Scarlett Westbrook

Westbrook grew up in Birmingham. She was the youngest person in the world to obtain an A Level in Government and Politics, which she self-taught in 2018, aged 13.{{cite news |author1=Scarlett Westbrook |title=I'm 14 years old and Brexit is already affecting my life. Why won't people listen to me? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-children-teenage-impact-school-children-leave-eu-immigration-education-economy-a8694866.html |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=The Independent |date=21 December 2018 |language=English |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506144121/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-children-teenage-impact-school-children-leave-eu-immigration-education-economy-a8694866.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Children's Media Conference: Scarlett Westbrook |url=https://www.thechildrensmediaconference.com/profile/scarlett-westbrook/ |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817122042/https://www.thechildrensmediaconference.com/profile/scarlett-westbrook/ |url-status=live }} Westbrook rose to prominence for journalism discussing Brexit and youth political engagement, beginning in December 2018 with an article that tackled the underrepresentation of youth in UK politics.

Beginning in 2019, Westbrook became involved in climate justice activism. She co-organised Birmingham's first school strike for climate action,{{cite news |author1=Rakeem Hyatt |title='Why we skipped school' – meet the Birmingham children protesting for climate change |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/why-skipped-school-meet-children-16342742 |date=30 May 2019 |language=English |access-date=14 September 2021 |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914145131/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/why-skipped-school-meet-children-16342742 |url-status=live }} before joining the UK Student Climate Network as a coordinator for community engagement, political outreach and organising around the Green New Deal.{{cite news |author1=Emma Loffhagen, Ghazal Abbasi, Alex Goldsmith, Radhika Aligh |title=Gen Zero: Meet the next generation of climate campaigners – Scarlett Westbrook |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/optimist/sustainable/climate-campaigners-gen-zero-young-activists-justice-cop26-b962908.html |access-date=6 May 2022 |date=29 October 2021 |language=English |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508132240/https://www.standard.co.uk/optimist/sustainable/climate-campaigners-gen-zero-young-activists-justice-cop26-b962908.html |url-status=live }} She helped to organise Birmingham climate strikes in March and May 2019,{{cite news |title='Why we skipped school' – meet the Birmingham children protesting for climate change |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/why-skipped-school-meet-children-16342742 |access-date=6 May 2022 |date=30 May 2019 |archive-date=15 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015193558/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/why-skipped-school-meet-children-16342742 |url-status=live }} writing about the protests in The Independent ahead of the May global climate strike.{{cite news |author1=Scarlett Westbrook |title=Dear Boris Johnson, using your gigantic platform to moan about kids like me won't stop us fighting climate change |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boris-johnson-climate-change-extinction-rebellion-protest-young-people-a8883806.html |access-date=6 May 2022 |date=24 April 2019 |language=English |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506143932/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boris-johnson-climate-change-extinction-rebellion-protest-young-people-a8883806.html |url-status=live }} She continued to organise climate strike marches in Birmingham, London and across the UK.{{cite web |author1=Will Millar |title=Teen activist Scarlett Westbrook tells DMU how to fight climate change |url=https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2021/march/teen-activist-scarlett-westbrook-tells-dmu-how-to-fight-climate-change.aspx |website=De Montfort University Leicester |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=14 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314133023/https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2021/march/teen-activist-scarlett-westbrook-tells-dmu-how-to-fight-climate-change.aspx |url-status=live }}

Westbrook became involved with the daughter organisation of the UK Student Climate Network, Teach the Future, and was appointed as Head of Political Engagement.{{cite web |title=Stories Festival Speaker Profile: Scarlett Westbrook |url=https://www.stories.standard.co.uk/speaker-bios/scarlett-westbrook |website=Evening Standard Stories Festival |date=20 July 2021 |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914170510/https://www.stories.standard.co.uk/speaker-bios/scarlett-westbrook |url-status=live }} Through Teach the Future, Westbrook authored the first ever student-written bill, the English Climate Emergency Education Act.{{cite web |author1=Zamzam Ibrahim |title=Teach the Future unveils Climate Emergency Education Bill |url=https://www.sos-uk.org/post/teach-the-future-unveils-climate-emergency-education-bill |website=Students Organising for Sustainability United Kingdom |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=23 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323041243/https://www.sos-uk.org/post/teach-the-future-unveils-climate-emergency-education-bill |url-status=live }} In February 2020 Westbrook organised and spoke at the Parliamentary Reception for the English Climate Emergency Education Act,{{cite news |author1=EAUC |title=English Climate Emergency Education Bill launched |url=https://www.eauc.org.uk/english_climate_emergency_education_ |access-date=6 May 2022 |publisher=EAUC: The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education |date=24 February 2020 |language=English |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808075558/https://www.eauc.org.uk/english_climate_emergency_education_ |url-status=live }} receiving praise from MPs across the House.

