The majority of young South Africans taking part in a recent online survey said they were concerned about the effects of climate change.
The survey was conducted by research firm Pondering Panda and carried out over social network MXit among 5 000 young adults living in all areas of SA.
The study aimed to determine what percentage of young adults were aware that the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) was taking place in Durban, and to evaluate their position on climate change in general.
It found that 90% of participants are concerned about climate change, and 79% are aware of COP17.
Of the 90% that expressed concern over climate change, 59% said they were very worried about climate change, while 31% said they were a little worried; 10% of respondents said they were not worried at all.
“The results of the survey are very encouraging. They show that South African youth are as concerned about the world's need to mitigate and adapt to climate changes as any other age group in the country,” says Butch Rice of Pondering Panda.
“The fact that our youth are also aware of COP17 illustrates their concern for their own future,” he adds. “The youth are the future of this country. Their interest shows that it would make sense for government and relevant climate change organisations to work at continuing to include the youth segment in their discussions and forums.”
There was no significant difference between gender and age groups in terms of worry about climate change, although in terms of cultural background, Afrikaans youth were the least likely to describe themselves as concerned about it.
Pondering Panda's Linsen Loots says the firm hopes to run follow-up surveys to get a more detailed picture of people's concerns.
Youth groups have been particularly active at this year's COP, with several meetings and staged protests taking place during the course of the week.
At the seventh Conference of Youth held the weekend ahead of COP17's opening, over 500 young people gathered to engage in talks and workshops. Youth have also been active on Flikr, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, blogs and other social media platforms.
In addition, a Climate Justice Caravan consisting of around 200 youth trekked from Nairobi, Kenya, through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Botswana, before ending at the climate talks in Durban two weeks later.
Youngo, the official youth constituency at COP17, released a document ahead of the conference outlining its expectations, which include clarification of parties' true emission targets, to ensure there is no gap between Kyoto Protocol commitment periods, and the future inclusion of emerging economies within a legally binding framework, with technical and financial support from Annex 1 countries.
“The safety, quality of life, and in some cases, the very survival, of youth around the world is threatened by increasingly dangerous, expensive, and deadly climate change,” the group writes in its expectations outline. “Governments at COP17 must deliver on agreements that will ensure intergenerational equity for youth, children, and future generations by providing us with a safe and stable climate and a prosperous future.”
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