18-year-old environmental activist to speak in Elgin

Dire news about climate change and its destruction of the environment seem to be the norm these days. Just this week, a new study showed global warming is shrinking glaciers 18 percent faster than scientists calculated in 2013.

Eighteen-year-old environmental activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez says that yes, facts are paramount, but it's essential to impart a more energizing message of engagement to spur change.

"So much of the narrative of climate change is so destructive and it is not helpful in mobilizing and ... in creating impact," said Martinez, who serves as youth director of the Colorado-based organization Earth Guardians. "It's about adequately adjusting the urgency of the message while still making people feel they want to be invested in being part of the movement."

In honor of Earth Month, Martinez will be in Elgin on April 17 to give a talk titled "Roots of Revolution" about getting involved at the grass-roots level in the climate change battle. "There's a lot of work that needs to be done in engaging people in the solution," he said.

Despite his young age, Martinez is well-versed in the matter. He's been a climate activist since age 6, when his family was part of an effort to get their hometown of Boulder, Colorado, to take environmental action, such as to stop using pesticides in parks.

Martinez has given TEDx talks and has been a guest on the HBO show "Real Time with Bill Maher." He was the keynote speaker at United Nations General Assembly's high-level climate change event in 2015 and was among the youngest speakers at the RIO+20 United Nations Summit in 2012. He's also among 21 youths who are suing the federal government, claiming people's constitutional rights are being violated in the failure to protect the planet from the effects of climate change.

Martinez is a "once-in-a-generation kind of guy" whose impressive resume shows one person, even when young, can influence change, said Tia Aagesen, chairwoman of Elgin's sustainability commission, which sponsored the talk.

"Our primary motivator (in inviting Martinez) is that he is a younger person, and we find that this generational engagement is really important not only to the commission but to the city," Aagesen said.

Today's young people grow up surrounded by information about climate change, but can feel disenfranchised and unable to have a voice in the matter, Martinez said. Still, "young people are, time and time again, with and without my influence, actively jumping into the front lines for change," he added.

"I think adults are jaded in a lot of places. It's easier for adults to be stuck in their ways than it is for young people," he said.

People who want make individual changes to combat climate change should consider reducing or eliminating meat and dairy from their diets, because of the large carbon footprint produced by livestock, Martinez said.

Eventually, the sum of all individual action shapes culture beyond climate policy or politics, he said.

Martinez's talk is sponsored by Elgin's sustainability commission, which used $7,500 from its yearly budget to fund the event, city officials said. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 17 at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. The event is free to the public but tickets are required for admission at cityofelgin.org/xtickets.

Daily Herald correspondent Jamie Greco contributed to this report.