This month, we focus on the younger generations: Gens Alpha and Z, as well as Millennials. The consequences of severe weather, rising temperatures, and seas will have the most long-term impact on these generations.

The good news is that world leaders heard the voices of leading young climate activists at COP27, the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties.

We are bursting with pride because a fellow Montanan,
Chelsea Kuiper of the UM Chapter of Montana HPHC
spoke at the COP27!

Her subject was the Missoula version of “Ride for Their Lives.” She did an excellent job and was the only student invited to speak!

Ride for their Lives was organized worldwide preceding COP27 to draw attention to children's health and the climate crisis. Chelsea arranged the Missoula ride. It was the only student-organized ride.

Other young climate activists made news at COP27 as well. For the first time, COP27 had a dedicated space where young people could meet with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

Read this inspiring story  about Sophia's leadership role at COP27, along with youths from around the world.

Their agenda includes:

• Securing more money for communities devastated by climate change, and
• Getting a firm commitment from leaders for radical measures to phase out fossil fuels.

BCAG has been thinking much about youth, young adults, and younger children lately. There is increasing evidence of mental health issues related to climate change. The term “climate anxiety” is becoming a cultural meme. Gen Alpha kids (born since 2010) are asking questions; parents are expressing challenges as they seek to respond.

USA Today published an article titled “ The kids are all fight: How millennials, Gen Z are driving change on climate.”

It is wonderful that younger generations are engaged with their future and recognize that humanity must take urgent actions to mitigate climate change. They are seriously stepping up to the challenge. Sadly, this engagement adds a cost to mental health, well-being, and the ability to focus on school, home, and work.

It Takes a Village

Another recent article in USA Today challenges those of older generations to stop being dependent on the youth to make the critical changes to address climate change:  Trying to save the world is leaving young climate change activists exhausted and frustrated .  While being engaged, determined and prepared to “fight,” activists of younger generations often feel immense pressure (and sometimes anger), while individuals of older generations express how they are hopeful for the future due to these younger people fighting for our planet.

Younger generations do not want to be burdened with the responsibility of mitigating the crisis they have inherited.  One youth said, “To wait for (young activists) feels like a dismissal of the responsibility of adults, who could do something now.”

In the Ted Talk, Gen Z’s mental health is a climate priority , KD Hurlbutt, a Stanford environmental engineer and founder of Bask + Being, stated, “The earth is burning up and so are we. If we are serious about solving the climate crisis, we have to address mental health and nobody knows this better than Gen Z.”

To our Gen Z or Millennial readers:

The BCAG Board would love to hear from you. Whether it be bright ideas, addressing frustration, or your thoughts or feelings around climate change, we are here for you and ready to listen. Please fill out this survey to let your voice be heard!

To our readers who've completed more laps around the sun:

Do you have children, teenagers, or young've adults in your life who can talk to you about climate change?  If so, what do you hear about their priorities and ideas?  Are there any specific ideas for the Bitterroot?  Do you wish to see resources for supporting younger people?
If so, how can we help? We would love to hear from you on this survey!

How can parents and caregivers guide children growing up in a climate crisis?

Parents are facing the question of how to talk to kids about climate change. Kids ask hard questions and parents are between a rock and hard place. We do not want to produce anxiety or gloss over the concerns to comfort them only to be accused of lying when the child gets old enough to understand.

Even Generation Alpha Knows

Watch this Kids First Film for C0P27. These children, ages 5 through early teens produced a message for the COP27 leaders.  It is entertaining and well-produced.