Youth Leading the Fight Against Climate Change

 Climate change is one of the biggest challenges, and it’s making the weather dangerous and very irregular, which harms biomes, and puts people at risk. While governments and scientists work on certain solutions, young people around the world have started to change. They’re making projects, raising awareness, and demanding action to protect the world. In this article, I’ll talk about how young people are joining the fight against climate change, the ways they’re making an impact, and the challenges they are facing. 

Why are young people the ones doing it? 

For many young people, climate change isn’t just a problem, but it’s also taken more personal and serious. They see the effects like, rising temperatures, increasing number of wildfires, floods, and air pollution which gets worse every year. They understand that if nothing is done now, the consequences will be way more extreme in the future. 

Instead of waiting for it to change, they’re speaking up. Young activists are using social media, joining environment associations, and forcing governments to create tougher environmental laws. 

One of the most popular youths led movements is called “Fridays for Future”, which was started by Greta Thunberg. It began as an individual protester which has turned into a global movement, with millions of students marching in cities worldwide, demanding immediate action on climate change. 

Local communities: 

Alongside protests, young people want to raise awareness in their own communities. In some countries, they turned empty pieces of land into gardens, which provides fresh food to the local community, and helps the environment all at once. These gardens can also improve air quality in the area, provide food for people who need it, and could also teach people how to grow their own food in a more sustainable way. Others are also working to make more eco-friendly spaces in downtown areas by planting trees and building small parks that also help cities get cooler, improve air quality and make space for animals. 

Technology and social media 

Although technology is known for being unsustainable due to the extreme amounts of energy and water that are being used, one of these technologies are for instance, artificial intelligence. It’s important to fight climate change, some people are making apps like IQAir, AccuWeather, etc...  That shows levels of pollution that can also warn people about weather and give tips on how people can live a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Social media has been a famous way for raising awareness, some apps like TikTok, and Instagram let protestors tell stories, and share news, they sometimes also use hashtags like #ClimateAction, and #SaveOurPlanet to spread awareness. 

Eco-friendly future: 

A lot of young people are also thinking ahead, by learning about sustainable jobs that can help to have a more sustainable environment for everyone. Some are being taught about renewable energy like solar power, and wind power, while others could learn about farming and protecting the environment. 

Some schools are also including climate change awareness into their curriculum, which includes teaching students how to have a zero-emission lifestyle, save energy, save water, and take care of the environment. Which OIS has done repeatedly, attempting to make the school have a zero-carbon footprint, to preserve the environment and make sure students learn in a healthy, and as sustainable as possible as a school. 

Disadvantages: 

Despite their hard work, young climate protestors face challenges. One big issue is funding, things like community gardens, tree planting, and creating new technology all need a lot of money, and it’s not always that easy to find. Many people use crowdfunding, GoFundMe’s, and agreements with local business to keep their plans going. 

Another challenge is climate change disbelief, which is when one doesn’t believe climate change is a serious problem or think that small actions won’t make a difference. But young people keep trying to prove them wrong by showing that even small steps, like planting one tree or reducing the amount of plastic used, can all add up and end up being very beneficial. 

There’s also the emotional side of it though. Seeing environmental destruction and feeling the weight of responsibility can be overwhelming. Many young protestors suffer with something called eco-anxiety, which is when one has a big worry about the future of the planet. To cope with this, they join mental health groups, and remind themselves that even if change is slow, and very difficult to achieve, it will eventually happen no matter what. 

Conclusion: 

The efforts of young people give hope, whether they’re planting trees, making new technology, or using their voices to demand actions, they’re still showing that small actions can lead to big change. 

The future of our planet depends on what we do right now, and thanks to the determination of the young people, there can be a chance. No matter how big or small the contribution is, everyone can help, whether it’s starting a community garden, learning about renewable energy, or simply spreading awareness, every action counts. 

Climate change is a severe problem, but young people are proving that we have the power to make a difference by continuing awareness spreading, and finally live a sustainable life, their dedication is a reminder that by taking care of the planet today, we can build a safer, and cleaner world tomorrow, and for generations to come.