Eefke van de Wouw

About Eefke van de Wouw

Eefke van de Wouw is an environmental and human rights ambassador, particularly known for her commitment to young and future generations. She stood not only before hundreds of diplomats and world leaders during international climate conferences but also in the midst of the global youth movement for climate action.

As the Youth Representative for Sustainable Development at the United Nations, she traveled for 2 years from the Dutch Polder to international UN conferences, giving the youngest generation a voice in the climate debate. A voice that echoed loudly through the streets during climate strikes, where Eefke was also present. A month after Greta Thunberg’s first climate strike, she began her mandate in the eye of the storm, at the epicenter of world leaders and politicians, climate scientists, and the youth movement.

Eefke conveys the urgency of the issue without losing hope. With passion and enthusiasm, she talks about the brave new world and the power of the younger generation. She inspires others to seek their own piece of the puzzle and become part of the solution. The audience embarks on a journey to not stumble over the issues of our time but to become excited about the possibilities that exist. Through her experiences with diverse groups, she comfortably addresses a classroom of students as well as a hall full of world leaders.

Her strong sense of justice is a common thread throughout her life and work. At the age of 21, she set off alone to Greece to assist those arriving by boat in the refugee flow. Here, she particularly focused on women and children and coordinated a team of international volunteers for several weeks.

Remarkable adventures and experiences shaped her work as an activist, but she primarily sees herself as a young woman who simply enjoys walking. At 23, she walked over 800 kilometers along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. With this passion for walking, she hopes to inspire others to spend more time in nature and less time sitting at a desk. Eefke is committed in various ways to restoring the connection between humans and nature. For instance, she walked over 500 km through the Netherlands to take young people outdoors, drawing attention to the changed relationship between humans and nature in the West.

Even after her mandate as Youth Representative, Eefke van de Wouw continues to advocate for the most urgent issues of our time concerning the protection of both people and the planet.

Young people are the first generation to grow up and grow old with the climate issue. Therefore, I find it important that we are allowed to have a say when decisions are made today about our future.