"I'm twenty-one years old and I am scared for my future" - Lauren Macdonald, climate activist
As young people all around the world strike today to demand better action on climate change, we spoke to one Govanhill-based climate activist who featured on the cover of our latest magazine. Lauren Macdonald, a member of Stop Cambo, told us why she feels she has to take a stand.
Lauren Macdonald | Photo by Alexander Hoyles
Interview by Francis Brewer
Recently, Lauren Macdonald caused a stir when she confronted Nicola Sturgeon at the opening of the Govanhill Carnival. She asked her to oppose the opening of Cambo, a new oil field off the coast of Shetland. The exchange put the First Minister on the back foot and, after the confrontation went viral, she asked the UK government to 'reassess' the project. Despite this, and against the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee, Boris Johnson has rebuffed this request and plans to continue with the expansion of oil production in the North Sea.
I caught up with Lauren – a Glasgow native who splits her time between campaigning and working as a historical researcher – to find out why she felt compelled to act, and what she thinks needs to be done to overcome the climate and ecological emergency.
What got you involved with this movement?
“I was sick of politicians getting away with making empty promises and taking no meaningful action on climate change. I'm twenty-one years old and I am scared for my future. Already we are seeing the negative effects of climate change across the world, and things are only going to get worse. I don't want to wake up twenty years from now in a burning world thinking, 'Did I do enough?'.
I started my activism with the school strikes and, after giving a speech to a few hundred people, I realised the power movements could have. Young people didn't need to wait for someone else to come and help: we could do it ourselves. This led to me becoming involved with the more radical groups Extinction and Animal Rebellion, and eventually with Stop Cambo and Green New Deal Rising which led me to the confrontation with Nicola Sturgeon.”
Why Cambo in particular?
“The International Energy Agency recently stated that in order to stay below 1.5 degrees (as set out in the Paris agreement) there must be no new investment in fossil fuels – and Cambo is exactly that. It is expected to create a level of pollution equivalent to 16 coal fired power plants running for a year and is due to extract 170 million barrels of oil in its first period of extraction. This is oil we can't afford to burn.
We want Nicola Sturgeon to oppose Cambo as we want to move away from fossil fuels now, not 25 years in the future. Opposing Cambo would show that the Scottish government is acting seriously and is willing to take the definitive action needed.”
But what about the oil workers? Won't they be out of a job?
“This is where the idea for a Green New Deal comes in. People need to remember that we are on the side of compassion and fairness. We don't want anyone to be out of a job. We want our governments to plan a just transition away from fossil fuels, which includes giving oil workers retraining and opportunities for work in green jobs. We do not want to see a repeat of closing the coal mines. Everyone agrees that we need to transition soon, but we must do it in a fair way which does not leave oil workers out in the cold. The Green New Deal is not just about tackling climate change, but about creating a society that is better and fairer.”
Climate change is something that worries a lot of people. What are some things that people can do if they want to get involved?
“I would recommend getting involved with the climate movement. Stop Cambo and Green New Deal Rising are good places to start as we are always looking for new people to help and we have a real chance of preventing this destructive new oil field and in pushing the government to start a just transition.
We have already done so much damage to the climate that we can't prevent climate change completely. It is important then, to think about what your community could be doing to prepare and how you could help. The most important thing is to talk to other people who are also worried because being part of a community of people who are working together on an issue is empowering and it makes you realise how strong we are when we come together.
Individual change can also be empowering and is a good stepping stone into collective action. It is important to change our own behaviour and lifestyle, but the climate crisis is too big for individuals to fight alone. To achieve the level of change required we must come together and I would ask anyone who is concerned to start taking action now. We don't have any time left.”
On Friday 24 September, young people around the world will demonstrate to demand greater action on the climate crisis. There are around 700 protests planned around the world. In Glasgow the demo will begin in Kelvingrove Park at 11am before marching to George Square.
