Climate Activists

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez:

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, born May 9, 2000, is an indigenous environmental activist, hip-hop artist, author, and former Youth Director of Earth Guardians, known worldwide for his climate advocacy and artistic activism.

Early Life and Background

Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez was born in Boulder, Colorado, and spent part of his early childhood in Mexico. His mother, Tamara Roske, co-founded the Earth Guardian Community Resource Center in Maui, Hawaii, and his father, Siri Martinez, is of indigenous Mexica heritage from Michoacán, Mexico

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. His upbringing combined activism and indigenous traditions, instilling a philosophy that humans are inseparable from nature, and environmental abuse is the "tearing apart of a fragile and revered system"

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. Martinez grew up vegetarian and is now vegan, often linking ethical food practices with environmental sustainability

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Environmental Activism

Martinez began activism at age six by speaking publicly on environmental issues. At age nine, he organized local youth to stop pesticide use in Boulder city parks

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. He later became the Youth Director of Earth Guardians, an environmental organization founded by his family in 1992, which trains youth globally to tackle climate, social justice, and environmental challenges using art, music, civic engagement, and legal action

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. Under his leadership, Earth Guardians expanded internationally and coordinated climate strikes and advocacy campaigns.

International Advocacy

At 15, Martinez delivered a widely recognized speech at the United Nations General Assembly in English, Spanish, and Nahuatl, urging immediate action on climate change

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. He has spoken at numerous international forums, including Rio+20, TEDxYouth events, Bioneers, and Global Landscapes Forum, blending youthful energy, Indigenous perspectives, and urgency in tackling environmental crises

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. He emphasizes the "power of young people" for effecting change and leveraging technology and social media to unite global communities

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Legal Engagements

Martinez was a plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit Juliana v. United States, alleging that government inaction on fossil fuels violated youth constitutional rights. The case, filed in 2015, was dismissed in 2024 after a decade of legal proceedings

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. He also participated in Martinez v. Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, challenging state fracking regulations, though the courts ultimately ruled against the plaintiffs

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Artistic and Creative Work

Martinez is a hip-hop artist who integrates activism into music. His work seeks to engage audiences who may not respond to conventional environmental messages

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. Notable albums include Break Free (2018), TONATIUH (2025), and collaborations like ¡Basta Ya! (2025). His music often features Indigenous artists and addresses themes like cultural identity, environmental justice, and social issues

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Publications and Media

He is the author of We Rise: The Earth Guardians Guide to Building a Movement That Restores the Planet (2017), a practical guide for youth activism, and Imaginary Borders (2020), reflecting on global environmental cooperation and Indigenous perspectives

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. Martinez has been featured in documentaries such as Youth v Gov (2020) and Bigger Than Us (2021), as well as media outlets including Rolling Stone, PBS, CNN, and HBO

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Awards and Recognition

Martinez has received numerous accolades for his activism and leadership, including:

• U.S. Volunteer Service Award from President Obama (2013)

• Rolling Stone "25 under 25" (2017)

• MTV Europe Music Awards Generation Change (2018)

• Recognized by Remezcla’s "30 Latinxs Who Made an Impact" (2018)

• Featured on TIME Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list

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Philosophy and Impact

Martinez blends Indigenous Mexica heritage and modern activism, framing environmental protection as a moral and spiritual duty. He believes in people power, especially youth-driven initiatives, as key to combating climate change. Through music, legal action, and public speaking, he strives to inspire systemic transformation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humans and nature

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In summary, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a prominent voice in environmental advocacy, merging art, Indigenous perspectives, and youth leadership to inspire global climate action while pursuing artistic expression and social impact

Anjali Sharma

Anjali Sharma gained international attention as the lead litigant in a landmark climate change class action against the Australian Government for failing to consider the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on young people.

The Litigation

At age 16, Sharma became the lead litigant in Sharma v Minister for the Environment, a case filed in the Federal Court of Australia alongside seven other school students and Sister Marie Brigid Arthur as their legal representative

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. The lawsuit sought to prevent the Australian Government and the Minister for the Environment from approving the expansion of the Vickery coal mine near Gunnedah, New South Wales, on the grounds that the Minister owed a duty of care to protect children from foreseeable harm caused by climate change

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Justice Mordecai Bromberg initially ruled that the Minister had a legal duty to take reasonable care to avoid causing personal injury to youth in Australia with respect to climate impacts such as heatwaves and bushfires

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. This decision marked a world-first acknowledgment of a governmental duty of care to children regarding climate change, establishing legal precedent for youth-led climate litigation

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. However, the ruling was later overturned on appeal in March 2022 by the Federal Government

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Legal and Social Impact

Although Sharma did not secure an injunction halting the coal mine expansion, her case demonstrated that the court recognizes the scientific evidence of human-induced climate change and its potential harms to younger Australians

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. The litigation has influenced subsequent policy discussions and legal approaches to climate accountability, inspiring teenagers worldwide to pursue climate justice through the courts

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Advocacy and Legislative Actions

Following her court case, Sharma has continued her engagement in climate law and policy. She is actively campaigning for the Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill 2023, aiming to legally obligate government decision-makers to consider the health and wellbeing of young people and future generations when approving fossil fuel projects

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. Sharma collaborates with policymakers, draws on her litigation experience, and participates in public advocacy to advance climate accountability.

Recognition

Sharma’s litigation and advocacy work have received national and international recognition. She was a finalist for the 2021 Children’s Climate Prize, featured by multiple media organizations such as the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, ABC’s Australian Story, and highlighted as a prominent youth climate activist

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. Her efforts continue to serve as a model for youth engagement in both legal and civic spheres of climate action.

In summary, Anjali Sharma’s role as a litigant in Sharma v Minister for the Environment established a significant precedent in youth climate litigation, highlighted the governmental duty of care to children regarding climate risks, and continues to inform her advocacy for climate legislation aimed at safeguarding future generations

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