Changing Patterns in Global Youth Environmental Engagement

The growing challenges posed by climate change call for a global shift in our relationship with the environment. Critical to this shift is the role of young people, often seen as key agents of change in environmental discourse. Despite widespread beliefs in the positive link between youth engagement and sustainability, the empirical evidence supporting this relationship remains limited. Our research examines the relationship between youth environmental engagement, climate policies, and their ecological outcomes.

We analyze environmental knowledge, global agency, and pro-environmental behavior among 348,760 15-year-olds from 40 countries across all inhabited continents. By integrating these data with environmental indices and the World Values Survey, we identify patterns in youth engagement and assess the impact of cultural values and environmental protection efforts. Our findings show that youth environmental engagement is shaped by both cultural context and the level of environmental protection in their countries. Notably, pro-environmental behavior inversely relates to environmental quality, while higher environmental knowledge associates with postmaterialist values. Additionally, global agency is inversely associated with environmental protection efforts, indicating that in countries where environmental efforts fall short youth feel a heightened sense of responsibility for the planet's future.

This research highlights the complex interplay between cultural values, environmental conditions, and youth engagement. It also addresses a contradiction in Inglehart’s theory, offering a new lens for understanding and predicting cultural shifts in response to climate change. As today’s youth grows into adulthood, they have the potential to lead societal changes towards more sustainable practices. Policymakers worldwide must build on this existing support to address the climate crisis and drive the necessary transformational changes.