{"id":3214,"date":"2023-08-16T03:54:59","date_gmt":"2023-08-16T03:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onenatureinstitute.org\/?p=3214"},"modified":"2023-08-16T04:09:01","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T04:09:01","slug":"the-importance-of-youth-in-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onenatureinstitute.org\/stories\/the-importance-of-youth-in-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Youth in Conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"
Saturday, the twelfth of August, was International Youth Day. This year’s theme celebrated youth all around the world developing the aptitudes to transform our world into a\u00a0 sustainable and climate-friendly place. In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared this day \u2018Youth Day\u2019 as a way to raise awareness about the challenges that young people encounter and how they can overcome these difficulties, and of course, to emphasize the accomplishments of young people worldwide. Our world\u2019s youth make up a large demographic whose health, mindset, and education can positively or negatively impact our planet. But why exactly are youth so important in conservation and climate action?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In conservation and development, youth are essential stewards<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the future’s decision-makers and leaders, today’s youth can have a significant influence on the environment via their actions. Young people can promote and encourage responsible and respectful behavior towards nature and wildlife while raising awareness of the risks humans pose to our environment and its wild inhabitants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In recent and record-breaking news,<\/span> young environmental activists in Montana won a lawsuit against state agencies<\/span><\/a> for violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment by allowing fossil fuel development. This trial aimed to constitute whether the right to a healthy and livable climate is protected by state law. This victory established the responsibility the government has to protect citizens from climate change. The attorney representing the youth stated that this victory is a “<\/span>huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate.<\/span><\/a>”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today\u2019s younger generations are paving the way for a better, more sustainable future.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the state of our climate emergency, youth are faced with an impossible situation: the uncertainty of their future on a dying planet. As climate change and its consequences ramp up, the futures of our younger generations are in peril. This has led to an unprecedented mobilization of youth all over the world, showcasing their power to hold decision-makers accountable for their actions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While in the past, youth were often dismissed by world leaders, within these past several years, youth around the world have united together to organize climate protests and make their voices heard to draw attention to the impacts of climate change, earning them a seat at the climate action and conservation table. Today, we see <\/span>young climate activists<\/span><\/a> like Greta Thunberg making waves and not shying away from holding decision-makers accountable for their roles in progressing or neglecting the climate crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\u201c\u200b\u200bThey are agents of change, entrepreneurs and innovators. Whether through education, science or technology, young people are scaling up their efforts and using their skills to accelerate climate action.\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n
United Nations<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n