Helping Gen Z turn climate anxiety into action
This article was authored by a 3rd party not related to PlanetVoters.com and any opinions or views expressed are not a reflection of PlanetVoters.com.
November 10, 2022
As parents of Generation Z youngsters, we’ve witnessed this generation’s idealism, creativity and angst firsthand. Like all of us, they have experienced a lifetime’s worth of upheaval – pandemic, political unrest and social change – in just the last few years. But because Gen Z is so young, comprising people born between 1997 and 2012, the tumult has shaped their lives disproportionately.
For them, this is the era of anxiety. The phones and computers that provide a constant stream of social posts and news also leave them more anxious and aware of social issues than previous generations were at their age. The vast majority worry about the potentially catastrophic consequences of climate change – and many say they are committed to finding solutions by speaking up, changing their diet and altering their vacation plans, according to survey research conducted by the Oliver Wyman Forum.
But the research also shows that there is a significant gap between the anxiety Gen Z feels about climate change and the actions they take to reduce their emissions. Despite their fears and good intentions, most members of Gen Z don’t take simple actions like minimizing waste, opting for sustainable products or limiting consumption. Cost is often an issue, since sustainable products are frequently much more expensive.
Business and government leaders hoping to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 will need to mobilize Gen Z to make it happen. Gen Z, for its part, needs better information and encouragement now.
To read the full article, click here:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/11/generation-z-climate-change
