By Mayra Stefanía Gómez González, climate justice activist
“Giving one’s life in multiple ways to defend the rivers is to give life for the good of humanity and of this planet.” — Berta Cáceres, environmental activist from Honduras
The loss of biodiversity and the climate crisis require systemic changes that reduce the inequalities unjustly deepened by extractivism and the exploitation of nature. The earth is the source of life, the living colour of the harvests. People – including young climate activists like me – continue to preserve and defend nature, despite the challenges that entails.
When mining companies and factories take away their lands and destroy their traditions and cultures, they do not give up. On the contrary, they are driven to soar with greater strength and courage to protect our forests and rivers. They become monarch butterflies that take flight in search of a better future—just like the butterflies that the prominent climate activist Homero Gómez defended in Michoacán, Mexico, before his death in 2020.
Another example is the climate displacement of the el Bosque community in the Mexican state of Tabasco, where rising sea levels destroyed homes, violated human rights, and ended the hopes of a future for its children and youth. These emergencies reflect the absence of political will for the environment.
It is because of this reality, and many others, that echoes resound within me and many young people—echoes of what we call “eco-hope”, or “ecoesperanza” in my native Spanish. This is a principle that guides and accompanies us in all our struggles. Silence is not an option, because defending nature means not only reciprocity but also dignity and intergenerational solidarity.
In fact, earlier this year, myself and my fellow activist Santiago Flores Medina developed a Declaration of Eco-hope, that sets out how young people can take action to support the planet. This of course includes ensuring that climate change is taught in every school, to create that the next generation is both aware of the issue and have the tools to create a better future. I envisage climate education as a key factor to leverage youth impact in their local communities. Moreover, by promoting climate education as part of SDG4, more youth can advocate and become hummingbirds of knowledge for policy change at the local, national and global level.
In August 2025, we were delighted to present the declaration directly to the Government of Mexico, who also hosted an inter-generational dialogue on how to plant the seeds of eco-hope for the future. The Declaration is not just about Mexico, however – it applies worldwide.
In fact, defending nature is an act of resistance. Achieving climate justice is an act of reclaiming life—for future generations—and a reminder that we will not surrender to economic interests or to the overwhelming indifference that prevails when it comes to protecting nature. Amid uncertainty, our voices make themselves heard, because we aspire to a better future—one where defending Mother Earth does not mean paying the high cost of life.
My commitment to combating climate change is based on the firm conviction that life is worth fighting for. This conviction has led me to create reforestation and restoration projects and to raise awareness among more young people about their impact on this planet.
As world leaders are gathering in Belém, Brazil for the COP30 climate summit in November, we must establish a constructive dialogue based on climate and human rights, addressing the multiple challenges we face as young people. This includes our right to education, especially as climate disasters are increasingly disrupting the schooling of millions of children and youth every year.
I urge these decision-makers and leaders to commit to children and youth by following the principles in the Declaration of Eco-hope:
- Encouraging capacity building and guidance for young people on how to develop resilience, prevention, and mitigation strategies in response to the increasing number of natural disasters.
- Carrying out participatory and inclusive consultation processes that guarantee young people’s right to access environmental information.
- Promoting climate education at all levels and in all modalities through interdisciplinary and collaborative actions, fostering sustainable transformations and allocating resources to strengthen society’s response to the climate crisis.
Education is a bridge of dreams and resistance for young people. Through climate education, we can carry a message of hope and action—one that fosters cooperation and envisions intergenerational equity, building resilience for the generations to come. It ensures that education itself is protected, funded, and adapted so all children, particularly the most vulnerable, can continue learning even in the face of climate shocks.
Because in the power of my voice, and in that of youth everywhere, we can cultivate a better future.
Mayra Stefanía Gómez González is a climate justice activist from Mexico. She was an Ambassador of Mexico City to the Youth Network for the 2030 Agenda and took part in the program “Operación COP 2024” by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has represented Mexico in various multilateral forums, such as the UNESCO Youth Forum. She is the founder of Climática, a movement the promotes climate education in Latin America.