With pre-COVID memories of thousands calling for more action on quelling climate change as they marched through the streets of Victoria, Beatrice Sharpe was recently called on to help organize a protest outside the B.C. legislature.
The September demonstration attracted around 150 people of all ages as it coincided with similar events spanning the globe that were putting a spotlight on the environment ahead of the United Nation's Summit of the Future last month.
“I’ve always been passionate about sustainability; it needs to be a part of pretty much every facet of society,” Sharpe said. “We cannot, at the rate that we’re going, continue to live on this planet if we don’t take nature into consideration.”
Seeing politicians waiver on the carbon tax and the continued logging of B.C.'s Old Growth forests, the Grade 12 St. Michaels University School student wants to show that youth still care about climate change. She hopes to revive the large demonstrations that were being held in Victoria before the pandemic.
"I want the government to care about the environment more; it's our future," she said.
Sharpe will be involved in more climate demonstrations in Victoria leading up to the provincial election and she wants to hold a town hall with candidates so MLA hopefuls can hear from youth. She doesn't think leaders are listening to youth perspectives, but believes young people should use their voices as the polices enacted today will impact their future.
“I wish we would be a part of their decision-making process more; (politicians) should consult the youth before passing any policy,” Sharpe said. “We’ve largely been ignored as a demographic.”
She first became interested in sustainability in Grade 7, thanks to the ocean studies program at Monterey Middle School. After taking a class on government in Grade 10, Sharpe saw how pervasive politics is in every issue. Soon the Victoria student realized she could meld her passions for sustainability and politics through activism.
“That’s why I got involved in this climate action and protesting, because it’s still a very valuable message,” she said, noting youth want the environment to be a factor in every decision leaders are making.
It's been frustrating for her to see the B.C. government position liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a sustainable transition fuel to clean energy, as she said it's just another fossil fuel. Sharpe wants to push the province to focus funding on green energy sectors, ban deforestation of old-growth forests and create a well-being economy instead of one solely centred around GDP.
She sits on the City of Victoria's youth council and wishes there were more opportunities like that at the provincial and federal level. For now though, the hope is to elevate the voices of young people by rebuilding the large climate marches that consumed streets across Victoria, Canada and the world just a few years ago.
“It’s just as important today as it was back then and it will be more important in the coming years, so hopefully we see a change,” Sharpe said. “It matters that people show up, every voice counts but together we have more of an impact and we need to build each other up."
The teen is also the co-head of her school's sustainability council and she hopes to pursue a dual-degree in political science and economics after high school.
"We all believe in a better future and I think that's the most important part."
