Data for Progress 5/11/22: “Young people today are acutely aware of climate change and are beginning to see the effects of the climate crisis in their own communities. With the U.S. alone experiencing 20 billion-dollar disasters in 2021, the climate crisis is here to stay, and it won’t be pulling any punches. Each day that Congress defers a chance to pass climate legislation, the window of opportunity to fight back against climate change continues to close. Young people especially have expressed disappointment at this inaction, but their concern and enthusiasm about the climate may be our best opportunity to mobilize the bold policy responses we need to ensure the security of a sustainable world for future generations.
In a January 2022 national survey, Data for Progress and Service Year Alliance evaluated the attitudes of 711 young people ages 18-28 toward climate change and service work to combat the impacts of climate change. We find that a majority of young people express deep concerns about the climate, but worry their individual ability to make a difference is limited. Looking for ways to make a difference in their communities, nearly half of young people say they would consider participating in a service year program like the Civilian Climate Corps, indicating widespread support for federal climate actions which enable young voters to meaningfully participate in the fight against climate change.