Can and must do better.
This is according to a study by the UN Development (UNDP) published on Wednesday the appreciation that 64% of humans give to climate action by leaders from Kinshasa to Paris, via Delhi, Tarawa or Sao Paulo.
Led by the University of Oxford in 50 countries, 1.2 million people responded in 17 languages "this is the largest ever poll on the climate" insists Nathan Méténier, 21, of the youth network, young climate advisor to the UN.
While 500,000 respondents are under 18, we see that among these young people the requests for action are even stronger.
What is the interest of a UN study on awareness of the climate emergency?
NATHAN MÉTENIER.
It's impressive.
Not only are a majority of humans aware of the climate emergency 65% but in addition, they are calling for more action.
The results are the same from India, to Brazil via France.
In addition, this study was carried out during the Covid.
A health crisis, during which hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs, were locked up ... The lesson is that even in these very difficult conditions, the Covid has not made us forget the climate emergency.
This is even more the case with young people ...
Yes.
Take France, 83% of people under 18 are calling for more climate action.
And these are not empty words, they are particularly asking for more investment in green jobs, which was not at the heart of the recovery plan.
They also ask that we protect the oceans.
It should be remembered that France is one of the countries which has the largest marine area under its responsibility.
It is encouraging then that the climate crisis is also a biodiversity crisis, that the oceans can be a solution to trap CO2.
It has been said a lot that the "climate generation" was a movement of young Westerners, passed through the grandes écoles.
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Like you…
Yes.
I am French, I studied at Science Po and now the Business school of London.
But in fact almost all young people around the world express the same urgency.
Even though these generations are being hit hard by the current health crisis.
Within our Youth and Environment Europe association, we are very connected: with activists from the Balkans, the Black Sea or Moldova.
But we also work with young people from Africa and Brazil.
I think of my friend Nisreen
(Editor's note: Elsaim),
also a member of the UN youth advisory council who lives in Sudan.
She always says that the inhabitants of the countries of the South are concerned first and foremost since the consequences of global warming are already being experienced.
Sudan had its worst flood on record this year followed by the worst drought.
Young people from all walks of life aware of the urgency, is it really useful?
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By showing solidarity, we can put pressure on the major decision-makers, in the summits organized by the “adults”.
We can thus build up a force, organize campaigns.
For example, it seems completely crazy to us that the British government calls on the BCG group (Boston consulting group) to help it organize the COP 26 while this same group advises 19 of the 25 largest fossil fuel companies.
He also advises Oil and Co UK, one of the biggest pressure groups in favor of fossil fuels.
It is unthinkable.
And one of our main workhorses.