Franny Ladell Yakelashek

is a 12year-old environmental-rights activist from Victoria, B.C., who, together with her older brother Rupert, has persuaded more than 20 municipalities in her home province to make environmental-rights declarations. She has written hundreds of letters to politicians at all levels of government, is involved in her local student climate strike group and is currently working with a group of youth to lower the voting age in B.C. The Star reached Franny in Victoria.

What is the one thing about climate change that keeps you up at night?

What keeps me up at night is thinking about all the people, especially young people, who feel powerless and have lost hope because of our climate and environmental reality. Climate change is big and it is scary, so I understand why so many people become overwhelmed and disengage. But we need them. To make real, long-lasting change, everyone needs to act.

Looking back on other big cultural and political movements, like women’s rights, civil rights and LGBTQ rights, governments have changed to reflect the values and priorities of its citizens. I think as priorities around climate change shift, government and policies will have to shift with it.

When I take action, I look around me and I see that I’m not alone. There are thousands, even millions of people in Canada and around the world who have the same beliefs and values as me about what a healthy environment should look like.

I want people to not only be advocates for climate change but also advocates of hope, because hope is essential for change.

What is the one thing Canadians can do to act on climate change?

Every one of us needs to step up. But lots of us don’t know where to start.

I think we should look to the youth who are stepping up around the world and across Canada, even though many of us are not old enough to vote and don’t have a lot of experience as political and social changemakers. We believe it is our responsibility to create the world we want, need and deserve.