Empowering young people with climate and ocean science: Five strategies for adults to consider

Abstract

Young people are the world leaders of the future, and today are emerging as current advocates of change calling for climate and ocean action. Many young people are increasingly aware, concerned, and overwhelmed about the impacts of climate and ocean change. However, current institutional and academic structures, alongside the challenges of growing up today - including social injustice, climate anxiety, nature disconnectedness, and the proliferation of fake news on climate and ocean science - limit young people’s opportunity and agency to protect their future from these impacts. It is clear from the nature of these challenges that the production of new scientific knowledge alone is not enough to support, prepare, and empower young people to cope with climate change now and in into the future. This Perspective outlines actions, under the context of for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), that that can support and empower young people with science and enable them to actively shape the sustainability of Earth’s climate and the ocean. Based on advances in recent research and transdisciplinary efforts, we present five actionable strategies for programmes and initiatives to engage young people in climate and ocean literacy towards shaping their sustainable future: 1) inclusion of diverse voices; 2) active dialogue-based science learning; 3) connection to nature; 4) critical thinking skills; and 5) co-created visions of a sustainable future. These five strategies can help to prepare young people with enhanced knowledge, skills and experiences, and strengthen the agency needed to meet the global climate and ocean challenges they are inheriting. We show how these strategies can be implemented during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which aims to enhance capacity-building and foster transformative solutions for ocean sustainability. We propose that together, and synergistically, these strategies can equip and empower young people to have a say in shaping their sustainable future.