Article by Lara Preuss, from Naturfreundejugend Deutschlands / Image: Goethe-Institut
While many adults assume that the goal of environmental education is to raise awareness, young people today often appear to be already well-informed, reflecting a growing generational shift in environmental understanding.
This observation is supported by recent PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) studies. In PISA 2018, across EU countries an average of 77% of 15-year-olds agreed that taking care of the environment is important for them. When asked if they could explain climate change and global warming, 78% of students reported being at least familiar with these topics. Moreover, when tested on science proficiency – by identifying the correct explanation for a scientific phenomenon and determining its validity – 77% of 15-year-olds in the EU met the benchmark (European Commission 2022).
Despite this awareness level, a significant knowledge-action gap exists. While young people are knowledgeable about environmental issues, real-world barriers prevent them from fully translating this understanding into concrete actions. As PISA 2018 revealed, nearly 70% of 15-year-olds report reducing energy consumption at home, yet only 37% participate in collective environmental protection activities.
Thus, working with young people on environmental topics doesn’t often require a heavy focus on knowledge transfer – the “savoir” (knowing) – but rather on “savoir-faire” (the practical ability to act confidently).
Feelings of helplessness can discourage young people from participating in environmental protection efforts. They may grasp the urgency but struggle to see how their actions can have an impact. In a large global study on eco-anxiety, 75% of respondents aged 16 to 25 reported being frightened about the future, and nearly 50% said their feelings about climate change negatively affect their daily lives and functioning. Participants described emotions such as sadness, anxiety, powerlessness, and guilt (Hickman et al. 2021). These emotions are often intensified by constant exposure to alarming news, social media discussions, and real-world environmental disasters, further deepening their sense of powerlessness.
However, this sense of helplessness is not only a psychological construct – it reflects a harsh reality. Policy makers worldwide continue to fail on including young people in meaningful decision-making processes, despite the fact that they are the most affected group now and in the future, while being the least responsible for the crisis. Consequently, organizations like UNICEF and the Joining Forces – For All Children (an alliance of the six largest child-focused agencies) have called the global climate crisis, a child rights crisis (UNICEF 2021, Joining Forces 2019).
Further, initiatives like the global youth climate strikes have shown the power of youth-led action in influencing public discourse and even policy, highlighting the missed potential of greater inclusion. These strikes have drawn millions of participants worldwide, forcing governments and institutions to pay attention to the urgency of the climate crisis, though much work remains to translate this attention into lasting policy changes.
By combining grassroots environmental action with direct advocacy, LOCALY aims to not only empower young people today but also work towards a future where youth voices are integral to decision-making processes. The project will culminate in a call to action, urging policy makers to provide stronger support for youth organizations and youth-led environmental initiatives, so that the next generation has the tools and influence necessary to drive sustainable change.
Bibliography
European Commission 2022: Joint Research Centre, Borgonovi, F., Brussino, O., Seitz, H., Bertoletti, A. et al., Young people’s environmental sustainability competence – Emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and attitudinal dimensions in EU and OECD countries, Publications Office of the European Union, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/84485
Hickman C, Marks E, Pihkala P, Clayton S, Lewandowski RE, Mayall EE, Wray B, Mellor C, van Susteren L. 2021: Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey. Lancet Planet Health.
Joining Forces (ChildFund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children International, SOS Children’s Villages International, Terre des Hommes, World Vision International) 2019: The Global Climate Crisis: A child rights crisis.
UNICEF 2021: The Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index. New York: United Nations Children’s Fund.
