Anjali Sharma: Climate Advocate and Greenpeace Campaigner

Meet Anjali Sharma . At just 19 years old, Anj splits her time between full-time Law Student, and Assistant Campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific - she's also been a Climate Advocate and Activist since she was 14 years old.

In 2020, Anj helped organise Global Climate Strikes across Naarm (Melbourne), where a humble 200,000 people took to the streets calling for greater climate action. Later that year, she made headlines for leading the Sharma v Environment class action against Australia's then-Environment Minister Sussan Ley - seeking an injunction in Federal Court for a coal mining project in New South Wales.

And earlier this week, Anj's activism was back in the spotlight as she joined her local independent senator to table a bill in Australian law , calling for a statutory duty of care to consider young people and the impacts of climate harm when making decisions that could affect the climate system.

Recently, Anj joined the crew onboard the Rainbow Warrior as part of our Pacific Climate Justice Ship Tour, to help amplify Pasifika voices and stories on the ground about climate justice, and the historic campaign to bring the issue of climate change to the world’s highest court.

Here's more from Anj and her journey working as a Climate Advocate and Assitant Campaigner at Greenpeace:

Can you tell us a little more about yourself?

I'm 19 years old and a first-year law student in Canberra. I was born in India but moved to Australia at a really young age, but India is still home and all of my extended family still live there. I'm very passionate about environmental advocacy and particularly how the law can compel greater climate action, and want to work as an environmental lawyer in the future.

In 2020, I became the lead litigant in the Sharma v Environment class action. It was a court case against the then Liberal environment minister, Sussan Ley, arguing that she owed a duty of care to young people to protect them from the impacts of climate change. The case was successful at first instance, and was a historic win, but was unfortunately overturned on appeal.

Outside of work and advocacy, I love walking my dog, playing netball and soccer.

What led you to work here at Greenpeace Australia Pacific?

I joined Greenpeace in November 2022, and have been working as an Assistant Campaigner on the Pacific Climate Justice team for around 8 months now. As a law nerd, I've followed the campaign to take the world's biggest issue to the world's highest court for a long time and have been super inspired by the leadership of the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) and the government of Vanuatu in driving this initiative.

Greenpeace's role in reaching the global network and galvanising international support was quite evident to me, and when the opportunity to work on the team presented itself, I was so keen to put myself forward.

I also see a lot of similarities between the Pacific and my home in India, with both countries being on the frontlines of climate change and communities having very little with which to rebuild or safeguard themselves, and I feel a personal connection to the Pacific because of that.

Can you tell us a little more about your role as Assistant Campaigner and the work that you are currently doing at Greenpeace?

As the Assistant Campaigner on the Pacific Climate Justice team, I do all different types of work! I help with behind-the-scenes political advocacy, calling on politicians to implement the climate policies being demanded by people in the Pacific, and I help organise community events that mobilise public pressure toward global leaders and the government.

Recently, I joined the crew onboard the Rainbow Warrior during its Pacific Climate Justice Ship Tour - which has meant a lot to me. I was lucky enough to travel from Cairns to Vanuatu with Uncle Paul and Uncle Pabai (Torres Strait Islander climate litigants from Grata Fund ) who are currently taking the Australian government to court as I did a few years ago.

In Vanuatu, I organised a community co-created art exhibition, with contributions from people all over the world of artifacts related to tradition and culture, that clearly demonstrate the impact of climate change on people, their lives, and their stories.

I met with local communities in places such as Eton and Mele, and was shown the extent of cyclone damage while also being treated to some amazing home-cooked food by the women, playing games of soccer, and having my hair braided by the children.

I met climate activists from all over the world and spoke to them about their stories and using the courts to take back community power, which was so inspiring.

Because I feel like it's too easy to forget that behind all these high-level policy considerations about climate change are people who will be impacted by them, and stories, traditions and cultures that will be shaped by the level of action we take.

It's a trip I'll never forget. Because while the strength of these communities really inspired me and reminded me of home, it really humanised the impact of climate change for me - and energised me to keep calling on our government for greater climate action.

What is the best part and most challenging part about your role as Assistant Campaigner at Greenpeace?

The hardest part is the job can be quite intense emotionally, especially when I see so many parallels between the Pacific and my home in India.

It hits incredibly close to home seeing news of a natural disaster, the declaration of an El Nino or disheartening IPCC reports - and seeing news of climate impacts is that much more scary when your family, and people you feel so close to, are on the receiving end of those impacts.

And the best part of my job is the people I work with and the people I get to meet. I'm so inspired by them all. My colleagues have such amazing stories and the people I get to meet in the Pacific as part of my job always ground me and remind me why I do what I do. They're so full of love and joy, and strength and resilience.

What advice could you give to others who are wanting to pursue a similar role in climate advocacy or the environmental sector?

Do it!! There's one thing I always remind myself when the climate doom overtakes the hope.

When it feels like you've leaned all your weight against the injustice you're fighting, remember that weight is cumulative and that there are people like you all over the world leaning their weight against the same injustices.

As more and more people join the fight, we're bound to win. If you're considering a career in environmental advocacy - we need you in the fight!