Youth change-makers for a greener planet

Last updated on Friday, 27/08/2021

Throughout Europe, thousands of young people are in the streets calling decision-makers to take action on climate change.

We met some youth ambassadors, engaged in running projects to meet those challenges at the Youth For Biodiversity event, organised in November 2019 by the DG Environment of the European Commission. The Greenest generation ever? Discover what they are doing and what you could do to save the planet.

 

What triggered their engagement for climate change?

 

Why is this generation so committed to climate change? From a young age, they have heard about climate change, they are also seeing its impact in their daily lives. Nathan got involved in Youth and Environment Europe, a platform which brings together many European youth organisations active in environmental protection; the revelation moment came directly from his homeland when he saw the Alps melting.

 

All of them want to make something meaningful in their life, connecting their studies and their interest in nature and environmental issues. This is the case of Alex, who has a masters’ degree in Conservation and got active in an NGO to build bridges between young people and policy-makers at European Level. "At the EU level there wasn’t a lot of youth participation in environmental decision-making and we really wanted to bring people together". This is how he got engaged with Generation Climate Europe (GCE), an environmental coalition of the main youth-led organisations and networks active at the European level.

 

 

Is the European Union doing enough?

 

The European Union is strongly in favour of addressing climate change at an international level. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a European Green Deal in December 2019. Is it enough and what more could the EU do?

 

"Europe is doing a lot in this field; it is the world’s leading in terms of sustainability and environmental standards", states Corentin, "but obviously not enough". He believes in the engagement of young people in decision-making processes, a goal that Up for Europe has set in order to give young Europeans a voice and encourage their ecological awareness and participation.

 

For Nadine and Nynke, who have launched the Pollinators Ambassadors, an initiative focusing on pesticide-free farming and beekeeping, the EU could support young startups in the field with more “small-scale funding opportunities so that local projects can also start from the ground up”. Sustainability should be mainstreamed in all EU policies and funding programmes, added Monika.

 

 

How can every one of us make a change?

 

There are different ways to get active. "Every little bit helps. I know it can feel like being one person with a sign doesn’t make any political difference or being just one person flying less does not make a difference, but if we all do that then it does make a difference. So believe in that and mobilise", says Monika, from the European Students’ Union.

 

Go to strikes, get informed, get involved in youth-led NGOs and local initiatives, and in politics suggest Nathan, Corentin and Alex. Education to sustainable development should be a priority to raise awareness amongst young people, stressed Monika.

 

Some encouragements come as well from Nadine and Nynke for young people willing to build projects in the environmental field: "Don't be afraid, no matter how big the dream that you pursue seems to be, how unrealistic your effort might seem right now, just start with a small step and you don't have to do it alone".

 

 

What is the European Green Deal?

 

The European Union has put climate change on top of its political agenda with the European Green Deal, disclosed last December 2019 by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Deal has an ultimate goal: make Europe become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

 

How to do that? Firstly, by focusing on four main areas: energy, buildings, industry, mobility and working on it while guaranteeing an inclusive transition, which doesn't leave individuals or regions behind. Help will be provided to companies to become world leaders in clean products and technologies. Together with the support of the youngest generations, everything will be more achievable.
 

Read more about this important initiative here.

 

Nb: The videos and the quotes reported contain the point of view of the young people interviewed. Therefore the European Commission cannot be held responsible for it.