Climate Activist Atlas Sarrafoğlu Wins WWF International Youth Award

* Photo: Twitter @AtlasSarrafoglu "There is no planet B"

Click to read the article in Turkish

Granted to young people under the age of 30 for their contributions to nature conservation around the world, the 2020 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International President's Youth Award has been awarded to four people, including climate activist Atlas Sarrafoğlu from Turkey.

The award has been running since the year 2012 to "recognize outstanding leadership in young conservationists from around the world" and the 2020 award has been granted to four young people "for their efforts to inspire change and attitudes towards nature."

Atlas Sarrafoğlu, the youngest winner of the 2020 award, pioneered the Fridays for Future movement in Turkey. As introduced by the WWF, Sarrafoğlu is "a 13-year climate activist who writes a weekly column and interviews change makers and fellow climate activists" and "has a very active online presence and draws his inspiration from Greta Thunberg."

'It inspires me'

While the prize-giving ceremony was held virtually due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Sarrafoğlu has stated the following:

"It's an honour to receive this award, it inspires me to continue engaging students and change-makers through my online channels as well as my weekly and monthly column on climate change.

"The climate crisis is the most epic challenge humanity has to face, it's not our generation's mess, we don't want it, but it is the future we inherit and we are the ones to make the choice to stop it.

"I hope more young people understand and appreciate the important role we play in raising awareness and taking tangible action on climate change as we stand to lose the most in our lifetime."

'The need for urgent action is clearer than ever'

Said Pavan Sukhdev, the President of the WWF International, has also stated the following in brief:

"I am humbled and truly encouraged by our award winners this year. From 13 to 30 years old, they all use their passion to provide creative solutions to our world's most pressing needs.

"Young people hold incredible power to catalyse change both from within their peers and also among business and government leaders.

"With the understanding of the challenges we face, these four outstanding individuals are inspiring and pushing others to act for the health of the planet and for humanity. We are in unprecedented times where the need for urgent action is clearer now more than ever."

(AÖ/SD)