Around half a million children and volunteers are leading the UK’s largest ever female-led climate campaign.

Rainbows, Brownies and Girl Guides are among those across the country who have made a “Plastic Promise”, committing to meaningful lifestyle changes to help reduce single-use plastic.

Nine-year-old Lara is a member of the Lee South Brownies. She says she will be “recycling and not throwing away plastic.”

Lara says: “Climate change is very slow but we still need to do something about it and that’s what makes it so important.

“Plastic items are cheap to make and [businesses] get a lot of money in return.

“I know they just want to make some money but consider the planet before you try and make it.”

It comes as hundreds of thousands of young people around the world have taken to the streets to call on governments to address the environmental crisis.

The “climate strikes” were inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who gave a passionate speech to world leaders at a United Nations summit in New York last week.

Research by the Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey found that 86% of women aged 11-21 say young people should be more involved in conversations with decision-makers about the environment.

Their #PlasticPromise campaign encourages children to choose between five pledges including recycling more and using reusable cups.

Dr Matthew Winning, a researcher at University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Resources, says community campaigns like this can make a “real difference”.

He says: “It’s keeping it [climate change] in the news, it’s keeping people interested about it, making people and families have conversations.

“The UN Secretary General has commented about how the children have sped things up and he’s held extra meetings because of seeing the amount of momentum that’s happening.

“So I think on lots of different levels it’s making a difference.

“I think that is bringing a bit of momentum to keeping pressure up on the type of radical change that needs to happen if we’re going to hit our climate change targets. I think it’s a really positive thing.”

Wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin has joined the Girl Guides campaign and has called on others to “lead by example”.

She says: “We all need to take action to create the change our planet needs.

“Today, thousands of girls all over the UK are making their #PlasticPromise, leading by example and inspiring others to be part of the solution too.

“I am joining forces with these powerful young women to say to those who can enforce change where it matters most: treat the future of our children and our planet with the respect they deserve.

“These girls and young women want you to act now, for their future. They are here to make their voices heard – and you must listen before it’s too late.”

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