In November 2021, the English Climate Education Emergency Bill was presented to Parliament by the MP Nadia Whittome.{{cite news |author1=Mishti Ali |date=26 November 2021 |title=What the new student-written climate education bill actually means |language=English |publisher=i-D Magazine |url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/m7vvep/education-climate-change-and-sustainability-bill-explainer |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506143931/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/m7vvep/education-climate-change-and-sustainability-bill-explainer |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Climate Education Bill |url=https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3070 |access-date=6 May 2022 |website=UK Parliament: Parliamentary Bills |language=English |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506143931/https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3070 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=Joe Brindle |title=What is the Climate Emergency Education Bill? |url=https://www.teachthefuture.uk/blog/what-is-the-climate-emergency-education-bill |access-date=6 May 2022 |website=Teach the Future |archive-date=5 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105122534/https://www.teachthefuture.uk/blog/what-is-the-climate-emergency-education-bill |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=24 February 2020 |title=English Climate Emergency Education Bill launched |publisher=EAUC: The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education |url=https://www.eauc.org.uk/english_climate_emergency_education_ |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808075558/https://www.eauc.org.uk/english_climate_emergency_education_ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author1=Sarah Wilson |date=26 January 2022 |title='Their voices can't be ignored any longer': MPs to debate student's Climate Education Bill |publisher=The Big Issue |url=https://www.bigissue.com/news/environment/their-voices-cant-be-ignored-any-longer-mps-to-debate-students-climate-education-bill/ |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=25 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425132331/https://www.bigissue.com/news/environment/their-voices-cant-be-ignored-any-longer-mps-to-debate-students-climate-education-bill/ |url-status=live }} Westbrook was interviewed about this first reading of the bill by i-D Magazine, stating "By starting with climate education, and by starting with decarbonising schools, we're creating a legacy of climate justice. That means we can continue action, and it's sustainable, and continuous, and, hopefully, better for education."{{cite news |author1=Mishti Ali |date=26 November 2021 |title=What the new student-written climate education bill actually means |language=English |publisher=i-D Magazine |url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/m7vvep/education-climate-change-and-sustainability-bill-explainer |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506143931/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/m7vvep/education-climate-change-and-sustainability-bill-explainer |url-status=live }} The bill is set to have its second reading on 6 May 2022.{{cite web |title=Climate Education Bill |url=https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3070/stages |access-date=6 May 2022 |website=UK Parliament: Parliamentary Bills |language=English |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506150718/https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3070/stages |url-status=live }}

