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A poet, an activist praised by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry and woman at the forefront of stopping the deforestation of the amazon were among the millennial speakers joining world leaders including Boris Johnson at the opening ceremony of COP26 today.  

Environmental activists at the from Kenya, Samoa and Brazil addressed world leaders, including Boris Johnson and US president Joe Biden today in Glasgow speaking of indigenous rights and problems facing nations across the world - including droughts in Kenya and indigenous rights across South America.

Among the speakers was British model-turned-poet Yrsa Daley-Ward, who told delegates 'nothing will be saved without you. It is important to begin with the fact. This is your invitation to lead with light'. 

The poet - who has previously written for Beyonce - was followed by a smallpiper gave world leaders a very Scottish welcome to the COP26 crunch climate change summit as they gathered amid warnings over taking urgent action to limit global warming.

Native Gaelic speaker   Brìghde Chaimbeul, who is from Sleat on the Isle of Skye, entertained politicians and Royal Family members at the Scottish Event Campus with her own arrangement of the traditional melodies An Léimras and Harris Dance. 

Here, FEMAIL looks at the other activists speaking today... 

Model-turned-poet Yrsa Daley-War d, 36, joined Boris Johnson and other world leaders on stage at the opening ceremony on COP26 today where she presented a poem

MODEL TURNED POET WHO WROTE FOR BEYONCE  

Model-turned-poet Yrsa Daley-Ward, 36, joined Boris Johnson and other world leaders on stage at the opening ceremony on COP26 today where she presented a poem.

It opened with her saying: 'Nothing will be saved without you. It is important to begin with the fact. This is your invitation to lead with light.'.

The 'Instagram poet' who previously worked as a Topshop model found fame in 2014 after her first poetry collection Bone became critically acclaimed.

The 'Instagram poet' who previously worked as a Topshop model found fame in 2014 after her first poetry collection Bone became critically acclaimed

In 2018, she penned a gritty memoir detailing her meteoric rise from high-class escort to toast of the literary world, dazzling critics with her frank admissions on her battles with mental health, suicide attempts, 'torrid' affairs with married men and taking on sex work to help pay the bills. 

Critics praised Yrsa, who has also landed lap dancing and acting jobs in shows including Shameless for refusing to shy away from dark episodes in her life, from being paid to act as the dominatrix to an older man, to experiencing racism as a young girl.

Speaking about the nature of her escort work, she previously told the Guardian: 'You have a boyfriend for two months who's a millionaire. 

'In that situation you're safe, eating caviar, drinking champagne.  There are other situations that are considerably less safe and less consensual. 

'It's a reality for so many women in the entertainment industry and we're told not to talk about.'

Critics praised Yrsa, who has also landed lap dancing and acting jobs in shows including Shameless for refusing to shy away from dark episodes in her life, from being paid to act as the dominatrix to an older man, to experiencing racism as a young girl

Her fans include Beyoncé. Yrsa - who has Jamaican and Nigerian ancestry - is credited on seminal visual album Black is King as well as The Lion King: The Gift - the soundtrack to the 2019 remake of the Lion King.

She grew up between Chorley, Lancashire - with her strict Seventh-day Adventist grandparents -  and in London with her mother Marcia. 

When Yrsa was growing up up, Marcia told her that the man she grew up believing to be her father wasn't her biological dad. She'd been inspired by an episode of Coronation Street with a similar storyline. 

Her mother died in 2007, causing her to spiral into depression. It was then she packed her bags and moved to South Africa for three years where she discovered her love of poetry.

INDIGENOUS ACTIVIST SUING BRAZILLIAN GOVERNMENT 

Txai Suruí, 24, from Brazil joined world leaders today in Glasgow where she warned: 'Today, the climate is warming, the animals are disappearing, the rivers are dying and our plants don't flower like they did before. The Earth is speaking. She tells us that we have no more time.'.

The indigenous activist, who lives in  Rondonia in the Amazon, is the daughter of Neidinha Surui, one of the country's leading campaigners for the Paiter suri people. 

After studying law she went on to  work with Kanindé - Associação de Defesa Etnoambiental (Ethno-environmental Defense Association)  to protect indigenous communities' rights and territory.

Txai Suruí , 24, from Brazil joined world leaders today in Glasgow where she warned: 'Today, the climate is warming, the animals are disappearing, the rivers are dying and our plants don't flower like they did before. The Earth is speaking. She tells us that we have no more time.'

Txai Surui speaking at COP26. As a result of her - and her mother's - work her family have been threatened and they are under police protection

She then founded the young people's movement and is one of six activists suing the Brazilian government for altering its 2005 carbon baseline to meet carbon reduction goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement.

As a result of her - and her mother's - work her family have been threatened and they are under police protection. 

Speaking to the Independent last year, she said she fears how coronavirus could ravage indigenous communities and that she wanted people to listen to indigenous communities more.

'Preserving the Amazon is to preserve human existence itself,' she said. 

 'Preserving indigenous peoples' rights is to preserve the animals, [the] medicinal plants. My message for everyone is to listen to what indigenous communities have to say, and support their cause, and protect their homes. Everything is linked, so to protect the forest and indigenous communities is to protect the world's future.'

KENYAN ACTIVIST WHO WAS PRAISED BY MEGHAN AND HARRY  

Elizabeth Wathuti, 26, from Kenya also spoke at COP26 today, telling world leaders to 'open your hearts' to those already feeling the effects of climate change.

She spoke of a drought in her home country which mean many are going without food.

'As I sit comfortably here in this conference centre in Glasgow, over two million of my fellow Kenyans are facing climate-related starvation,' she said. 

'In this past year, both of our rainy seasons have failed, and scientists say that it may be another 12 months before the waters return again.'

Elizabeth Wathuti, 26, from Kenya also spoke at COP26 today, telling world leaders to 'open your hearts' to those already feeling the effects of climate change

Wathuti, who today urged leaders to take the necessary action to tackle climate change, has previously appeared in Vogue, after being name checked by fellow activist Vanessa Nakate.

Wathuti, who today urged leaders to take the necessary action to tackle climate change, has previously appeared in Vogue, after being name checked by fellow activist Vanessa Nakate.

In 2019 she was featured on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Instagram page foor her work in environmental conservation, with the royal couple writing she is: 'making incredible progress since starting the community-based initiative'.

They also praised her for 'focusing on deforestation, climate change and pollution' as well as training more than 10,000 school children in being environmentally conscious through her initiative.   

Last year, she wrote to Alok Sharma, chair of COP26, calling on leaders to urgently act on the killing and harassment of environmental defenders.