I’ve just received an honorary doctorate at 18 – but that doesn’t matter Favorite 

Practitioner: 

Date: 

Dec 3 2022

Location: 

UK

This week, I got to make history. At 18 years of age, I received an honorary doctorate from the University of London for my work in climate justice, making me the current youngest holder of the award globally.

Having not yet started my undergraduate studies, I still can’t quite believe it. I’m contributing to policy before sitting my GCSEs, and I’m organising UK-wide protests before prom. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to the university for this honour and I don’t think I ever will be able to. I also doubt I’ll ever shake off the imposter syndrome that comes with it.

But I never got into the climate justice space seeking accolades, and that remains the case now. In fact, I feel slightly uneasy to be awarded for work that shouldn’t have to be done; work that is done off the back of crisis and disaster. This in itself poses a whole lot of philosophical arguments that I’m not sure anyone is capable of answering. But grappling with such questions has taken me on quite a journeyI traded the majority of my childhood to climate action. I am struck by how I was, and am, privileged enough to be able to choose to do so. For those on the front line of the climate crisis, climate action is not a choice but a matter of immediate survival – a form of action we often overlook. Finding shelter after a hurricane, rebuilding lives after floods, replenishing resources after drought are all demonstrations of climate action, equal to, and if not more significant, than my policy contributions or protest organisation.

All these actions are united by a relentless fight for survival in the face of the climate crisis. That determination is the message I want everyone (including myself) to take away from this award.
We live in a world that is undeniably terrifying, whether that is because of the climate crisis, structural poverty, inequality and so much more. Yet, instead of giving up in the face of such horrific realities, we keep going. We keep fighting in our own ways because if we don’t, who will?

This radical hope is what drives me and so many others. Hope is a verb: we don’t just find it everywhere but we have to fight for it too. We have to uphold the things that inspire hope too; from something as simple as having a community, to a dream as complex as changing the world. We have to make hope by believing we deserve better and doing all we can to get that, in whatever form that takes.
I have gathered quite a collection of “firsts” and “youngest-evers” in the climate and policy worlds. But I will be the first to tell you that none of it matters. The climate crisis may be driven by a select number of individuals who are overconsuming but it certainly won’t be solved by individuals. Only structural change will tackle it. We need transformative action from the grassroots up, and that won’t be led or secured by any one individual.

Even on a personal note, every accolade I have would not have been possible without the community of people I have by my side. Whether that’s my teachers, my family and friends, MPs like Nadia Whittome who have used their positions of power to help, and countless other people in my life, I’ve had incredible support that has enabled any change to be secured.
I don’t just owe this to the people in my life but to every single person who has carried on in spite of the climate crisis to demand better, to fight for the world we deserve. I truly believe that change is not just a necessity but an inevitability that we can create together, starting with something as simple as dreaming.

External sources: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/scarlett-westbrook-honorary-doctorate-clima…
Posted by saanvijain on Apr 2 2023

Staff rating: 

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Effectiveness

How does this project help?

Amplifies (issue or campaign)Brings public and political attention to an issue or campaign.  Can include prefigurative action, making the invisible visible.
Sustains (change)Support and celebrate change that has already been won and needs to be sustained.

Timeframe For change

This project seems to be part of a campaign with a clear long-term goal. Long-term goals tend to be things like: end racism; end homophobia; make the sun stand still in the sky. A campaign with a long-term goal also needs to have some kind of theory of change.
Scarlett Westbrook's long-term goal is to raise awareness about the urgent need to address the climate crisis and to encourage governments and institutions to take action to mitigate its effects. Westbrook has been a vocal advocate for climate action since the age of 15 and has been involved in various campaigns and initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the issue. One of her specific goals has been to encourage universities and academic institutions to recognize the urgency of the climate crisis and to prioritize sustainability in their policies and practices. Her campaign for an honorary doctorate is part of this broader effort to draw attention to the issue and to encourage institutions to take action. Overall, Westbrook's long-term goal is to help create a more sustainable and equitable future for all, by raising awareness about the urgent need for action on the climate crisis and by advocating for policies and practices that prioritize sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Notes

Westbrook's campaign for an honorary doctorate has helped to highlight the important work being done by young climate activists and has drawn attention to the urgent need for action on the climate crisis. By using her platform to raise awareness and advocate for change, Westbrook has helped to inspire others to get involved and to push for greater action on the issue. While it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of individual projects or campaigns, the broader movement for climate action has certainly gained momentum in recent years, with increasing attention being paid to the urgent need for sustainability and environmental stewardship. Westbrook's work is part of this broader movement, and her efforts to raise awareness and advocate for action on the climate crisis have undoubtedly contributed to this growing awareness and momentum.