Young Voices Ignored: How 80% of Climate Stories Overlook Gen Z—Don’t Miss This Shocking Revelation!

In the autumn of 2021, a unique initiative aimed at amplifying youth voices in the climate discourse took form at the Daimler Warehouse in Coventry, England. Co-facilitated by artists passionate about creative expression and environmental awareness, this project, titled With One Breath, brought together young people to engage in theatre, photography, and creative writing, all centered around the pressing issue of the climate crisis.

During the first of ten creative sessions, collaborator Becky Warnock, a socially engaged artist, conducted an eye-opening exercise to gauge the participants' feelings about climate change. She invited the group to position themselves along a continuum based on their agreement or disagreement with various statements. While the young attendees demonstrated a strong understanding of the climate crisis, their responses to the statement, “I have a voice in climate change debates,” revealed a troubling trend: most of them clustered on the side of disagreement. This exercise highlighted a significant issue—despite their knowledge, these young individuals often feel excluded from crucial conversations regarding their future.

The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue; it is a communications dilemma as well. How can we narrate stories that not only instill awareness but also inspire action? This project strives to bridge that gap. Research conducted by Warnock and her team examines the impact of artists directly engaging with communities through co-creation. Since 2019, the initiative has collaborated with various organizations, including schools and community centers in places like Kampala and Nairobi, as well as Coventry. The work, titled Acting on Climate, utilizes techniques that encourage young people to explore their local environments and share their narratives.

Young voices are often sidelined in climate discussions, yet they will be the most affected by the consequences of climate change. With One Breath sought to shift this narrative by fostering transnational collaboration. The project employed games and techniques adapted from the Theatre of the Oppressed, a method developed by Augusto Boal, to encourage participants to document their surroundings using photography and film. Together, they identified key themes: exploring power and responsibility, reflecting on globalization, and envisioning positive alternative futures.

One striking revelation from the project was the disparity in perceptions of climate impact between young people in the UK and their counterparts in Uganda. While many participants in the UK felt somewhat insulated from the immediate effects of climate change, stories from young Ugandans already grappling with environmental disruptions made the complexities of climate inequality impossible to ignore. This dialogue underscored a sense of shared responsibility, yet it also revealed a troubling trend: many young people feel they lack agency to effect change, feeling instead that they are overly simplified and tokenized as symbols of hope.

As the project unfolded, it became evident that communities in nations like Uganda often find themselves marginalized in climate discussions. The youth in these regions experience a double bind of being undervalued due to both their age and geographic location. With One Breath aimed to amplify these often-ignored voices, allowing them to share their perspectives and experiences directly.

Connecting Global Narratives

The research extended into broader dimensions through initiatives like Fair Play Kenya 2025, part of the British Council’s Kenya 2025 season, which took place at the National Theatre in Nairobi. The festival focused on the intersections of climate crisis, conflict, and land justice. Young people from Nairobi, Derry/Londonderry, and Birmingham connected through both in-person and online workshops, facilitated by partnerships with organizations such as Amani People’s Theatre and ZamaleoACT in Kenya, The Gap Arts Project in Birmingham, and The Playhouse in Northern Ireland.

Throughout these interactions, participants explored various themes relevant to their local contexts. In Derry/Londonderry, the focus was on the mismanagement of Lough Neagh, while young people in Birmingham voiced concerns about limited access to nature and its links to the climate crisis. Meanwhile, participants in Nairobi delved into profound issues of land justice, particularly highlighting the impact of carbon credit deals that displace communities under unjust terms.

Projects like Fair Play have illuminated the complexities inherent in cross-border collaborations. They remind us that the choices made daily can contribute to environmental harm, and an individualized approach to climate action may fall short. Through creative engagement, artists can help make these intricate issues accessible and relatable, fostering deeper connections among participants. The intertwined histories of industrialization and colonialism mean that countries like the UK bear a significant responsibility for their historical roles in resource exploitation.

For the young people involved, these artistic projects serve as a platform to make visible the effects of environmental degradation and social injustice, creating a sense of connection that resonates across borders. As they navigate their futures in a rapidly changing world, initiatives like With One Breath and Fair Play Kenya 2025 offer them not just a voice, but also the tools to shape a more hopeful narrative in the ongoing climate dialogue.