With 14.1 million Instagram followers, Ellie Goulding uses her massive platform to fight for the planet.
She’s also performed an original song for Sir David Attenborough’s new Netflix series Our Planet and is a UN environmental ambassador.
It’s amazing to me growing up in this world that the issue of climate change has not yet been resolved. So credit to Ellie, 32, for raising awareness about such an important subject.
She’s also concerned about the negative effects of social media exposure on the younger generation.
I chatted to her to find out her thoughts on what needs to be done...
WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIVIST?
Once you become aware of the facts and the science, it’s quite hard to not be one. I live in the real world. You can see things around you – the extreme weather, the forest fires. A lot of people are not accepting it.
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION ON SCHOOLCHILDREN PROTESTING?
I am for it. Young people are angry that their future is being dictated by older people in power. It must be very frustrating and I’d have been exactly the same at 15 or 16.
DOES THE RECYCLING MESSAGE NEED TO BE REINFORCED FURTHER?
I often have young people on my social media saying packaging is too confusing. So much plastic never goes away. I took a trip to Kenya and released some turtles back into the sea, who had ingested plastic and would have died had they not been rescued. You realise the scale of it.
DOES THE GOVERNMENT IGNORE ENVIRONMENTAL SUBJECTS BECAUSE THEY DON’T BRING FINANCIAL REWARDS?
I think that happens a lot. Politicians need to look beyond power. They need to think long term. They need to think of their children.
DO YOU AGREE THAT RETAILERS ARE DODGING RESPONSIBILITY FOR WASTE PRODUCTS SUCH AS PLASTIC HANGERS?
It’s definitely improving. There is an insane amount of waste from retailers, but particularly the fashion industry. I have got to know through my job. You can get leather made in labs and natural colouring from vegetables and plants. Fashion is changing but it needs to happen quicker.
YOU’VE CALLED OUT DONALD TRUMP FOR DENYING CLIMATE CHANGE – IS USING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM FOR THESE SUBJECTS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
It’s really hard to have that following and not post about the things that you really care about. My conscience dictates that I always keep people informed.
DOES YOUR NEW SINGLE SIXTEEN RELATE TO YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES OF SOCIAL MEDIA?
I used to go on MSN Messenger. It was just about conversations. I was quite shy and I do believe [ Instagram and Snapchat] would have made me feel even less confident. I’m grateful they weren’t around.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES YOUR YOUNGER FANS FACE?
Social media stops young people doing things such as reading books and learning and watching great films. I imagine climate change causes a lot of anxiety too.
* Sixteen is out now on Polydor.
