American climate change activist
Jamie Margolin |
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| Occupation | Climate justice activist |
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| Known for | Organizing the Youth Climate Action March |
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Jamie Margolin is a Columbian-American[1] climate justice activist.[2] She is the Co-Executive director of Zero Hour.[3]
Activism
In 2017, at age 15, Margolin founded the youth climate action organization Zero Hour with Nadia Nazar,[7][8] Zanagee Artis, and other youth activists.[9] She served as the co-executive director of the organization until September 2020 when she stepped down. She was replaced by fellow founder and youth activist Madelaine Tew.[10] Margolin co-founded Zero Hour in reaction to the response she saw after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico[11] and her personal experience during the 2017 Washington wildfires.[10]
She has garnered some notoriety as a plaintiff in the Aji P. v. Washington case, suing the state of Washington for their inaction against climate change on the basis of a stable climate being a human right.[11][12] In worsening the climate crisis, the state of Washington has denied her generation their constitutional rights to a livable environment.[13]
In September 2018, Margolin was part of a youth group that sued Governor Jay Inslee and the State of Washington over greenhouse-gas emissions in the state. The case was dismissed by a King County Superior Court judge, who ruled the case to be political one that must be resolved by the Governor and the legislature. It has since been appealed Washington Court of Appeals.[4]
In September 2019, she was asked to testify on a panel called "Voices Leading the Next Generation on the Global Climate Crisis" alongside Greta Thunberg for the United States House of Representatives.[4]
In 2021, Margolin started a Climate Justice Scholarship.[5]
Journalism
Her writing about climate change has appeared in many publications including HuffPost, Teen Ink and CNN. She was part of Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21 class of 2018.[14] In 2018, she was also named as one of People Magazine's 25 Women Changing the World.[15][16]
in 2020, Margolin published her 1st book, Youth to Power: Your Voice and How to Use It, in which she presents the essential guide to changemaking through activism.[17]
Personal life
Margolin identified as Jewish and Latinx. She identifies as a lesbian and speaks openly about her experiences as an LGBT person.[18][4]
Margolin is a member of the Junior State of America.[19][non-primary source needed]
Controversies
In 2021 Margolin and fellow climate activist Emma Tang accused each other of sexual assault.[20][21][22]
Awards and honors
Margolin won a MTV Europe Music Awards Generation Change award in 2019.[23]
She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2019.[24]
