Meet Ariane: A Gen Z Story of Climate Action and Hope

From the series on inspiring Climate Justice Ambassadors worldwide

“Last year marked 15 years that I’ve been a climate, environmental, and youth advocate. I turned 25, which means I’ve been fighting this biggest of our global challenges for three fifths of my life — and one and a half times longer than I haven’t. This probably makes me a perfect representative of my generation, who grew up being born into these challenges.”

Her passion for nature started in the Italian Alps, surrounded by mountains, wildlife, and ever-changing seasons. Ariane explains that her aunt played a huge role in helping her understand how important animals and nature are. “She taught me from an early age that humans and other living entities on the planet are all connected rather than separate and detached from each other.” Encouraged by her family, she wanted to contribute constructively to climate action from a young age. “I have always been a curious and active child, who, when learning in school what was happening, I wanted to contribute constructively to this change, always encouraged by my family, who said every person’s action counts.”

Climate Worry Holding You Back — Can Hope Help You Act?

Ariane learned early that presenting the climate crisis with honesty and hope is the best way to motivate action, especially when bad news can feel overwhelming. “Stating the facts clearly, not sugarcoating anything and voicing concerns about possible drawbacks is fundamental. Nevertheless, taking a solution-driven and hope-spreading approach when interacting with people you try to convince about the urgency of this issue, very often motivates them to take action and constructively engage with the topic.”

For many in her generation, constant exposure to climate disaster headlines can be paralyzing. “An only negative narrative can feel paralyzing, while giving a positive outlook, that is, concrete actions one can take, raises awareness and motivates people to act accordingly,” she says. For Gen Z, the lesson is clear: climate anxiety isn’t a roadblock, it can also be a spark, if you know how to turn concern about their future into concrete action.

You Are Not Alone: Finding Community in Climate Action

In September 2010, Ariane became a Climate Justice Ambassador with Plant-for-the-Planet, launching what would become a 15-year journey. She recalls attending her first Academy in South Tyrol and quickly becoming passionate about educating other children about the climate crisis. By 2012, she had taken on an international role on the Global Board, now the Global Ambassador Council. She highlights the first Plant-for-the-Planet Youth Summit in Tutzing in May 2015. “This was the first time that I met people engaged in climate activism and advocacy from all around the world, discussing the future of climate protection, sketching different projects, and attending valuable skills workshops. I remember that I left Tutzing so inspired and full of energy. And since then, I had the exact same feeling from every other Youth Summit I participated in.” 

Her motto is: think globally, act locally. “If you create opportunities, where there is visible progress, especially in your local community, people will support the project and take part in it.” Inspired by this, she co-founded South Tyrol Plants and planted over 2,500 trees with the community. 

A Gen Z Perspective on Climate Action

Ariane’s approach to climate advocacy is shaped by growing up as part of Gen Z — a generation that came of age amid overlapping crises and the growing realization that a better future is not guaranteed. “This obviously is a difficult starting point,” she says. But it also comes with new strengths.

As digital natives in a globalized world, Gen Z has tools to organize, connect, and act across borders like never before. “It also means growing up in a globalized and interconnected world, being digital natives. This gives us new opportunities for advocating and networking with people all over the globe, joining forces and being more aware of what happens also in places that are not yours.” For Ariane, this turns local action into something shared and global.

What keeps her going after fifteen years in climate action is that sense of connection. “By staying connected to activists all over the world and seeing all their projects and efforts, this not only gives me hope, but also motivates and inspires me to continue.” In a world where giving up can feel tempting, her conclusion is simple: “We can’t do anything else than be optimistic and hopeful — otherwise we would already have given up, and that’s not an option.”

Where do we go from here?

Ariane’s story is a reminder that climate action is not a sprint, nor a single breakthrough moment. It is showing up, again and again, for fifteen years, planting trees, starting conversations, and standing in rooms where decisions about the future are made. From restoring forests in South Tyrol to advocating for climate justice at COP 29 in Baku, her work proves that change grows where people choose to act together.

In a world that often feels overwhelming, hope is not something you wait for, it’s something you build. One project, one community, one connection at a time. Let’s do it together. 

If you feel inspired, you can join the community of young climate leaders at the Youth Summit 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany. Applications are now open.