Young activist meets PM Johnson to discuss climate change

A 7-year-old British Asian girl was invited along with others to Downing Street to recognise and celebrate the work of climate change activists.

Aleesha Gadhia from Nottinghamshire recently won the ‘Child Of Britain Awards 2022’ which was presented to her by TV anchor Eamon Holmes.

She is the first youth ambassador for Cool Earth, which aims to raise awareness of climate change and lobbies businesses to operate more sustainably.

Gadhia has worked over the past two years to promote awareness about climate change and the environment.

She said, “I think Boris Johnson and what he is doing is excellent and I was so pleased to meet him.”

Gadhia has been sent letters from the Royal family including the Queen, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

She was invited to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson to question him and find out what Number 10 does with recycling and to attend the ‘Points of Light’ celebration.

The young girl asked the PM a series of questions about what would he like the next leader of the country to do about climate change.

Mr Johnson urged the next leader to be ‘as passionate as he is about climate change’ and to ‘continue his ambitions to be more environmentally friendly and climate conscious and continue the work from COP26’.

She also asked him what he teaches his children about the environment and he spoke about how his wife was ‘very climate conscious and she is teaching them how to be environmentally friendly’.

Mr Johnson said: “It’s amazing there’s so many people in this room but I am so delighted to meet Aleesha today and congratulate her on all the marvellous stuff she is doing to make everyone aware of what we should do keep this planet safe.“

Gadhia has now also asked if she can visit Downing Street again to see how sustainable the building is and what environmental measure they have in place. The family said they are waiting on a response for this.

The activist has also been nominated for the BBC Make a Difference Awards and WeNaturalists Awards, both for her climate change campaigning that are to be held in September.