Hong Kong’s Greta: Student Activist Lance Lau Strikes Solo For The Climate Amidst Ridiculing

Hong Kong student Lance Lau might just be the next Greta Thunberg. The young climate activist has been campaigning outside his school for two weeks since the September Global Climate Strike held on 20th September. He has also joined multiple environmental activities over the past months to raise awareness about human destruction on our planet. 

In a Facebook post, Lance shared that he has been striking outside his school by himself for the second week, despite over half of passing students making fun of his climate action. He has sent a digital copy of his pamphlet, which outlines how we can all live more sustainably, to all interested students and teachers. 

“Week 2 – in Hong Kong and striking outside school by myself, being called an idiot by 50-60% of the students who walked pass me, and distributing my pamphlet to the 100+ who are interested – the what I can do to change and help live in a sustainable way pamphlet (I did sent a digital copy to all students and teachers).”

Lance Lau, Hong Kong Student & Climate Activist

His campaign mirrors the early activism of Greta Thunberg, when she first garnered international attention with her lone protest outside the Swedish Parliament in 2018, when she was just 15 years old.

Lance has previously participated in many environmental activities in Hong Kong. From beach clean ups hosted by Eco Marine to previous student marches for climate change, the young activist has been at the fore of the small but passionate local movement to call on the government and the city’s citizens to take action now, before it is too late.

His story should inspire all of us to make a difference. In the midst of our climate crisis, young people like Lance are the ones taking to the streets to call for urgent action while the Hong Kong government remains idle on the issue. Rather than instigating necessary drastic measures, like the complete phasing out of fossil fuels, Hong Kong has only committed to powering 1% of the city’s energy supply with renewables.

The lack of progress in the transition to clean energy has prompted many students to participate in the #lessthan1% movement as a part of the most recent round of global FridaysForFuture strikes. 

We all have a responsibility. Our planet needs action, and the younger generation have taken upon themselves to fight for it. Greta Thunberg’s salient words shame us all: their childhoods are being robbed. Lance is staging his own protest to spread the word. Listen, support and spread his message. 

Lead image courtesy of Lance Lau.