discussion
Nearly 85 percent of young people aged 16 to 25 from ten countries around the world who took part in a large survey in the spring of 2021 were concerned about climate change.
Sadness and anger: 60% of them were very anxious or very anxious and reported feelings such as sadness, anger, and helplessness related to the climate, writes Leila Madsoo. Photo: private
Show more
External comments: This is a discussion article. Analysis and the author’s point of view.
It’s time to give the vote to those aged 16-17. In a world where climate and nature, not to mention democracies, are under constant pressure, we need greater population preparedness and more civic engagement among the young. A good start is to mobilize more young people aged 16-17 through the right to vote.
In a large study Recently launched In The Lancet Planetary Health, reproduced in Tidsskriftet Den norske legeforening, it was shown that climate anxiety among young people is very prevalent. Nearly 85 percent of young people aged 16 to 25 from ten countries around the world who took part in the survey in the spring of 2021 were concerned about climate change.
Sixty percent of them were extremely anxious or adults and reported feelings such as sadness, anger, and helplessness related to the climate. More than half of them are dissatisfied with the climate measures taken by the authorities.
Climate change therefore has dire consequences for both the future and health of today’s youth, yet they have little chance of affecting environmental policy.
Never before It was more important to participate in society, but young people still had to wait until they turned 18 before they had the right to participate in decision-making.
Let young people avoid taxes
In 2022, we must talk about the future of our youth. The generation of parents often worries about the 16-year-old’s choice of education and about the chances of adult children in the job market. Young people’s mental health was given a lot of space in the public debate during the pandemic years. The survey shows that climate anxiety cannot be categorized as a mental health problem.
The researchers state that it is perfectly normal for us to react emotionally and with great interest to the climate challenges that surround us in 2022.
The study shows that Many of the world’s youth today do not feel that they have a secure future with biodiversity at the breaking point and humanity that must adapt to harsh climate changes, while at the same time the world’s authorities meet in environmental conferences without reaching an agreement on the good of society.
The researchers note that the authorities’ lack of appropriate climate measures can be a chronic stress for young people whose futures are at risk.
“Explorer. Unapologetic entrepreneur. Alcohol fanatic. Certified writer. Wannabe tv evangelist. Twitter fanatic. Student. Web scholar. Travel buff.”
