Do Children Have a Say in Politics Involving Climate Change?
All over the world children are starting to understand the importance of stopping climate change. Kids have sacrificed their education, lives and in some cases happiness to fight for support from politically advanced countries to take action against climate change. Kids like Greta Thunberg, 16 who, since 2018 has spoken for climate activism in front of numerous politicians and even spoke at a UN Summit. Children like Alexandria Villasenor who skips school on Fridays to protest the lack of change being made by the people in power and also founded Earth Uprising (La Jeunesse). These two and many more have made huge strides towards climate justice in American and across the globe.
In countries like the United States, climate change has formed into a political issue as well as an environmental one. All the 2020 democratic candidates have plans for handling climate change as one of their policies, but as a young person and citizen of this country, I'm concerned. Me, along with others share concern about policies being said and ideas being shared that will get put on the back burner and not taken as a serious issue. Kids everywhere have shared their concerns and millions around the world have participated in climate strikes. In 125 countries, 2,200 strikes have been organized with 1.4 million students involved. These strikes are being used as a tool to get the government to hear that we care and we want change.
Other kids in New Hampshire are also concerned. In September this year a climate strike was organized and took place in Portsmouth. Hundreds of people showed up, sharing a mutual fear and need for our American government to make change when it comes to the climate (Haime). Globally, climate change is also recognized as an urgent matter that needs to be dealt with. On Human Rights Day more than 10,000 people aged from 18-25 in 22 countries were asked to pick 5 major problems they fear. The most commonly named one was climate change (Rowling). For the younger generations it is seen as a huge threat, and young people everyday take action against it hoping to inspire the older generations who have the power.
Even being scientifically proven to being the cause in the advance of climate change, older generations still aren’t accepting climate change as the serious problem younger generations see it as. According to a Yale study, 56% of people aged 55 or older do not worry about global warming (Ballew). Political leaders need to start to listen and understand the danger the future of the country is in and how it is their responsibility to help right now.
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In countries like the United States, climate change has formed into a political issue as well as an environmental one. All the 2020 democratic candidates have plans for handling climate change as one of their policies, but as a young person and citizen of this country, I'm concerned. Me, along with others share concern about policies being said and ideas being shared that will get put on the back burner and not taken as a serious issue. Kids everywhere have shared their concerns and millions around the world have participated in climate strikes. In 125 countries, 2,200 strikes have been organized with 1.4 million students involved. These strikes are being used as a tool to get the government to hear that we care and we want change.
Other kids in New Hampshire are also concerned. In September this year a climate strike was organized and took place in Portsmouth. Hundreds of people showed up, sharing a mutual fear and need for our American government to make change when it comes to the climate (Haime). Globally, climate change is also recognized as an urgent matter that needs to be dealt with. On Human Rights Day more than 10,000 people aged from 18-25 in 22 countries were asked to pick 5 major problems they fear. The most commonly named one was climate change (Rowling). For the younger generations it is seen as a huge threat, and young people everyday take action against it hoping to inspire the older generations who have the power.
Even being scientifically proven to being the cause in the advance of climate change, older generations still aren’t accepting climate change as the serious problem younger generations see it as. According to a Yale study, 56% of people aged 55 or older do not worry about global warming (Ballew). Political leaders need to start to listen and understand the danger the future of the country is in and how it is their responsibility to help right now.
Works Cited
Ballew, Matthew, et al. "Do Younger Generations Care More about Global Warming?" Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Yale, 11 June 2019, climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/do-younger-generations-care-more-about-global-warming/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2019.
Haime, Jordyn, and Annie Ropeik. "Climate Strike: Granite Staters Call for Action on Climate Change." New Hampshire Public Radio, 20 Sept. 2019, www.nhpr.org/post/climate-strike-granite-staters-call-action-climate-change#stream/0. Accessed 11 Dec. 2019.
La Jeunesse, Marilyn. "9 Teen Climate Activists Fighting for the Future of the Planet." Teen Vogue, 24 July 2019, www.teenvogue.com/story/teen-climate-activists-fighting-future-of-the-planet. Accessed 11 Dec. 2019.
Rowling, Megan. "Climate Change Tops List of Global Worries for Young People, Says Amnesty." Reuters, 9 Dec. 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-rights/climate-change-tops-list-of-global-worries-for-young-people-says-amnesty-idUSKBN1YE009. Accessed 11 Dec. 2019.Thompson, Claire Elise. "Breaking: Across the Globe, Students Go on Strike to Demand Climate Action." Grist, 15 Mar. 2019, grist.org/article/across-the-globe-students-go-on-strike-to-demand-climate-action/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2019.
If their voices aren't being heard, what can young people do? Are strikes effective in demonstrating the seriousness of this issue?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if, as your generation comes of voting age, politicians on both sides of the aisle will have to adjust their stance.
I like the idea of strikes to really speak up on our world and our climate. I think our generation needs to change to make an impact on this world to make the climate healthy.
ReplyDeletefacts.
DeleteVery cool post Zelda! Is there any type of event we could create (such as the elections) so children can feel included and make a difference other than the strikes? How can we make children's voices louder when it comes to reaching out to those in power?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Talia!! Yeah we can! We can use our voices on social media and other forms of communication we have access to. You can also get involved in local clubs and activities that focus on climate change. If given the opportunity you can also lobby to congress with certain bills that are focusing on climate change, like The Green New Deal.
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Really good post Zelda! Do you think that this next election's politicians worry about climate change or do you think that it's just for their campaign? Do you think protests are the most effective way for kids to voice their concerns?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Bridget! I think some candidates, for example, Bernie Sanders have already done things to fight climate change, like supporting The Green New Deal. I still worry about the candidates not following through after the election. But, I do still have hope that if a democratic candidate gets elected, changes will be made to fight against the climate crisis! I think protest are an extremely useful tool to get you voices heard, especially young voices!
DeleteIt's sad that most of the time young peoples' voices aren't heard when it comes to political issues because many adults think they know better, even though it's our future and they aren't doing anything. What are some ways we could get more adults involved in the climate movement so that maybe they could help us be heard by the people in the government who can make changes?
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