Climate change is not just about what’s happening to our planet, but about how it’s affecting our economies, health and every aspect of our lives. Most of us know that now. But for too long climate stories were framed as an environmental issue only, missing the connection to our everyday lives. In this episode Macarena Aguilar talks to veteran journalist and activist, Esmeralda de Belgique, about how this approach has contributed to delaying collective action to address the biggest challenge of our times. 

Esmeralda has been involved with the environment and climate justice movements for decades.  She is active in the boards of some of the largest environmental organizations, like WWF and Greenpeace; and she heads the conservation foundation that she inherited from her father, the late King Leopold III of Belgium. 

As a member of the Belgium royal family, Esmeralda has often leveraged her position to advocate for climate justice. In this interview she explains how she joined the 2019 Extinction Rebellion landmark protests in London to get arrested and galvanize support for the cause. You will also hear her call for a lot more people to join the peaceful street demonstrations and praise today’s climate youth advocates, who she believes are the most effective climate change messengers of our times. 

Useful links and resources we reference in the episode

2010: Terre!: Agissons pour la planète, il n´est past trop tard. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Terre-Agissons-pour-planète-tard/dp/2873866829/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1601985383&refinements=p_27:Esmeralda+de+Belgique&s=books&sr=1-1

Articles published by Esmeralda de Belgique: https://www.lecho.be/auteur/Esmeralda-de-Belgique.71541.html

Coverage of Esmeralda de Belgique’s arrest in London: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/extinction-rebellion-london-belgian-princess-esmerelda-arrest-billingsgate-climate-latest-news-a9153621.html

Esmeralda de Belgique speaks to Paris Match about the need for a “climate revolution: https://www.parismatch.com/Royal-Blog/famille-royale-belge/Esmeralda-de-Belgique-Il-faut-une-revolution-pour-le-climat-1593613

Be sure to subscribe to Changing the Climate Conversation for alerts when new episodes drop: Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts from!

Stay up to date with news from Small World Stories on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter

Follow Macarena Aguilar, the episode’s host, on Twitter, LinkedIn