A Q&A With Sustainability Activist Sharona Shnayder

Sharona Shnayder, a 23-year-old Israeli-Nigerian activist, knows plenty about the role young people play in fighting climate change. Not only is Shnayder the co-founder of Tuesdays for Trash, a global movement that has resulted in the removal of over 30,000 pounds of trash from beaches and streets, but she is also a One Young World Ambassador, National Geographic Young Explorer, and Chairwoman of the nonprofit Our Streets PDX. Through her work, Shnayder works with other youth activists to pave a path to stricter corporate policy on sustainability and individual action.

The FBomb spoke with Shnayder about her perspective on inclusion in the climate change movement, eco-anxiety, and youth-led change.

Why did you become an activist?

I would say Greta [Thunberg] influenced me. She was the first person I saw that I could relate to fighting for climate justice and a future that we could all look forward to.

But of course, it started a lot earlier when I grew up in Nigeria. Flash floods and disasters were a constant occurrence. Instead of being terrified and turning it into a negative, me and the community kids would go out, and we would play with the frogs … I was able to connect deeper to nature in the sense that I felt a part of it. And so when [nature] isn't healthy or isn't clean, then it affects me.

How did you grow Tuesdays for Trash, the nonprofit you co-founded?

Well, what we found was how easy and simple it was to make a difference. My friend and I posted on social media, thinking others would want to join. Social media has been very critical [in Tuesdays for Trash’s growth] because it was how we were able to mobilize and begin in the first place. During COVID, the only way [people] could find out about it was through social media, which was an advantage because everybody was available, and we could grow very quickly. So what started as just two people picking up trash turned into people in 40-plus countries who have participated in over 37,000 pounds of trash that we've removed since we started. We have 12 chapters around the world, and every week people are still participating [and] showing just how easy it is to recognize there's a problem in your community and take action and be part of the solution.

You’ve spoken a lot on social media about diversity in activism. What does representation mean to you?

I think representation is the way that we're able to actually measure whether or not climate justice is equitable. Intersectional environmentalism in the movement has gained popularity, but as someone who grew up in Nigeria, is half Israeli, and has also spent a lot of time in the States, I’ve definitely seen the disparity [in the effects of climate change]. When it comes to adaptation to and consequences of the climate crisis, regions are affected so differently. It’s important to target the areas that need the help the most and to have those people have a voice at the table and be represented.

What would you say are the best ways to get voices that aren't necessarily represented out there?

Simply listen. There are so many people who are talking and actually doing the work on the ground, but a lot of the time there is no effort to actually hear them.

We've all heard, at least in the climate activist space, about Vanessa [Nakate]'s story, where she attended the Davos conference with Greta and other activists, and she was cropped out of photos and [reporters] didn't quote what she said in the discussions. It was like she wasn't there when, in reality, she was a critical part of the dialogue that happened. It wasn't just that instance — it happens all the time, especially for Indigenous activists who obviously have been practicing these sustainable behaviors for their entire life, [as have] the generations before them.

A common argument against grassroots sustainability is its efficacy: If nearly three-quarters of emissions are caused by under a hundred companies, it seems impossible to make an effect as an individual. How do you address this claim?

I would say Tuesdays for Trash is a perfect example. It started as just two people and scaled into a global initiative. It's valid to say that corporations have a big role to play, but on a foundational level, they do not change because they are driven by profit. Companies listen because consumers matter, so in order for things to actually change, we still have to start at an individual level. This creates collective action.

“Climate anxiety” has become a recognized term in academia and the media. Has this concept influenced your activism?

I would say anxiety develops very quickly because of how traumatic and devastating climate change is when you truly look at it. It creates a lot of fatigue and exhaustion and burnout, and it can be really hard to sustain being an activist because of this. It's never easy, and I think it’s definitely warranted to take time away from the topic and have other hobbies that don't necessarily surround climate.