2019-01-01

High school youths are just "interested" in the environment

Interested. One word many young people use about our environment. They are interested in environmental issues and changes. A Facebook event that announces a demonstration or strike for the environment: "interested!" But they are well aware that they will not participate in the strike or demonstration. Why stand out in the Swedish cold when you have a test and need presence to be sure to get your study grant at the end of the month? Why spend a Sunday in town listening to speeches and screaming slogans when you can be out on the town and have fun with your friends? I have observed a phenomenon, many young people in high school age claim that they are interested and passionate about environmental issues, but they do nothing about it.

Both adults and children have shown increased interest in stopping global warming. When 15-year-old Greta Thunberg started striking, it attracted both schoolchildren in primary school age and adults. They now act together against states and the companies that emit the most carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. But there is one age group missing. There are usually few young people in high school age in these demonstrations, manifestations, strikes and other actions. But still there are many young people who talk about it, there are many who press the "interested" button on Facebook events. It is not so strange since today's young people are expected to live 60 - 70 years into the future and will suffer when the environment deteriorates. Why are these young people content with the internet and why do they not activate with other activists? I think it depends on several factors. Firstly, activists are not considered cool, which collides with the self-image that many young people try to achieve, one wants to look cool before their friends and acquaintances. Although most have understood how dangerous and acute the climate situation is, it can be easy to postpone it to the future. But then of course it is not. However, the situation is acute, and if you do not act now there will be no one to try to look "cool" for in the future.

Secondly, I believe that many high school students press the "interested" button because they feel guilty. They feel guilty because they know that climate change is for us against an apocalypse. They feel guilty because they know that climate change creates even worse conditions in poor developing countries while our own economy is improving. They feel guilty because climate change eradicates many animal species that will never be able to recover. So you press the "interested" button to show that you care, but unfortunately you do not care enough to do anything about it.

The question is how should one be able to create the commitment that is needed for these young people to take the step of actively doing something to save the climate? The school is the institution that will educate our future generations, but teachers or school management are rarely helpful. Parents also do not seem to support their children to take responsibility for the future. At best, young people go out anyway, but then it is often despite teachers and parents. Without supportive adults, it becomes difficult. Greta Thunberg's parents have been proven to be incredibly supportive, which is one of the reasons why she has done so well. Today's young people are an important force and in order to activate them, school leaders and teachers need to be more proactive and supportive. We also have to spread that parents and other adults should take their responsibility to engage themselves as well as support their children in this fight.

Although it is difficult to change people's lifestyles, information and engagement in the right circles will infiltrate many young people's filter bubbles on social media and create more engagement. It will not be easy to increase engagement, but the beginning is to act as an example, discuss when we have the chance and support our young people to get involved. This increases the chances of more young people actively engaging in saving the environment and their own future.

Isabelle Axelsson, 17 years old