Manav Bansal
Age 17, The Wheatley School, Old Westbury, Long Island
“Our mother is dying and we are continually fueling her destruction, clogging her lungs with greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, polluting her waters, and destroying her forests. Being able to speak out on this topic allows me to serve as a catalyst for change in society, inspiring more people to take action before it is too late.”
Manav lives in Old Westbury on Long Island with his parents, two older sisters, and grandparents. He is inspired by his fellow youth activists who are continually fighting for the same cause, as well as those whose voices cannot be heard, including climate refugees who are facing the brute force of this crisis. He hopes to major in environmental engineering and public policy and to someday develop novel solutions, while also ensuring protection of those who are impacted the most by this crisis, such as climate refugees and people of color. Manav is a member of the Museum’s Youth Advisory Council and was a docent at our 2019 exhibition Taking Action. This is his second year participating in Climate Speaks.