Momentum: How I Became A Climate Activist

It was curiosity which first prompted the 12 year old Esther Bird to start a petition and find out how many people could she persuade to support it. She happened to choose single-use plastics as the topic and it was this that triggered a sequence of events which was to change her life. Eighteen months later, Esther reflects on how she found her passion, and rejects the accusation that her generation are irresponsible ‘snowflakes’. Esther Bird is an eco-activist and student at Tytherington School, Macclesfield. Alongside lessons she takes part in extra-curricular clubs such as drum group, choir, chess, the Student Parliament and Tythy Goes Green. In 2018, she was a founding member of the town’s interschool youth eco group, and became an ambassador for Action For Conservation – a charity with a mission to create the next generation of nature conservationists. Esther has been appointed to the Leadership Group of the UK’s first large-scale youth-led nature restoration project. She has joined the #FridayForFuture school strikes initiated by the young, Swedish protester Greta Thunberg and is involved in a new podcast about youth activists.