In the run up to the globe's most important meeting on climate change, the #CIWEMtalksCOP26 series asks thought leaders from the water and environmental industry and beyond to answer a common question: what do you most want COP26 to deliver? Here we'll be serialising their answers.

Dr Mya-Rose Craig, also known as Birdgirl, is a British-Bangladeshi naturalist, environmentalist and race activist. In February 2020, she became the youngest British person to be awarded an honorary doctorate in science from Bristol University, in recognition of her years of campaigning for equal access to nature and ethnic diversity in the environmental sector. She is also the Founder and President of Black2Nature.

"I want COP26 to deliver tangible action in terms of climate change. I think for a lot of young people climate change is really frustrating because nothing is happening and so much could be done. There have been a series of empty promises from global leaders in the past, so anything active from them would be something.

"I also think prioritising global justice within the COP26 conversations is going to be incredibly important moving forward. Global climate justice is basically making sure that everyone’s voices are heard in the climate change conversation. My book We are the World (see image below) profiles 30 different young environmentalists of colour, especially indigenous people, and most come from outside the West. I think it's important that we hear all these voices, particularly considering the potentially pivotal conversations on climate change that will take place at COP26 this November."

Connect with Mya-Rose

Dr Mya-Rose Craig, also known as Birdgirl, is a British-Bangladeshi naturalist, environmentalist and race activist.