Youth and the Environment
Young people are central in achieving a more sustainable and healthier planet. Youth have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness and capacity to address environmental and climatic challenges through innovative ideas, demanding policy- and decision-makers for bolder action through advocacy. Meaningful and effective inclusion of young people in environmental action and decision is not only a duty as they represent an important part of the demography and disproportionately bear the consequences of the triple planetary crisis. Doing so ensures better, more resilient, inclusive and sustainable decisions that will have long-term impacts.
Although no universally agreed international definition of the youth age group exists, the United Nations refers to youth as people aged from 15 to 24. Today, there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 percent of the global population. By 2030, the number of youth is projected to have grown by 7 percent, to nearly 1.3 billion. In less than 10 years, when humanity is supposed to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it will be people that are currently young and those entering in their youth years that will be bearing the fruits of current environmental and climate decisions and suffer or enjoy their consequences the most. Young people are not only victims of the environmental and climate crises, they are powerful actors and agents of change that contribute to achieving a more sustainable planet, SDGs, equality and respect of human rights.
The triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution affects everyone, but with half of the global population being under the age of 30, the youth is not only the most affected and for the longest part of their lives. It is also less implicated in decision-making processes in response to the triple planetary crisis. Nevertheless, young people from across the world have demonstrated a great sense of awareness, willingness to act and ingenuity in developing solutions to these crises.
Biodiversity Loss
Young people have demonstrated a highly vested interest in halting biodiversity loss and making conservation more equitable, inclusive and sustainable. Since 2012, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network contributes and participates to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) processes through advocacy and policy papers on their vision of biodiversity loss governance and instruments and with proposals on how to transform education to discipline young people and future generations on the protection of biodiversity.
Young people have demonstrated a highly vested interest in halting biodiversity loss and making conservation more equitable, inclusive and sustainable. Since 2012, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network contributes and participates to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) processes through advocacy and policy papers on their vision of biodiversity loss governance and instruments and with proposals on how to transform education to discipline young people and future generations on the protection of biodiversity.
Climate Change
A global survey published in the Lancet found that 59% of young people and children are very or extremely worried and 84% are at least moderately worried. With half of these young people expressing feelings like sadness, anxiety, anger, powerlessness, helplessness, and guilt; climate change negatively affects their daily life and functioning. As a consequence, it is common among young people to lack trust in governmental action over climate change.
Young people have demonstrated a vast array of reactions to this situation. From joining a global partnership of young people asking for more concrete climate actions to their governments through the Friday’s for the Future Movement to climate litigation cases, young people have raised awareness at local and global levels on the most urgent problem facing humanity. Young people are also promoters of lifestyle changes and concrete solutions and advocates for the rights of vulnerable groups, including Indigenous people, who are often excluded from decision-making.
Youth is also present in and vocal about official climate change negotiations. Through the organization of parallel events, interventions, and related actions, young people continue advocating for a more enabling environment for children and young people to access and contribute to decision-making processes and for their voices and inhibit equal access. → More information is provided below in the section Youth @ Climate COPs.
A global survey published in the Lancet found that 59% of young people and children are very or extremely worried and 84% are at least moderately worried. With half of these young people expressing feelings like sadness, anxiety, anger, powerlessness, helplessness, and guilt; climate change negatively affects their daily life and functioning. As a consequence, it is common among young people to lack trust in governmental action over climate change.
Young people have demonstrated a vast array of reactions to this situation. From joining a global partnership of young people asking for more concrete climate actions to their governments through the Friday’s for the Future Movement to climate litigation cases, young people have raised awareness at local and global levels on the most urgent problem facing humanity. Young people are also promoters of lifestyle changes and concrete solutions and advocates for the rights of vulnerable groups, including Indigenous people, who are often excluded from decision-making.
Youth is also present in and vocal about official climate change negotiations. Through the organization of parallel events, interventions, and related actions, young people continue advocating for a more enabling environment for children and young people to access and contribute to decision-making processes and for their voices and inhibit equal access. → More information is provided below in the section Youth @ Climate COPs.
Pollution
Young people are affected by air, soil, water and waste pollution. Oftentimes, young people end up working in informal waste collection and in agricultural settings where high levels of pesticides are used, risking their health and futures. Young people also represent an important part of consumers, which choices to consume less and better can drastically impact the level of waste pollution generated. Youth is highly engaged in pollution discussions and debates, as demonstrated by the creation of the Global Youth Coalition on Plastic Pollution (GYCPP) on the eve of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution; the active participation on chemicals related processes and negotiations were seen through the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) Chemicals and Waste Platform.
Young people are affected by air, soil, water and waste pollution. Oftentimes, young people end up working in informal waste collection and in agricultural settings where high levels of pesticides are used, risking their health and futures. Young people also represent an important part of consumers, which choices to consume less and better can drastically impact the level of waste pollution generated. Youth is highly engaged in pollution discussions and debates, as demonstrated by the creation of the Global Youth Coalition on Plastic Pollution (GYCPP) on the eve of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution; the active participation on chemicals related processes and negotiations were seen through the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) Chemicals and Waste Platform.
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