Protecting forests and generating wind and solar energy are the most popular climate measures among young people. This is according to research conducted by the United Nations in the G20-countries.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Oxford University, conducted a survey of 689,000 people, including more than 302,000 people under the age of 18.

Emergency situation

The survey, according to the UN, shows how public support for climate action is increasing in the near future as climate-conscious voting-age teens enter the labor market and gain influential positions. The new survey - called the G20 Peoples' Climate Vote - was released ahead of the G20 Rome Summit in Italy and the UN Climate Summit COP26. In all G20 countries surveyed, a majority of young people under the age of 18 state that they believe climate change is a global emergency. 'This new People's Climate Vote shows that, on average, 70 percent of young people in the G20 countries believe we are in an emergency situation,' said UNDP Summit Director Achim Steiner. 'As they are about to inherit this climate emergency, young people are sending a loud and clear message to world leaders: they want climate action now.'

Climate Policy

The most popular climate policies among young people under 18 in the G20-countries surveyed are the conservation of forests and land (59 percent), the use of renewable wind and solar energy, and the use of climate-friendly farming techniques (both 57 percent). Among adults, those measures score 3 to 4 percentage points worse. Young people are also more likely than adults to expect much from affordable insurance against the effects of extreme weather and from the use of electric cars and bicycles.

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Source: Solarmagazine.nl, 27 oktober 2021