Source: The Map Report
What is the current perception of young Europeans with regard to environmental problems and the climate issue? A recent survey carried out in April 2021 by Ipsos, a multinational market research and consulting firm, almost 50% of under 35s Europeans are more concerned about environmental degradation and climate change than by the spread of infectious disease (36%), while 75% of those between 15 and 35 are very or moderately motivated to live in a sustainable way.
If we take a closer look at the Italian situation, it is striking that 80% of young Italians consider our consumption habits unsustainable from an environmental point of view.
The survey also highlights the growing tendency of young Europeans to increasingly adopt good ecological practices such as sorting waste for recycling (79%), paying attention to domestic energy savings (78%), and avoiding waste of food (80%).
From a dietary point of view, 85% of young people generally adopt a diet that includes meat and fish, compared to 6% of vegetarians and 5% of "pescetarians", who consume only fish and not meat. About a third of respondents (31%) also say they avoid frequent purchases of new things, while 37% buy fair trade and organic foods.
The research also shows that young people are aware of the socio-economic repercussions of their choices and frequently cast their vote for politicians who give priority to resolving these issues, capturing 25% of the under-35 age group. Finally, 20% of young people have boycotted commercial products as a form of protest.
Ipsos conducted the survey for #ClimateOfChange, the European communication campaign led by WeWorld, an Italian organization that has been defending the rights of women and children for 50 years in 27 countries of the world, including Italy. WeWorld’s #ClimateOfChange campaign was created to develop awareness among young EU citizens about the link between climate change and migration and create a movement ready not only to change their lifestyles but also to support global climate justice.