A teenager, who has taken the running world by storm and earned the opportunity to compete at the World Cross Country Championships in Australia has declined her spot on the U.K. team.
Innes FitzGerald’s reason for turning down her dream opportunity doesn’t have anything to do with being injured. Or concerns about her readiness to compete.
Instead the U.K. 3000m record holder is staying home to avoid air travel and its impacts on climate change.
In a recent interview with Athletics Weekly, Innes says:
“I would never be comfortable flying in the knowledge that people could be losing their livelihoods, homes and loved ones as a result. The least I can do is voice my solidarity with those suffering on the front line of climate breakdown. Coming to a decision has not been easy, however little compares to the grief I would feel taking the flight.”
Innes, at 16 years old, made a difficult and inspiring decision to put the health of the planet first. What decision can you make today to have a positive impact on climate change?