Support youth in their direct action on climate
World Water Day is held annually as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The official UN day, which took place on Friday, is a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn more about world water issues, to voice their own opinions regarding water concerns and to encourage them to explore what they can do in 2019 and beyond, to promote sustainable practices in the areas of water and energy.
In Eco-Unesco, Ireland’s environmental youth organisation, we often see young people take action to save the environment. On the news of young people taking action for climate change earlier this month, I was struck by the perception from some that young people taking action on environmental issues is something new.
For more than 30 years, Eco-Unesco has been engaging, educating and empowering young people to take action on environmental issues of concern to them. These are young people who have been concerned about environmental degradation, including biodiversity loss, over-consumption and climate change. As educators, we have worked to build their awareness, their confidence and self-esteem so that they can make choices and take an active role in society.
Through work such as ours, young people have been playing a role as active citizens through their actions and around issues identified by them, with solutions identified by them and carried out by them. We’ve seen more than 300,000 young people across Ireland take environmental action since we first opened our doors in 1986. With each action taken, a real positive change is affected.
Perhaps in the past, the young-person revolution has been more silent due to the absence of social and digital media. And now with social media and other new technologies, young people are able to organise, mobilise and take direct action.
At Eco-Unesco, we have seen just how passionate young people are about environmental action through our Young Environmental Awards, which annually sees more than 4,000 young people take action. Our society has a responsibility to our children and young people. Climate change is the defining issue of our generation and will be a priority issue for generations to come. That young people are expressing their concerns through actions, such as the schools strikes, should be supported. Our young people have been voicing their environmental concerns for decades but now they are mobilising themselves due to the urgency of climate change. It’s time policymakers and decision-makers listened to them; this is long overdue.
This year’s Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Awards Ceremony will take place in the Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday May 23. www.YEA.ie
