most adversely affected. We couldn’t be prouder to partner with them on their major social media campaigns.

We reached out to young climate activists in the run-up to COP, asking them to record vox pop videos to show their priorities. Activists like Luisa Neubauer, a Fridays for Future activist, has almost half a million followers. By recording a video for Global Witness, and tagging herself in the post, she extended Global Witness’s messaging and reach around the world:

More importantly, voices like hers offer a different perspective about what's at stake to the one that usually prevails. They inject urgency and power into the negotiations. They’re so important.

When we got in touch with Licypriya through social media, it paved the way for the Global Witness team on the ground to get in touch with her in Dubai. Licypriya then highlighted the Global Witness report about how many fossil fuel lobbyists were attending COP, and shared it with us, asking us to retweet from the Global Witness account. That video has now got almost 25,000 views. 

It’s a great example of how social media can amplify an organisation’s strategic campaigning efforts and contribute to them. Social media simply allows smart, nimble organisations to connect with new advocates and be part of the global organization. 

Catnip has experience conducting social listening and doing proactive outreach to activists like Luisa and Licypriya. We speak their language and are part of the movements they represent. It’s not just on the climate. From criminal justice reform to reproductive rights, LGBTQ issues, healthcare reform and more, 2024 is going to be a huge year when youth voices count more than ever towards making social change.

What’s that? Did somebody say “U.S. election”?

Let’s dig in!

How are you raising young people’s voices, extending their reach and power, and likewise, increasing your own reach?

If you’d like to chat more about how we can help, schedule a chat with Catnip. We’re set to open our New York office soon, and just like the Beatles did in the early 1960s, we’re eager to bring our British brand of creativity and social media savvy to America. We’re quick, friendly, and no-nonsense. We’ve woven magic on shoestring budgets. We’d like to work with you.

Because we’re nimble, we work without the fuss of a bigger agency. We’ve had feedback that we’re a “small but mighty team”, and we can plug into gaps. From grassroots to major players, our team has extensive experience working globally, including projects across the U.S.; we also bring valuable in-house expertise from our work with nonprofits, so we know how to get things done. We understand budgets, we know how to work around red tape.  No matter how big or small the brief, let’s make it work. We’re looking forward to meeting you.