Chris, Natalie and I joined YOUNGO youth and intergenerational equity advocates who came together yesterday to display two demands: a 0% social discount rate that would ensure equal valuation of future generations, and 0% fossil fuel emissions by 2050.

The group stood in silence for most of the action, we held signs that read “Born in 2100, Don’t Discount My Future”. We wore tape over our mouths to represent the way future generations are unable to defend their right to a liveable future, and are not guaranteed one because their lives are currently not worth as much as current generations’ thanks to social discounting.

The most exciting thing for me was several taking part in the action by removing the tape from my mouth and stepping forward to speak. We pointed directly at members of the large crowd and said, “You are my grandparent, don’t discount my future” as a way to bring delegates’ attention to their families and loved ones in hopes of driving them to action on climate.

“Youth have a strong moral voice to call for justice for our generation. The decisions made now will profoundly affect the security of our future, so we are advocating for bold action to meet that challenge,” said Aly Johnson-Kurts, an organizer of the event and U.S. youth delegate with the organization SustainUS.

It was a proud feeling to stand in solidarity with people who share the same worries and concerns as myself and show negotiators that we won’t relieve pressure on them. They need to start counting our future as equal to their lives now, not when it’s already too late.