By Jamahl Hokstam
As global warming becomes more prevalent and environmental concerns increase, the Millennial generation has a lot of work cut out for them.
First, let’s define who a Millennial is. According to the US Census Bureau, anyone born between 1982 and 2000 is considered a Millennial. They now make up 83.1 million people, or more than a quarter of the US population, exceeding the 75.4 million baby boomers.
A study by GPI found that Millennials are more likely than any other generation before or after to be concerned with serious environmental issues. Many attribute this to having witnessed changes happen before their eyes as our environment continues to degrade. This concern makes many feel that they must take steps for a better future and that they have much more to lose than any other generation when it comes to matters of health and the environment.
Many scientists believe that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture, are global warming. This has led to more frequent and severe natural disasters, as well as the displacement of millions of people due to rising sea levels.
This human activity has led to large amounts of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, creating a layer of smog that prevents ultraviolet rays from escaping. These rays continue to bounce back and forth like a microwave, heating up the core temperature of the earth and increasing concerns about the planet’s future..
A poll commissioned by the Clinton Global Initiative and Microsoft found that 66% of Millennials feel there is more than enough solid evidence that the earth is getting warmer, and 75% of those respondents say that human activity is responsible for this.
The effects of climate change are felt disproportionately by marginalized communities, who often have less access to resources and are more vulnerable to extreme weather events. This has led to a growing movement for climate justice, which seeks to address the unequal distribution of the impacts of climate change.
Many people feel that the environment is a lost cause and that they can’t single-handedly save a world that others have turned into a waste basket. However, according to a study by The Poll, 45% of Millennials feel that they should make a significant contribution to better the environment, while the other 55% believe that nothing can be done and our contribution will only make things worse. Statistics have also shown that over 80% of Millennials say that being environmentally conscious will improve not only the quality of their life but also decrease their carbon footprint.
Additionally, according to Pewresearch.org, Millennials are more open to considering the purchase of an electric vehicle, particularly in comparison with Baby Boomers and older adults. Similarly, younger generations are more receptive to the idea of phasing out gasoline-powered vehicles, with majorities of Gen Z (56%) and Millennial (57%) adults favoring phasing out production of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, compared with lower shares of Gen X (45%) and Baby Boomer and older (38%) Americans.
In short, this generation is committed to environmental issues and making major investments in the future of our civilization as a whole.
