Benjamin is a 17-year-old climate and children's rights activist. He has been striking for climate action since the age of twelve. After Rosa died in the 2021 floods, he launched the "Climate Justice for Rosa" campaign, aiming to show that the climate crisis is not about numbers and statistics, but about human lives. He successfully lobbied to declare July 15th as a European Memorial Day for the victims of the global climate crisis. In addition to running his nonprofit, Benjamin serves as a climate advisor for the Child Rights International Network and is an EU Climate Pact Ambassador. He is a sought-after speaker who has delivered his message on major stages, from the United Nations in Geneva to COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in Dubai. Benjamin is also involved in climate litigation, notably with the *TotalCriminal* case—a lawsuit filed in the French criminal court by eight climate victims against the leaders of TotalEnergies. Together with Nic Balthazar, Benjamin will close Forward Fest 24 and present *For Rosa*, a play that tells the true story of Rosa, the 15-year-old girl who lost her life in the 2021 flood disaster in the Ardennes, during a youth camp for young people who wanted to change the world.

Closing session 'For Rosa', together with Nic Balthazar