HE is the schoolboy who took on Bear Grylls, she is the teenage climate change activist who is taking on the world.
Now Finlay Pringle, an 11-year-old from Wester Ross, has been praised by Greta Thunberg for his environmental campaigning.
Finlay, from Ullapool, has hit the headlines for his own campaign, particularly over the marine environment and joining school eco protest strikes inspired by Ms Thunberg.
Last year he was “sacked” from his role as Sharks4Kids’ ambassador for being too outspoken after he called Bear Grylls the “worst chief Scout ever” when the celebrity survival expert began offering a diving with sharks aquarium experience at his centre.
But last week Finlay and his sister Ella, 10, were chosen to represent Scotland at an international summit of young climate activists, who marched through the streets of Lausanne, Switzerland, calling for concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Participants on Friday adopted a declaration reaffirming their common goal of tackling climate change, saying they shared the same values and concerns despite their different backgrounds. Finlay gave an address to the Smile For Future meeting, which was attended by about 400 people from 38 countries, including Swedish climate activist Ms Thunberg.
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The three main demands include “climate justice”, increased awareness of the results of scientific research on climate change as well as keeping global warming limited to 1.5C compared with pre-industrial levels.
But Finlay’s fame went ahead of him. “Greta said ‘you’re Finlay from Ullapool’,” said the boy’s father, Geoff. “They spoke about the environment and Finlay thanked her for inspiring all the young climate activists around the world.”
Ms Thunberg recently became the first person to receive a GQ Men Of The Year award, which was specifically created to celebrate her work on the global climate crisis.
The 16-year-old is on the cover of the latest issue of GQ ahead of formally being crowned the magazine’s Game Changer Of The Year next month.
Ms Thunberg spearheaded school strikes for climate change, encouraging students across the world to skip classes and call for action from world leaders. GQ magazine editor Dylan Jones hailed her “fearless dedication” to raising awareness of the global climate change crisis.
The teenager, who will receive the award via a video link, said: “I am very grateful and this award is for everyone in the Fridays For Future movement, everyone whose school is striking for the climate.
“We all deserve this award because together we have accomplished so much. So thank you to everyone who has been school striking as well.”
Ms Thunberg, who is taking a year off school to raise awareness of climate change, is set to attend the UN climate summit in New York next month, travelling by racing yacht and avoiding planes, as well as polluting cruise ships.
But Finlay is fast developing his own fan following. Television wildlife presenter Chris Packham described him as “inspirational” after an online row with Grylls saw him trolled online. The BBC Springwatch host hailed Finlay a hero for standing up to the intimidation, and even invited the youngster to share a stage with him.
“I don’t think it is right to put sharks in tanks and make money from it,” Finlay told the BBC at the time. “As chief scout I thought it set a very bad example to children on how we should treat animals.”
The 11-year-old has spent part of his year on a mini-world tour. In June he travelled to Vancouver, Canada, on an international organisation-sponsored scholarship to attend the Ocean Heroes Bootcamp. The three-day event trains young people to be global ambassadors for fighting plastic pollution.
On his return to the UK, Finlay went to Sheffield for the Children’s Media Conference 2019 after being selected as one of 10 “change makers”.
His presentation was on sharks, plastics and climate change and how the media can help educate and spread positive message to young people.
Earlier this month Finlay was also on a youth panel at Birdfair, Rutland Water, near Leicester, with other young wildlife campaigners answering questions from the audience on subject of wildlife’s future and the impact of climate change.
His mother Rachel said: “We are very proud of Finlay – he is so passionate about trying to persuade people to make a difference to the planet.
“He also learns a lot talking about subjects like plastic pollution in the sea and sharks.
“He made a New Year’s resolution to become vegetarian for the sake of the planet – which he has kept to – and is now thinking of going vegan. He has also persuaded us to switch to a hybrid car. He really is an inspiration to us and others.”
In March Finlay took his antipollution message to the heart of the European Parliament. He travelled more than 2,000 miles by train on a return journey with his father to lobby over climate change.
The youngsters was one of only three children from the UK to join pupils from countries including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands.
“Most of all I want the people who make decisions over our lives to see this world is dying,” Finlay said. “I want them to reduce man’s carbon footprint as well as cut back on farming and plastic use. I hope I and other young people can influence the people we trust to look after us.”
The charity Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, based in America, has since made Finlay their shark ambassador. “When I’m in the water snorkelling I feel at peace and I want to protect the marine environment – and that is what I was trying to do,” he said.
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