Impression of the Youth Climate Strikes 2021 in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
It was the largest series of global protests since the onset of the pandemic, with people from 92 countries taking part. With only five weeks to go before this year’s climate summit (COP26) in the United Kingdom, young people are demanding urgent action to avert climate catastrophe. This comes only a few weeks after a survey found that ~75% of people aged 16-25 think “the future is frightening”, ~45% feel distressed or anxious about the climate in a way that affects their daily lives and functioning. According to the researchers, this threatens the health and wellbeing of many children and young people globally. With governments still falling woefully short of even their own inadequate commitments, is it any wonder young people take to the streets to redirect their sadness, anxiety, anger, powerlessness, helplessness, and guilt (~50%) in a more constructive direction?
Images courtesy of Anne van Bergeijk.