Why young people are key to tackling climate change

The author asserts that young people are critical to climate action because they will bear the long-term costs of neglect and possess the creativity to implement local solutions. Examples of youth-led initiatives include dune restoration in the Bahamas, biodiesel production in Barbados, and bamboo bicycle manufacturing in Ghana. The text highlights the influence of youth as consumers and voters, and notes the role of groups like Youth Climate Action and the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers in pressuring leaders ahead of the 2014 UN Climate Summit and the 2015 legally binding agreement process.

• Young people are actively leading climate adaptation and mitigation efforts globally, such as the Sandwatch programme's beach monitoring in over 50 countries and the use of sea oats to stabilize sand dunes in the Bahamas following 2005 hurricanes.
• Youth-led innovation provides practical solutions for reducing emissions, including the production of over 3,000 litres of biodiesel from used vegetable oil in Barbados and the creation of bamboo bicycle frames in Ghana to reduce CO2 emissions and restore forests.
• Young people exert influence on climate policy and corporate behavior through three primary roles: as innovators, as consumers who pressure businesses, and as voters who influence politicians.
• Youth organizations and networks are coordinating to pressure global leaders ahead of the September 2014 UN Climate Summit and the 2015 goal for a legally binding agreement, with the Global Shapers presenting scalable local initiatives via the ClimateSHAPE challenge.

APA

Alhendawi, A. (2014). Why young people are key to tackling climate change. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/young-people-tackling-climate-change/

Chicago

Alhendawi, Ahmad. Why young people are key to tackling climate change. World Economic Forum, 2014. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/young-people-tackling-climate-change/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Alhendawi |first1=Ahmad |title=Why young people are key to tackling climate change |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=14 July 2014 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/young-people-tackling-climate-change/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{alhendawi2014why, author = {Alhendawi, Ahmad}, title = {{Why young people are key to tackling climate change}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2014}, month = jul, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/young-people-tackling-climate-change/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }