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KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima

Voices of the Future: Values and visions of Norwegian Youth on Responses to Climate Change

Awarded: NOK 4.4 mill.

Project Number:

207582

Application Type:

Project Period:

2011 - 2018

Funding received from:

Location:

Subject Fields:

The Voices of the future project has been researching how Norwegian youth perceive their futures in a changing climate, and the implication for their sense of agency, responsibility and political engagement. The young people we spoke to in focus groups and individual interviews are relatively optimistic regarding their personal futures, and their everyday lives are filled with school work, sports, music, friends and family. Their dreams for the future include 'normal lives' with a good education, a secure (and well-paid) job, house, car, travel and having friends and family around. A few worry about completing their education and about unemployment, as well as regional or national economic crisis. Regarding international issues, Norwegian youth are more pessimistic about the future. They have knowledge of and worry about financial crises, social problems, poverty, environmental problems and climate change. Many see links among these global challenges and express a desire for structural changes, such as redistribution of resources, reduced consumption and mitigation. The youth are confident that the problems of climate change can be solved, but they call for action, particularly from power holders. They regard 'green technology', state regulations and international agreements as decisive. Many of the youth argue that Norway holds a particular responsibility for and possibility to create change, as it is a wealthy country where welfare is linked to the extraction of oil and gas. Some hold that Norway must take on a leading role internationally by pushing for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and by serving as a good example through reduction of national emissions. There is a strong belief in the Norwegian state, and a wish for strict regulations to secure a sustainable future. The youth want those in power to make the unpopular but necessary decisions that will create change. There is discussion regarding the future of Norwegian petroleum extraction, and disagreement as to whether and when Norway should stop producing oil and gas. Some worry about financial crisis, the end of the welfare state and rising unemployment, particularly with a sudden stop in production. Others see this as vital to avoid further global warming, and hold that we will be well off in any case. Regarding their own role, the youth highlight the responsibility for thinking and living 'green' (even if difficult), e.g. through recycling, reducing consumption and energy use, and using your bike or the bus. At the same time as they strongly believe in the power of individuals to create change through their choices and actions in everyday life, they point to the strength of collective effort towards a common goal. The youth claim that their influence and action is reinforced through collective engagement in organizations, but at the same time they want more information about the different organizations that exist and how to get actively involved. Youth that are actively engaged in the environmental movement, the youth wings of political parties or community based organizations confirm the importance of collaborating with others towards a common goal. Those who work with climate issues and other global challenges worry about the future, and that concern is part of their motivation to take action. They are frustrated about a lack of engagement among the population, and particularly with those in power and within the realm of politics. These actively engaged youth have had good childhood experiences in nature, and most of them have discussed politics, environment and other current issues with their families. Often, it is a friend, family member or a teacher that has motivated them to get engaged. The social side of their engagement is stated as vital in order to keep up their motivation, together with a feeling of being heard, both within and outside their organization. If not, it is hard to sacrifice all the time and energy needed over time, when their engagement is in competition with school and studies, work, friends and family life. Through the project we have explored how Norwegian youth talk about and understand citizenship, rights, duties and responsibilities. They highlight the rights of citizens to contribute to a group or society, which they see as bringing support and safety as well as the possibility of participating in decision-making processes. Youth regard active participation with others as not just a right, but an expectation. Regarding the duties of a citizen, they highlight personal responsibility for solving problems, such as taking action to reduce emissions and increase sustainability. At the same time, the youth stress how this responsibility relates to a greater common good, i.e., that it is the duty of a citizen to contribute to a well-functioning society by following rules and norms, but also by confronting problems through engagement and trying to make a difference.

Responding effectively to climate change requires an understanding of what shapes people's sense of responsibility towards the future, and how individual and collective agency may transform into political engagement and ecological citizenship. This projec t investigates such human dimensions of climate change by focusing on the voices of young people and the question: How do Norwegian youth perceive their futures in a changing climate, and how does this influence their sense of agency, responsibility and p olitical engagement? Using an integral approach and mixed methods, three themes guide the research: 1) Beliefs, values and worldviews: What do young Norwegians think and feel about climate change and proposed responses to climate change? What are their attitudes towards the future, and how do they perceive of their possibilities to participate in and influence the future? 2) Agency and political engagement: How and through what channels and arenas are youth making their voices heard, and what are the m easurable outcomes? What encourages or hinders active engagement with climate change policies? 3) Responsibility and ecological citizenship: What conditions and factors can foster the development of youth as empowered ecological citizens to address the mu lti-faceted challenges of climate change? Besides drawing on existing literature and statistics, data will be collected through Q-methodology, focus groups, interviews and a secure web site where youth may post comments, pictures or movies on relevant s ubjects. Participants will be Norwegian youth between the ages of 13 and 18, recruited through schools and environmental organisations. The project will draw attention to new forms of political participation, new conceptualisations of citizenship, and new roles for youth in a changing climate.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima