1. “I founded Climate Girl because I felt
that young people needed to know
and learn the simple facts about the
environment,” says Raines.“It also helps
them to understand the importance
of living sustainably. I want to inspire
my generation to be more proactive in
protecting the environment, because we
are going to inherit a planet less healthy
than past generations have had. I want to
ensure that my generation and the next
will inherit a planet that is able to meet
our needs. Climate Girl is not political
but is inclusive, optimistic, energetic,
supportive, understanding and tenacious.”
Taking action
The primary focus for Climate Girl is
to educate young people, to inspire and
motivate them to take action locally
on sustainability issues that ultimately
benefit the communities they live in.
Benefits gained from these sustainable
actions, Raines believes, will ensure a
healthy planet, healthy people and a
sustainable future.
“My passion for the environment started
when I was six years old and over the last
13 years I have worked extremely hard
on increasing my knowledge and sharing
this knowledge with schoolchildren here
in Australia and from around the world,”
continues Raines.To help spread the
awareness of environmental issues and
sustainability she gives talks and runs
workshops at schools for free.“I do this
as a way to give back to the community
and my goal is to foster the next
generation to be better informed about
environmental issues so that they can
make informed decisions now and in the
future. I Skype with other young people
from around the globe who want to ask
for advice or want to share information.
Parrys Raines is a 19 year old Australian otherwise known as Climate Girl. An environmental
educator, writer and blogger, Raines is also a film-maker, a public speaker and an
environmental law student. She has worked with and been an ambassador for many
different organisations that are committed to the protection of the environment, animals
and most importantly people. The list includes Sculpt the Future Foundation, WWF, Earth
Hour, Billabong, Cool Australia, Enviroweek, Kids Teaching Kids, The Australian Museum and
Aim for the Stars Foundation. In 2009, aged 14, she launched her educational website
www.climategirl.com.au.
Telling my story
Parrys Raines
"I want to inspire my
generation to be more
proactive in protecting
the environment,
because we are going
to inherit a planet less
healthy than past
generations have had."
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2. “I am a three-time Australian
representative to the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), and
was a keynote speaker at their conferences
in Norway, South Korea and Java.
. In addition, I was a Partner and
Australian Representative for the
InternationalYouth Accord on
Biodiversity.
“I was a team member of the Plastiki
expedition.What I learnt as part of
this experience enabled me take action
locally and address the issues of plastics
in our oceans. My proposal to have the
single use plastic water bottle banned at
my school was accepted by the school’s
principal and executive. My three
recommendations were implemented:
(i) install water bottle filling stations; (ii)
revamp the school’s bubblers; and (iii)
provide each student and teacher with
a stainless steel drinking bottle with the
school’s emblem on it.This was the first
school in Australia to provide drinking
bottles as part of the solution.Two
other schools have implemented my
model also.”
Intergenerational
equity
Raines is working to try to change
the perception that developing green
sustainability initiatives and moving
to a low carbon economy comes at a
high cost to businesses and families.
“All generations use our earth and all
generations must play a part in caring
for the earth,” she points out.“But the
present generation must pass on to us,
the next generation, a planet and all its
natural resources in as good or better
condition than they received it; or else
our future needs will not be met.
“My work to educate other young
people and those in my community is
about bringing climate change issues
more to the forefront and to discuss
these issues with decision-makers and
work alongside them to ensure that
intergenerational equity is an integral
part of their decision-making. I would
like to see the implementation of
concrete measures that will ultimately
protect the rights of future generations,
especially those from developing nations.
“I want intergenerational equity to
become part of everyday language and
the main motivation behind every
business, school and government agency
decision-making process.” Raines
hopes that this will encourage more
intergenerational communication
and bi-partisan leadership.“I believe
young people should be part of
all decisions that impact them
today, but most importantly in the
future. Intergenerational equity and
intergenerational communication are
vital to a sustainable future.
“I would also like to see environmental
laws strengthened to ensure that long-
term sustainable solutions and initiatives
are implemented and protected. I want
to encourage more young people to
push for low carbon, sustainable, climate
resilient developments alongside the
necessary economic solutions.This
would ensure that future generations
will be better protected from the
impacts of climate change. I want to
see intergenerational equity demanding
all decision processes be ambitious and
equitable.All generations have different
responsibilities and capabilities, and
current local leaders need to ensure
and understand that is imperative that
the decisions they make in terms of
sustainable development are made with
future generations in mind and are fair,
equitable, transparent and economically
sound.
“I am optimistic that our global
community will be able to change
the political will that is required for a
cleaner, smarter and sustainable future –
because if we don’t, we face irreversible
damage to the planet and that is not
acceptable.” 
"All generations use our
earth and all generations
must play a part in caring
for the earth."
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