Chapter 6: Youth for Environment Sustainability

Introduction

•    To combat climate change, preserve environmental resources, and reverse the decline of biodiversity, immediate action is needed.
•    Initiatives to combat climate change spearheaded by youth could improve education generally and help the world reach net-Zero Emissions by 2030. Also, it would contribute to ensuring the standard of living for future generations on this planet.
•    Development and preparation of strategic frameworks, policies, and processes, monitoring of land management, crisis, and disaster management, and biodiversity conservation would all require creative and targeted approaches.
•    There are 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the world today. The youth population is at its highest level ever. Furthermore, the majority of them—about 90%—live in underdeveloped nations.

Roles of Youth and SDGs

•    Kids who are critical thinkers can examine and criticise the prevailing power structures, difficulties, biases, and inconsistencies.
•    Changemakers: They have the power to rally people and take action.
•    Innovators: Young people can offer novel ideas and original solutions.
•    Communicators: They are capable of promoting the cause among their peers both domestically and abroad.
•    Leaders: If given the proper powers and obligations, they can be change agents. 

Youth's role in environmental sustainability is important

•    The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 15: Life on Land, can be greatly advanced by youth.
•    By making sustainable lifestyle changes and having a beneficial effect on the environment, they can actively contribute to protecting and enriching the environment.

LiFE Movement

•    The Indian Prime Minister put forth the LiFE concept at the COP26 conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow.
•    It encourages leading a greener lifestyle that emphasises "mindful and intentional utilisation" as opposed to "mindless and wasteless consumption".
•    It aims to motivate people to take small, frequent initiatives in the direction of a more sustainable future.
•    The goal of the mission is to establish and cultivate a worldwide community of people known as "Pro-Planet People" (P3). These people will all be dedicated to promoting and living environmentally responsible lifestyles.

Way Ahead

•    For young people, social media is an important source of information. It can therefore be utilised to promote a larger social learning process for sustainable development.
•    It is important to promote a sustainable way of living. Using reuse and recycling of resources as examples.
•    Young social entrepreneurs need to be supported by an ecosystem that includes a robust commercial environment.
•    Strengthening employment placement processes and educational programmes for green careers are necessary.