Backshall said: “A young person who is energised, who has a purpose, who has a vision, who thinks they can make a massive change is the most exciting thing to be around on the planet.
“We hear endlessly about Greta Thunberg. Well there are tens of thousands of Greta Thunbergs in this nation along and 250 possible Gretas right here, sat right here today – the things they could achieve are boundless.”
The co-founder of Kids Against Plastic, Amy Meek, said young people play a “pivotal part” in tackling climate change and plastic pollution.
She said: “Young people have this really infectious energy, especially kids who we often discount as being too young to really care about these issue… if we can mobilise that energy and that interest into actual positive action that can have a massive difference.”