Westbrook has appeared at high-profile events and on national television, including an interview in 2019 on BBC Breakfast alongside Greta Thunberg, discussing the Global Climate Strike and the Green New Deal. She was also interviewed by ITV to discuss the petition for the leaders of the major political parties to hold a televised debate focused on the climate crisis ahead of the 2019 General Election, which she helped to launch as a spokesperson for the UK Student Climate Network.{{cite news |author1=Charlotte Cross |date=15 November 2019 |title=Tens of thousands sign petition urging politicians to debate climate crisis ahead of election |publisher=ITV News |url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2019-11-15/tens-of-thousands-sign-petition-urging-politicians-to-debate-climate-crisis-ahead-of-election |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506150716/https://www.itv.com/news/central/2019-11-15/tens-of-thousands-sign-petition-urging-politicians-to-debate-climate-crisis-ahead-of-election |url-status=live }} She said, "We can't really be guided by what's deemed to be politically possible, when we need what's scientifically necessary. Politics by definition is the process by which conflict is resolved and this is arguably the biggest crisis we've ever faced." In response, Channel 4 held the 'Emergency on Planet Earth' debate of party leaders on 28 November 2019.{{cite news |author1=Zoe Drewett |date=29 November 2019 |title=Ignoring the piffle paffle, here's what was said in the leaders' climate debate |language=English |url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/29/ignoring-piffle-paffle-said-leaders-climate-debate-11237625/ |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506150717/https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/29/ignoring-piffle-paffle-said-leaders-climate-debate-11237625/ |url-status=live }} This was the first ever party leaders’ debate focused exclusively on climate change in the UK.{{cite news |author1=Krishnan Guru-Murthy |date=28 November 2019 |title=The Channel 4 News Climate Debate |language=English |publisher=Channel 4 News |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/the-channel-4-news-climate-debate |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=22 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122203812/https://www.channel4.com/news/the-channel-4-news-climate-debate |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Westbrook headlined the International Women's Day march led by Care International in London, where she outlined the links between climate justice and justice for women, especially those living in the Global South.{{cite news |author1=Frances Rankin |date=9 March 2020 |title=March for Women Highlights Need for Climate Justice and Gender Equality |language=English |publisher=DeSmog |url=https://www.desmog.com/2020/03/09/protesters-call-climate-justice-annual-march4women/ |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101053531/https://www.desmog.com/2020/03/09/protesters-call-climate-justice-annual-march4women/ |url-status=live }} She was the youngest-ever headline speaker at a Care International International Women's Day mobilisation.{{cite news |date=9 March 2020 |title=Thousands march through London for International Women's Day |publisher=The Morning Star |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thousands-march-through-london-international-womens-day |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914155320/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thousands-march-through-london-international-womens-day |url-status=live }}

Westbrook appeared again on BBC Breakfast on 25 February 2020 to introduce the Teach the Future campaign.{{cite web |title=Teenage climate activists Scarlett Westbrook and Joe Brindle go live on BBC Breakfast to talk about the Teach the Future campaign |url=https://player.vimeo.com/video/394656620 |website=Vimeo |access-date=6 May 2022 |date=25 February 2020 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817122014/https://player.vimeo.com/video/394656620 |url-status=live }} In June 2021, Westbrook was interviewed for Sky News about climate anxiety and her research that found that only four percent of students felt they knew enough about the climate crisis. She said "We need the knowledge to be able to deal with this post-climate breakdown world that we're going to be entering, as we exit university and schooling and into the workforce."{{cite news |author1=Laura Bundock |title=Youngsters suffering from 'eco-anxiety' as campaigners demand more climate change teaching in schools |url=https://news.sky.com/story/youngsters-suffering-from-eco-anxiety-as-campaigners-demand-more-climate-change-teaching-in-schools-12321819 |access-date=6 May 2022 |publisher=Sky News |date=1 June 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124180047/https://news.sky.com/story/youngsters-suffering-from-eco-anxiety-as-campaigners-demand-more-climate-change-teaching-in-schools-12321819 |url-status=live }}

