Sustainability is gaining traction among young people who, instead of accepting wider inaction, are turning to education to empower themselves to create positive changes

In this article we explore why young people are choosing sustainable courses and how transformative education can help address climate change concerns affecting their well-being.

In 2024, democracy faces a critical moment, but the lack of action from politicians on climate change has left young people feeling unprecedented levels of climate anxiety. Growing up in the age of social media, the younger generation has been inundated with discussions about the climate crisis, greenhouse gas emissions and environmental damage, yet they have received little guidance on how to address these pressing issues. 

A recent survey conducted by SEEd Youth Listening Project of more than 1,700 participants found that young people want to make a positive difference in regard to climate change and sustainability but require a more transformative education to do so.

Due to a greater emphasis on the environmental aspects of sustainability, many young people believe sustainability mainly concerns the environment and have very little awareness of its social and economic dimensions. That is where we, as educators, play a crucial role. It is instilled in us that we have the power to shape young people’s future, so it is our responsibility to educate them about all aspects of sustainability and equip them with the tools to make meaningful, positive changes.

Now more than even, young people turn to TV and social media to educate themselves about sustainability but, it’s important to remember that not all information on these platforms are reliable. As the media continues to promote a ‘greener’ version of sustainability it is important for the younger generation to understand that sustainable practices not only help to preserve the environment but also help to protect biodiversity, eradicate poverty, promote social inclusivity and foster long-term economic growth.

In the last couple of years, reports of climate anxiety have grown exponentially, particularly amongst the younger generation who fear that their personal futures will be impacted by the worsening climate crisis, poverty and a failed economy. Data from Google Trends found that queries related to “climate anxiety” have increased dramatically, with searches in the year to October 2023 being 27 times higher than the same period in 2017.

As climate anxiety grows, so does the restlessness and eagerness of younger generations to address issues that the older generations seem to overlook. However, the challenges lie in lack of clarity regarding actionable steps. While many have adopted the more consumer-focused actions such as recycling and litter picking, they lack knowledge of more impactful practices. They need more guidance from educations on how to take actions that drive sustainability on a larger scale. By learning how about the mechanisms of social change, young people will then be able to apply them in their everyday lives and communities – providing a much-needed relief from feelings of hopelessness.

The University of Manchester’s MA Education for a Sustainable Environment course offers an environment for interdisciplinary exploration of the ecological, economic, political, historical and social aspects of sustainability challenges that will allow students to broaden their understanding and influence positive change.

Read more about the course here.

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