To go with 'SKOREA-CLIMATE-YOUTH, FOCUS' by Hieun SHIN
Climate activist Han Jeah (C) holds a placard that translates as "the verdict that protects our rights", as she stands amongst other activists outside the Constitutional Court in Seoul on May 21, 2024, ahead of the final public hearing of a climate lawsuit against the South Korean government, in which Han Jeah is a plaintiff.
Han Jeah is like any other 12-year-old. She likes K-pop idols, and dancing. She also calls herself a 'climate activist'. "When the Earth's temperature rises 2 degrees Celsius more, at that point there won't be any of the adults who are talking right now or even the current President," she told AFP. "The children left behind will be responsible for reducing carbon emissions and suffer the consequences." Being a climate activist is not Jeah's only dream though. "I would like to be a professional gamer, or join the army, or be a farmer!" says Jeah. Although she has many ambitions, the twelve-year-old envisions herself living in a sweltering world in ten years. 'I'll be 22, cooling off with a fan in the heat surviving in a very hot world.'". For 12-year-old plaintiff Han Jeah, who loves K-pop idols, dancing, and climate activism, adults are not taking the climate crisis seriously enough, because it won't ultimately affect them. "When the Earth's temperature rises two degrees Celsius more, none of the adults who are talking about this right now will still be around -- even President (Yoon Suk Yeol)" she told AFP. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP) / To go with 'SKOREA-CLIMATE-YOUTH, FOCUS' by Hieun SHIN