From the Heart of the Mountains to the Halls of Power: Alex’s Journey to COP30
"When the rivers stopped singing, I knew something was wrong."
Alex’s voice carries the weight of a childhood spent in Omkoi District, a remote Karen community nestled deep in the emerald mountains of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Here, life once flowed in harmony with nature. Towering teak forests whispered ancient stories, and rivers carved silver paths through valleys where children played barefoot under the sun. But those rivers began to dry. The forests thinned. Seasons turned unpredictable, like pages torn from a book no one could finish reading.
"Climate change isn’t a headline for us, it’s our daily reality," Alex says, his eyes reflecting both urgency and hope. At just 19, he has seen how environmental shifts ripple through lives: crops failing, families struggling, children walking miles for clean water. Dreams of education shrink under the weight of survival. For Alex, these aren’t statistics, they are faces, names, and stories etched into his memory.
Today, Alex stands on a global stage at COP30, far from the quiet hills of Omkoi. A first-year student in International Relations at Chiang Mai University, he carries with him not just knowledge, but the heartbeat of his community. His journey began with small steps, youth forums, grassroots projects, and environmental research. Each step was a seed of change. “I realized that young people aren’t just victims of climate change. We are innovators, advocates, and leaders,” he says.
Alex's journey to COP30 didn't happen by chance. He earned his place on the Thai Youth Climate Coalition (TYCC) team under the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) after years of grassroots effort. His participation in the Young Minds Camp research project with World Vision East Asia, paired with his high school environmental project, helped him understand a reality that many global leaders overlook climate change is not just an environmental issue, it is a children's rights issue. “When a child loses access to clean water or education because of climate change, that’s not just an environmental issue. It’s a human rights issue,” he explains.
In his community, changing weather patterns affect water sources, agriculture, schooling, and even safety. "I saw how climate change steals opportunities from children," he says. "It affects their health, their education, and their future. That's why I wanted to be part of the COP30. We cannot protect children's rights without protecting the environment they rely on."
A Voice for the Quiet Corners of the World
At COP30, Alex doesn't see himself as just a participant. He sees himself as a voice for the hills of Omkoi, for ethnic minority youth, and for vulnerable communities often missing from global discussions.
"I want to represent those who have not heard," he says. "Young people from rural areas, Indigenous communities, and small villages, they are living the impacts of climate change every day. Their knowledge, their stories, and their resilience matter."
His goal is not only to share his community's experiences but also to learn from global leaders, scientists, and activists. He envisions returning home with new insights, stronger partnerships, and tools to ignite change among Thailand's youth.
Building Bridges Between Local Reality and Global Action
For Alex, COP30 is not a destination; it is a bridge. A bridge between the global climate agenda and the local challenges of small communities like Omkoi. A bridge between policy papers and children lived experiences. A bridge between the world he comes from and the future he hopes to build.
He believes that real climate solutions begin at the community level, and that youth have the creativity and energy to lead them. "Young people are not just victims of climate change," he insists. "We are innovators. We are problem solvers. We are the ones who will live with the consequences, so we must be part of the solutions."
Dreaming Forward
When asked what he hopes to bring back from COP30, Alex smiles. His ambitions stretch far beyond the conference halls.
He wants to build international friendships, spark collaborations, and return with knowledge that can strengthen environmental education and youth engagement in Thailand. He hopes to inspire other young people, especially those from rural communities, to speak up, act, and believe in their potential to create change.
But above all, he wants to honor the place that raised him.
"I want my journey to inspire others in Omkoi," he says softly. "To show young people that even if you grow up in a small mountain village, your voice can reach the world."
A New Generation of Leadership
Alex's story is not just one of personal achievement, it is a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose, when local wisdom meets global advocacy, and when a young person chooses courage over silence.
From forest trails to the corridors of international power, Alex carries his community spirit with him. Every step he takes at COP30 is not just for himself, but also for the children, families, and landscapes he represents.
His journey is proof that the most powerful voices in the climate movement often come from the quietest corners of the world and that a single youth from the mountains of Thailand can rise to help shape a more just and sustainable future for all.