BALTIMORE, Md. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Nearly 60% of children express sadness when considering the impact of the climate on animals and plants. A Child Trends report further reveals that over half of children experience fear about their future. A new generation is emerging to address this challenge. We spoke with teens, talking candidly about their perspectives on accountability and their plans for action. Teen leaders
“I would say one of my big worries is the illusion of time. Lots of people think that we have time to fix these things, but we’ve been saying that for years,” said 17-year-old Jordyn Chaimiti.
“The thing that worries me the most about climate change is how people from marginalized communities who aren’t able to defend themselves against the threats of climate change … who aren’t able to bounce back from an extreme weather event — how they’ll be affected,” explained 17-year-old James Obasiolu.
“What worries me most is misinformation,” expressed 17-year-old Sarah Kc.
Sarah, James, Jordyn — all three share a concern about how global warming will impact their lives. Who or what do they blame?
“Complacency,” said James.
“Ignorance,” said Jordyn.
“Misinformation,” said Sarah.
They’re on a mission to make a difference and they’re not alone. A Pew Research Center survey found that a strong majority of young adults prioritize climate action. The Youth Climate Institute is an organization dedicated to empowering young people to become climate leaders, teaching teens about critical issues like carbon emissions, the environmental impact of fast fashion, food waste, and water pollution.
“A lot of our students are really involved in wanting to follow elected officials and support them in getting bills passed. I’m seeing the development of leaders,” said Youth Climate Institute Founder Ann Strozyk.
And Jordan, James, and Sarah want other young people to understand their power. Teen leaders
“I have a voice,” stated Jordan
“I wish that kids would understand the impact that they have,” Sarah told Ivanhoe.
“The world will not remain this way if we don’t take care of it,” said James.
Parents can support their children to get involved in climate action, which research shows builds agency and reduces climate anxiety. The Youth Climate Institute was started during the pandemic by Strozyk, an environmental teacher in Maryland who wanted to challenge her kids and keep her students connected. Today there are 37 chapters across the country. They are hoping to add more this year. If you would like to start a chapter in your hometown, you can find out how at https://youthclimateleader.org/.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor.
Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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