Decades before Greta Thunberg, Licypriya Kangujam, or Jerome Foster II, 12-year-old Severn Cullis-Suzuki delivered an unprecedented speech at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

The “Earth Summit” had many achievements, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change -- the precursor to the Paris Agreement – the Convention on Biodiversity and a set of 'Rio Principles’ for sustainable development.

“You grown-ups say you love us, but I challenge you: please, make you actions reflect your words,” says Severn, the daughter of environmental activist David Suzuki.

“Here, you may be delegates of your governments, business people, organizers, reporters or politicians,” she says in her timeless appeal, as applicable to current international meetings as it was the 1992 gathering. “But really, you’re mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, and all of you are someone’s child.”

Utilizing material from the UN Audiovisual Library, this production showcases a pivotal moment that inspired future generations of youth environmentalists.