In July 2020, Westbrook spoke at the Children's Media Conference{{cite web |title=Children's Media Conference: Scarlett Westbrook |url=https://www.thechildrensmediaconference.com/profile/scarlett-westbrook/ |website=The Children's Media Conference |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817122042/https://www.thechildrensmediaconference.com/profile/scarlett-westbrook/ |url-status=live }} and was named as one of Greenpeace's 30 Under 30 climate activists,{{cite web |author1=Almaz Ohene, Helle Abelvik-Lawson |title=Meet the young people of colour fighting for our planet |url=https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/young-climate-activists-of-colour-profiles/ |website=Greenpeace |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=English |date=16 July 2020 |archive-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610025750/https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/young-climate-activists-of-colour-profiles/ |url-status=live }} and on 23 September 2020 she won the Institute for Public Policy Research 'Big Ideas' policy event.{{cite web |title=Webinar: The big ideas debate with Ed Miliband MP: Building a better, fairer and greener future |url=https://www.ippr.org/event/webinar-the-big-ideas-debate-with-ed-miliband-mp |website=Institute for Public Policy Research |date=7 September 2020 |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019024155/https://www.ippr.org/event/webinar-the-big-ideas-debate-with-ed-miliband-mp |url-status=live }} She went on to be the youngest person ever longlisted for the Merky Books writing prize in December 2020, and in February 2021 she became the youngest ever recipient of the Women of the Future Young Star award.{{cite web |title=Women of the Future Awards shortlist 2020 |url=https://awards.womenofthefuture.co.uk/our-alumni-category/2020/ |website=Women of the Future Awards |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=25 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725133818/https://awards.womenofthefuture.co.uk/our-alumni-category/2020/ |url-status=live }} In November 2020 she was named as one of Forbes Top 100 UK Environmentalists.{{cite news |author1=Solitaire Townsend |title=100 UK Leading Environmentalists (Who Happen To Be Women) |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/solitairetownsend/2020/11/16/100-uk-leading-environmentalists-who-happen-to-be-women/ |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=Forbes |date=16 November 2020 |language=English |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418125409/https://www.forbes.com/sites/solitairetownsend/2020/11/16/100-uk-leading-environmentalists-who-happen-to-be-women/ |url-status=live }}

In 2021, Westbrook received the prestigious Diana Award for her journalism and environmental activism{{cite web |title=Roll of Honour 2021 |url=https://diana-award.org.uk/roll-of-honour-2021/ |website=The Diana Award |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=English |archive-date=1 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501155914/https://diana-award.org.uk/roll-of-honour-2021/ |url-status=live }} and was named 'one of the UK's most high profile youth activists' by Sky.{{cite news |author1=Ashna Hurynag |title=COP26: Thousands of activists march on the streets of Glasgow |url=https://news.sky.com/story/cop26-thousands-of-activists-march-on-the-streets-of-glasgow-12461126 |access-date=6 May 2022 |publisher=Sky News |date=5 November 2021 |language=English |archive-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121031840/https://news.sky.com/story/cop26-thousands-of-activists-march-on-the-streets-of-glasgow-12461126 |url-status=live }}

In November 2021 Westbrook attended COP26 in Glasgow, and her subsequent column 'Young people like me have made history this COP26 'youth day' – now it's your turn' in the Independent{{cite news |author1=Scarlett Westbrook |date=5 November 2021 |title=Young people like me have made history this Cop26 'youth day' – now it's your turn |language=English |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/opinion/cop26-youth-day-strike-climate-protest-b1952116.html |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426043200/https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/opinion/cop26-youth-day-strike-climate-protest-b1952116.html |url-status=live }} was featured in The Week's list of best opinion columns.{{cite news |date=5 November 2021 |title=Your digest of analysis from the British and international press |language=English |publisher=The Week |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/instant-opinion/954711/it-is-hard-to-justify-bank-of-england-misleading-market |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109044026/https://www.theweek.co.uk/instant-opinion/954711/it-is-hard-to-justify-bank-of-england-misleading-market |url-status=live }} Ahead of the conference, she was profiled in The Observer New Review,{{cite news |author1=Olivia Laing |date=17 October 2021 |title=Gen Z on how to save the world: young climate activists speak out |language=English |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/17/gen-z-on-how-to-save-the-world-young-climate-activists-speak-out |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510233313/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/17/gen-z-on-how-to-save-the-world-young-climate-activists-speak-out |url-status=live }} the Evening Standard,{{cite news |author1=Emma Loffhagen, Ghazal Abbasi, Alex Goldsmith, Radhika Aligh |date=29 October 2021 |title=Gen Zero: Meet the next generation of climate campaigners – Scarlett Westbrook |language=English |publisher=Evening Standard |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/optimist/sustainable/climate-campaigners-gen-zero-young-activists-justice-cop26-b962908.html |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508132240/https://www.standard.co.uk/optimist/sustainable/climate-campaigners-gen-zero-young-activists-justice-cop26-b962908.html |url-status=live }} and National Geographic.

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Category:Activists from Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:2004 births

Category:Living people

Category:British climate activists

Category:British women activists

Category:British child activists

Category:Youth climate activists