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a youth changemaker
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When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.
The voices and perspectives of young people are being heard like never before in history. Youth have a huge part to play in setting the conversations and putting the pressure on older generations. We've summarised a few ways that young people can be powerful agents for change.
Young people are often a voice for climate justice, as they represent a generation who will receive a disproportionate burden of climate change compared to their contribution. The call for climate justice recognises that those who have contributed the least are the most vulnerable to climate change and demands that those who have contributed the most should take responsibility. The youth movement also recognises the interconnectedness of climate change with many other systemic injustices and crises the world is currently facing. The social structures and inequalities related to large systemic issues such as capitalism and colonialism produces climate change and increases climate vulnerabilities. The concept of climate justice acknowledges that climate change is a threat multiplier that can exacerbate inequality and have different impacts on key groups. Therefore, as per the climate justice slogan, the youth climate movement demands “system change not climate change”.
The youth movement understands the burden placed on young people and future generations through climate inaction today. Globally, over 60% of young people feel very or extremely worried about climate change and 45% consider how climate change will impact their everyday lives. This stress, otherwise known as climate anxiety, is a justified and logical response. Especially as recent reports highlight how people born today will experience disproportionate increases in floods, heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and crop failures due to climate change. For young people, long-term thinking is fundamental for preventing climate catastrophe. Other generations must act in intergenerational solidarity and can come together in recognition of what their legacy means to the generations that suceed them.
The rise of protests and young people using their platforms to talk about climate change has captured the attention of the media and the public by storm. Young people’s demands have put pressure on politicians and driven change. Moreover, it has been instrumental at calling out inadequate policies and greenwashing behaviour. Young people are more than a megaphone for climate issues, it is also important that young people are involved in decisions that will impacts their future. The young generation should be able to drive meaningful, impactful, and positive change on a local, national, and international level.
As a young person looking to make a change in the world around you, it's easy to get overwhelmed about what to do, or confused about where to start. We've worked with youth changemakers to come up with a set of actions to get you started on your journey.
Read about intergenerational injustice and how to be a good ancestor to future generations. Young people will inherit the dangers of the climate crisis and degraded nature. Thinking about Intergenerational justice and thinking about ancestry can be used in protests, as a means create intergenerational dialogue to call out inaction, and to take legal action.
Listen to a podcast by young climate activists. Learn from the conversations young climate activists are having around the world. What do they care about? What do they worry about? What do they do to take action?
Watch a documentary on the youth climate movement. Follow the rise of the young people taking action on the streets to demand people think long-term and consider their future.
Follow inspring climate youth activists. Support their work and learn more about issues they are advocating about.
Support each other during your climate activism. Climate anxiety is a normal and common response to the climate crisis. It’s important that we can create safe spaces where we can share how we feel and work through it together.
Share demands from the youth climate movement. To influence politics, young people are writing open letters, petitions, manifestos, and articles to demand action. Join their voices and support their work.
Discover where you can fit into the climate movement. There are lots of different ways to contribute to the climate movement - protesting or recycling are not the only options! Think about what topics you’re passionate about, what skills you have, and what areas you want to contribute to.
Create social media posts and take part in online activism. One of the reasons the youth movement has been so successful is due to it’s ability to organise online.
Attend events, workshops, and protests organised by young people. Search where you live + youth climate groups to find climate action near you. You can also look out for events organised by young organisations, such as:
Join a course on Youthtopia to learn from other young changemakers. Their education hub is the best platform for young people to learn how to create change. The courses are designed and delivered by young people from around the world - the perfect place to start your journey into activism.
Advocate for giving young people a seat at the table. Young people are often under-represented in decision-making, resulting in policies and practices that are unsupportive of young peoples needs and interests. Empower young people through giving them opportunities to be create sustainable change.
Become one of Youthtopia’s voices. If you have a passion for communicating about the climate crisis, apply to become one of Youthtopia’s official speakers. Represent young people at events, conferences, or summits.
Are you under 25 and have a track record of creating change in the world? Youthtopia’s Circle of Youth is the community for you then! You can apply to join for free and multiply your impact by sharing your knowledge with other youth.
Organise a youth-led climate action event. If you can’t see any climate action near you to join, start your own! Organising collective action is an empowering way to create meaningful change.
