Climate change has emerged as a pressing concern for young adults worldwide. With its far-reaching consequences and potential for irreversible damage, the impact of climate change weighs heavily on the minds of the younger generation.
A study conducted by The Lancet sheds light on the concerns of young adults. The survey, which included 1,000 participants aged 16 to 25 from ten different nations, revealed that 84% of them were moderately concerned about climate change, while 59% expressed high levels of concern.
Climate crisis fuels fears of an incertain future
Maya Cohen, an American University student interning in Tel Aviv says, “My biggest fear is that my kids won’t be able to see the stars.” Maya’s concern reflects the broader anxieties about the future generations’ quality of life in light of the climate crisis.
Maya is in Tel Aviv on a program called Onward Israel. Onward provides University students in America an opportunity to live and work in Israel for the summer. The goal is to propel students personally and professionally, while immersing its participants in modern day Israel while equipping you with valuable experience and knowledge through internship opportunities. In the most previous cohort Onward had 3,200 participants..
The climate crisis impacts daily lives
Young people worldwide are experiencing a sense of fear and discontentment with government actions, influencing their daily lives.
Hannah Dworsky, a 20-year-old student also working in Tel Aviv for the summer, shares her concerns about bringing new life into an uncertain world: “I am concerned and scared for my future family and children due to the possible irreversible damage we have done to our environment.” Hannah explained that she does not doubt that the majority of people our age are scared of climate change effectively, just not enough to make a lasting difference.
Ava Selbst, another American abroad in Tel Aviv, fears that once climate change starts impacting necessities such as food, clean water, and essential resources, unthinkable scenarios where humanity begins to fight over natural resources. Ava says, “Once climate change starts impacting necessities such as food, clean water, and essential resources, humanity will possibly start to fight over natural resources.”
Ava foresees a future where access to basic necessities becomes a privilege reserved for the super-wealthy, potentially leading to civil conflicts over scarce resources.
I asked other university students living in Tel Aviv about their climate change fears.
- Kaley French says, “My biggest climate-related fear is that the careless actions of human beings will continue to affect the innocent lives of animals.”
- Dylan Weiss says, “I am stressed about the things I love and think we take for granted being something that will be taken away.”
- Lars Djuve says, “No more skiing all of the ski mountains are closing because of climate change”
Transforming fears into action
Tel Aviv, a thriving hub for environmentally sustainable innovation, provides a positive perspective for concerned young adults like Maya, Ava, and Hannah. Their summer experience in Israel offers them a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the transformative efforts undertaken by individuals and companies dedicated to making a positive impact. The crises feel endless, and it is easy to feel helpless as an individual.
Paige Bohart is working this summer for a makeup company researching sustainable labeling options and the qualifications for these labels. Paige tells Green Prophet: “My biggest fear for climate change is that we will not reduce our plastic consumption fast enough.”
She agrees that individual actions are vital to reducing global levels of plastic waste. Paige continues, “small decisions like choosing products with sustainable packaging makes a difference.”
Her work has shown me her sustainable initiatives can successfully intersect with different work spheres.
Hannah emphasizes the need for collective action, stating, “We all have to do our own part to defeat this battle.”
It is through collective efforts, individual responsibility, and innovative solutions that we can overcome this global challenge.
