Across the globe, many young adults and children worry about the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change. They fear that by the time they are middle-aged, the world will be a much warmer, stormier and more uncertain place than it is today.
The Climate Generation
Published May 6, 2010
For many youth, a warming world is more than an abstract threat. Within the lifetimes of today's young adults and children, climate change could lead to food shortages, changing coastlines and catastrophic storms. An October 2009 Pew Research Poll found that young Americans are more likely than any other age group to view climate change as "a very serious problem." About 2,000 young people voiced those concerns at the 2009 United Nations climate talks in Copenhagen, where world leaders tried – and failed – to agree on a treaty to curb heat-trapping gases. Despite the collapse of the talks, youth activists vowed to continue pressuring politicians to put a stop to climate change.
Sara Peach, for the Pulitzer Center
Copenhagen, Denmark
Sara Peach, for the Pulitzer Center
Copenhagen, Denmark
Gateways
Student Fellow
Sara Peach is an independent multimedia environmental journalist. Most recently, she served as editor-in-chief of www.poweringanation.org, an interactive journalism project that explores energy in...
