Climate activist Xiye Bastida makes powerful speech to world leaders

A teenage activist has been lauded for her powerful speech at the White House summit on Thursday, where she told global leaders that the climate crisis was the results of actions of powerful people like them.

Xiye Bastida, a Mexican-born, 19-year-old student, was introduced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the first day of the two-day online talks, where 40 leaders were in attendance.

Speaking via video-link, Ms Bastida said the global climate emergency was caused by the powerful in society who are “perpetuating and upholding the harmful systems of colonialism, oppression, capitalism and market-oriented brainwashed solutions”.