Tennessee native Erica Davis recognized that rural communities often see little benefit from local oil and gas extraction. Collaborating with grassroots organizers in Campbell County, she researched and sponsored a bill to reform oil and natural gas severance taxes.

Davis's bill aims to raise these taxes, which are the sole legislative means to keep extraction wealth in-state. Crucially, it seeks to distribute all revenue directly to the affected communities where extraction occurs, rather than the current one-third. Despite Davis's lobbying efforts and bipartisan support, the bill was dropped from the 2015-2016 docket. Now pursuing an environmental law degree, Davis plans to revive the legislation in the next session.

Heidi Kritz has dedicated nearly half her life to protecting Alaska's Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble Mine. This copper and gold project threatens the world's largest salmon fishery, which is vital for the local economy, ecological stability, and native cultures.

Kritz has tirelessly fought the mine, organizing rallies and a letter-writing campaign that gathered over 6,000 voices. She also mobilizes new activists by working with tribal high school students. Her leadership has significantly advanced the decade-long effort to defend Bristol Bay, and she remains committed to this crucial fight.

Will Amos and a University of California, Irvine team have developed an innovative recycling system that transforms plastic waste into 3D printing material. This cradle-to-cradle system, which includes a grinder, extruder, spooler, and 3D printer, produces only water vapor as a byproduct. It directly tackles issues of overconsumption and plastic pollution.

An environmental engineer, Amos believes technology combined with education is vital for lasting environmental change. His team showcases the portable recycling system at campuses and TEDx events, emphasizing interactive learning. The project's core mission is to educate and inspire action.

Xerxes was honored with a prestigious Brower Youth Award.

This accolade recognized his significant contributions to environmental stewardship.

Specifically, Xerxes dedicated his efforts to restoring and establishing an educational wild space in upstate New York, creating a valuable resource for both nature and learning.

Onate received a prestigious Brower Youth Award, recognizing her significant environmental contributions.

She earned this accolade for successfully fostering a thriving butterfly garden at her high school in Hialeah, Florida.

Karina Gonzalez is a key student leader for Fossil Free Northern Arizona University (FFNAU), a campaign urging the university to divest from top fossil fuel corporations. She coordinates negotiations with the university president, leads recruitment, and manages media relations, securing national coverage for their efforts.

FFNAU is Arizona's sole divestment campaign, distinguished by its community partnerships. Gonzalez has fostered this by collaborating with the Black Mesa Water Coalition, an Indigenous environmental organization. Together, they advocate for university investment in Navajo Nation sustainability projects. Karina also coordinates a United Nations youth delegate leadership program.

Amos received a Brower Youth Award.

He was recognized for developing an innovative recycling system that transforms plastic waste into stock material for 3D printing projects.

Kritz received a prestigious Brower Youth Award.

This recognition honors her dedicated efforts in protecting Bristol Bay, achieved through impactful youth and community engagement initiatives.

Davis was honored with a Brower Youth Award.

She earned this recognition for her advocacy on behalf of frontline communities impacted by Mississippi's gas extraction industry, a cause she advanced through the state legislature.

Gonzalez was honored with a Brower Youth Award.

She received this recognition for her leadership in the fossil fuel divestment campaign at Northern Arizona University.

Established in 2011, the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) provides boarding school and university scholarships for Indigenous children. These scholarships enable access to Australia's leading educational institutions, fostering pathways for students to develop and achieve their career goals.

This video features Indigenous students from AIEF Partner Schools sharing their experiences, future plans, and dreams.

Esau Sinnok, an emerging climate leader from Shishmaref, Northwest Alaska, is fighting to protect his community's centuries-old way of life. As essential ice melts and his home faces threats, he refuses to stand by. Join Esau in the fight to keep dirty fuels in the ground.

For more insights, watch NASA's video, The Greening of Arctic, on EarthSayers.tv, Voices of Sustainability.

The Nibi Water Gathering, held June 4-5, 2015, at Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, brought together nations to serve a common purpose: water. During this gathering, the Original People of Turtle Island (North America) formally established their leadership. The event also honored spiritually guided Earth stewardship leaders and youth completing rites of passage, inviting people of all cultures to participate and make offerings to the Water.

A video of the gathering was produced by Erica Daniels at Turtle Lodge and Manitou Api. Water Song credit goes to Mary Maytwayashing, and Thunderbird Artwork to Norval Morrisseau. Copyright Turtle Lodge 2015.

Environmental protection agencies, created to regulate polluting industries, have been compromised. These bodies, meant to safeguard our environment, have been "hijacked" by the very industries they were designed to oversee.

Legal scholar Mary Christina Wood tells Bill Moyers that our judicial system, along with future generations, may ultimately be our best hope. She suggests they will save us from ourselves.

Eighteen-year-old activist Kelsey Juliana is actively fighting climate change. She is pursuing legal action in the courts to address global warming.

Additionally, Juliana is undertaking a cross-country walk to raise public awareness. This information was published on September 19, 2014.

Climate change is a present reality, demanding urgent action from world leaders.

The Climate Reality Project, collaborating with WPP and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, launched the #WhyWhyNot campaign. This initiative features young people asking "Why? Why Not?" to pressure leaders for meaningful carbon emission reduction commitments.

The campaign urges everyone to pose these fundamental questions to their networks and elected representatives, challenging inaction and vested interests until real change occurs.

This short documentary takes you into the lives of four young Afghan children—Omid, Sanabar, Yasmina, and Fayaz. Devastated by war and economic hardship, these children are their families' breadwinners, working jobs like washing cars, picking garbage, and selling food. Their first-hand accounts reveal an uncertain future for the country.

A DVD of this powerful film is available here.

Lizzy Clark of the UK Youth Climate Coalition discusses her participation at COP19, a climate change conference held in Warsaw, Poland. She shares insights from her involvement at this significant event.

Clark specifically highlights the work of various groups striving to engage the fossil fuel industry. Their aim is to ensure these companies hear and respond to their perspectives on climate action.

This report was published on November 14, 2013.

Hal Wallis, a UK native, traveled 6,000 miles to Thailand to explore its threatened mangroves. He discovered their vital environmental role and ongoing preservation efforts. Wallis interviewed Udo Gattenlohner of the Global Nature Fund, which coordinates a German-funded international project to restore Asia's lost mangroves.

Learn more about the Mangrove Restoration Project in Asia and watch a related video on EarthSayers. This initiative emphasizes sustainability, forest management, biodiversity, and conservation.

UC Merced student Martin Figueroa spearheaded a campus movement to reduce water use. In 2011, he organized the "UC Merced Water Battle," a month-long competition involving over 600 students across residence halls. Utilizing real-time monitoring, participants collectively cut water use by 14 percent, saving 89,000 gallons.

Figueroa is now encouraging other UC campuses to implement similar "Water Battles" to expand conservation efforts.