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Ecology : a generational divide ?
Climate, lifestyle, and generational tension
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time. However, not everyone sees it the same way and age often plays a role in these differences. Many young people today feel eco-anxiety, it means they are worried about the future of the planet and frustrated by what they see as inaction from older generations.
In 2019, 25-year-old New Zealand Member of Parliament Chlöe Swarbrick, made headlines when she addressed an older lawmaker with the phrase “OK boomer” as he interrupted her speech on climate change. This viral expression became a symbol of generational frustration, a way for young people to say : You don’t understand our fears. You had your chance, and now we’re paying the price.
Older generations are sometimes blamed for supporting a way of life based on fossil fuels, mass consumption, and environmental neglect. In contrast, younger people are more likely to support climate action, sustainable lifestyles, and political change. As a matter of fact the situation is more complex.
Many older adults do care about the environment. Some were environmental activists long before today’s movements. And many young people still strive to adopt green habits due to cost or access. The real challenge is not to fight each other, but to find common goals across generations.
Building bridges or cooperation in climate action
In several English-speaking countries, efforts are growing to connect generations around climate issues. Intergenerational dialogue can be seen as a way to combine experience and innovation.
Here are some examples to illustrate this point : in the UK, schools and community groups organize “green generations” events where children and elders exchange ideas and solutions. Whereas in Canada, eco-villages urge people of different ages to live and work together sustainably. As for the U.S., organizations like Third Act, led by older activists, work alongside youth movements like Fridays for Future.
These initiatives show that climate change doesn’t only divide, it also joins forces. Many families discuss how to reduce their carbon footprint together. Grandparents plant trees with grandchildren. Elders share stories of a less industrialized world ; youth share digital tools and new energy ideas.
The future of the planet affects everyone, not just the young. To succeed, we need both the passion of the youth and the wisdom of experience. Ecology should not be a battlefield between generations, it should be a space of cooperation, where shared responsibility builds a better future for all.
