Stories from the UN Archive: A seminal moment for youth climate action
“What you do makes me cry at night,” 13-year-old Severn Cullis-Suzuki told the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil in a message that resonates today as the world grapples with climate change.
“What you do makes me cry at night,” 13-year-old Severn Cullis-Suzuki told the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil in a message that resonates today as the world grapples with climate change.
Ahead of Zero Waste Day, marked annually on 30 March since 2022, we looked back at how that simple but heart-rending statement, a child’s plea to protect the East, echoed across the world.
Long before activist Greta Thunberg launched the global Fridays for Future school strike movement in 2018, Ms. Cullis-Suzuki’s speech woke up the world and inspired generations of young activists.
On #ThrowbackThursday, UN News is showcasing pivotal moments across the UN’s past. From the infamous and nearly-forgotten to world leaders and global superstars, stay tuned for a taste of the UN Audiovisual Library’s 49,400 hours of video recordings and 18,000 hours of audio chronicling.
Visit UN Video’s Stories from the UN Archive playlist here and our accompanying series here. Join us next Thursday for another dive into history.
© UN News (2024) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: UN News
Where next?
Browse related news topics:
Read the latest news stories:
- Health Emerges as a Strategic Frontline for Africa Ahead of Bonn Climate Conference Friday, June 12, 2026
- Africa Needs a Radical Plan to Tackle 15M Youth Job Crisis Friday, June 12, 2026
- BOTSWANA: ‘Court Rulings Matter, but It’s Sustained Civic Action That Turns Them into Real Protection’ Friday, June 12, 2026
- Ocean Economy Reaches $2.5 Trillion as Services Become the Largest Share of Ocean Trade Friday, June 12, 2026
- Africa Pushes for Data Sovereignty and Digital Independence Friday, June 12, 2026
- Security Council weighs future of UN war crimes mechanism as closure nears Friday, June 12, 2026
- Women and girls caught up in Yemen’s ‘forgotten crisis’ bear the heaviest toll as funding falls Friday, June 12, 2026
- More strikes impact Lebanon hospitals as humanitarian situation deteriorates Friday, June 12, 2026
- UN ‘encouraged’ by talk of possible US-Iran ceasefire deal Friday, June 12, 2026
- World News in Brief: State-supported safe houses in Haiti, EU pact strengthens refugee protection, demand for ‘critical minerals’ intensifies Friday, June 12, 2026
Learn more about the related issues: