I was honoured to speak at the Leadership Roundtable: Youth Voices in Biodiversity Governance as part of the Biodiversity Law and Governance Day during COP 16. Hosted by the Voices of the Future Generations Children’s Initiative (VoFG CI), the Global Youth Council on Science, Law & Sustainability (GYC), and the Youth Negotiators Academy (YNA). I had the opportunity to share my passion for sustainability and youth advocacy.
My journey in environmental activism began early as a Child Ambassador with Voices of the Future Generations Children’s Initiative (VOFG CI) and today, I’m also the chair of the Global Youth Council on Science, Law & Sustainability (GYC). It’s been a journey grounded in my dedication to educating and empowering children and youth on urgent issues like climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development.
Currently, I’m also a student at Winchester College and I am actively involved in our Sustainability Society and Natural History Society. In addition to engaging in Model United Nations, I run my own blog, Nico’s Natural World, where I explore environmental themes close to my heart. I’m also a member of the editorial team for Harmony Youth Journal, an online platform dedicated to amplifying youth voices on sustainability challenges.
The Global Youth Council on Science, Law & Sustainability (GYC) emerged during the pandemic when a group of passionate young people decided to take action amid global challenges. Our mission is to advance education on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while engaging youth in critical conversations about climate action, biodiversity, and environmental law. Through initiatives like Harmony Youth Journal, we are helping young people from diverse backgrounds and countries to express their perspectives and contribute to the global dialogue on sustainability.
Right now, we face a biodiversity crisis and a worsening climate emergency, putting ecosystems and human livelihoods at risk. From the local wetlands of East Anglia, where I live, to fragile ecosystems around the world, nature is under threat. This loss is deeply unjust, particularly for future generations and the countless species with whom we share this planet. The SDGs—especially SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)—and frameworks like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) remind us that we all have a responsibility to protect and restore our planet.
In my recent article Protecting our Fenlands: A Short History of East Anglia Biodiversity Ravages, Resistance and Rewilding published in the Harmony Youth Journal, I addressed the ongoing destruction of wetlands. Wetlands are vital for biodiversity and act as natural carbon sinks, helping to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Growing up near these beautiful, misty landscapes of East Anglia, I have come to appreciate their unique wildlife, rich history, and resilient local communities. These communities hold deep connections to the land, with traditions and histories interwoven with Indigenous practices of conservation and resistance to exploitation.
Inspired by this landscape, last year I undertook a three-day paddle journey from Cambridge to the North Sea, covering 67 km to raise awareness and funds for wetland protection. The journey became a meaningful expression of resistance against climate change and biodiversity loss. The art I created from this experience reflects the beauty, resilience, and urgency of protecting these landscapes before they are lost forever.
Through Harmony Youth Journal and our other projects, we create a platform for young people to voice their concerns, share solutions, and demand urgent change. As we launched the second issue of the Harmony Youth Journal. This is just one step forward, but it is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when we raise our voices together for a sustainable future.
Joining forces with other young activists at this event was an inspiring experience, and I’m hopeful that, together, we can drive meaningful action for our planet. Let’s continue this movement and make a difference before it’s too late.
Watch here the video of the CBD COP 16:
Nico's Natural World 
Leave a comment