They call generation Generation Z
thinking that we will be the last generation.
We have been told that our fate and our destiny
is predetermined.
Imagine if all of us here believe that working together,
we can create the change we need to make a difference.
Hi, everyone.
I'm Lucy Biggers.
And I'm here with American Girl author, Erin,
and three young change makers to talk about climate justice.
Why do you think your generation cares so much about this?
Because it's affecting our generation the most.
We're seeing the aftermath of the decisions
that previous generations decided to make.
Yeah.
I totally agree with that.
I think that our generation, we're
starting to really feel the effects.
Could be a lot to carry.
But if we're all lifting together,
it will be so much easier.
When I was concerned about it, adults would be like,
oh you can do stuff once you grow up.
And you can become a scientist and fix it.
But then the adults who were grown up
weren't the scientists that we needed.
I feel like Gen-Z understands the urgency that is needed.
How does personal actions play into this movement
to create change?
Sometimes you can think like, oh, I'm just one person.
What can I do?
How can this help?
But one person can really make a huge difference
because it can influence others to want to do the same.
They see how passionate the I am about this.
And they want to do the same because everyone wants
a thriving planet to live on.
So if they know this is a way that you can help,
then they want to talk about it and get involved.
So what I found like best when talking to people who disagree
is finding a connecting issue that could
bring the conversation forward.
You like this thing, I like this thing.
There's one bridger.
We can help each other.
And because sometimes people just
don't want to listen if you're yelling at them.
The climate crisis is a huge and important topic.
But how do we even start to understand it?
Well, by learning.
Love the Earth is a book from American Girl that breaks down
the complexities of the climate crisis
and makes it easy for girls to learn at home.
Education and awareness is so important.
Now Haven, you are educating other students.
And you were even going to schools.
I started going to different schools in my community
and my state, and then a few times outside of my state
talking and explaining more in depth on climate change
and what the urgency is, giving resources
that will specifically cater towards their skill sets
and what they are interested in learning.
How does social media help the movement?
Social media is so essential to my activism because of the way
that I've just been able to connect with lots of people
in my local area, across the country,
and across the world in these digestible ways of educating
people.
Once you give people more resources,
they really start to see the urgency of it.
And what the current science is telling
is then people take action.
Yeah.
It's so powerful.
So Erin, you're a biochemist and an author.
Can you talk about bringing both of those identities
together in writing this book about Kira?
I'm a writer and a reader more than I
identify as being a scientist.
Writing books like Kira and learning more about Australia,
and to get to go there myself and experience it and hear
what kind of problems they're having with climate change,
that really fed to the scientist in me.
Do you think that your books help sort of this idea
that kids can't make a difference?
These amazing teenagers on the call right
now are just proof that just one person, even one young person,
can really make a true difference.
And when a young reader is reading a book with a character
that they can really relate to, it makes it seem so realistic
and will hopefully inspire them.
I have drawn a lot of my strengths
from different books having heroines and seeing
them and their strengths and being like,
I could be cool like that.
Every girl is cool like that.
You can see yourself as a powerful change maker
and someone who can bring attention to urgent issues
and actually get people to really care and do
the right things.
So your parents have a surprise for you in a box.
Oh my God.
I'm so excited.
When I was younger, I got an American Girl.
I was like, I want one to look like me.
And this is just--
She's wearing the same clothes I am.
I love the hair.
The hair is so cute.
It has the texture of my hair.
What does being an American Girl mean to you?
Being a role model and speaking up for what you believe in.
Someone who is very outspoken, passionate--
To me, it's having the strength of the other girls
in your community.
Being an American Girl means having the opportunity
to be yourself and also having the freedom
to follow your passions.
This has been such a great conversation.
I really want to thank American Girl for making it possible.
It's so inspiring to learn from everyone on this panel.
You've taught me so much today.
So thank you.