On September 19, the event Ponte con el Cambio Climático (Get Involved with Climate Change) was held, organized by the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC) and the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC). The event brought to the forefront the main concerns young people face daily regarding the climate crisis. Beyond presenting a snapshot of generational anxiety, the event succeeded in becoming a space for exchange and inspiration, aimed at transforming the current context.
The most shared concerns revolved around biodiversity loss, pollution and its health impacts, the scarcity of drinking water, and rising temperatures. Additionally, young participants expressed interest in critical topics such as climate migrations, the energy crisis, and the deterioration of quality of life, among others. “Until someone feels the problem in their immediate surroundings, they don’t act to solve it,” remarked one attendee during the talk given by CSIC researchers Maria Vila-Costa and Fernando Valladares. Similarly, others highlighted inaction as one of the greatest barriers to achieving true systemic change.
The power of citizenship
“Citizens have great power to pressure companies and society,” noted one young woman. Echoing this sentiment, Valladares added, “If you owe money to the bank, you have a problem; but if many people owe money to the bank, the bank has the problem.” This powerful metaphor underscored the need for mass mobilization to generate change.
The discussion during the talk revealed key unresolved questions that motivated young people to attend the event:
“How do we reach decision-makers? How do we mobilize “deniers”? How do we engage those who remain inactive?”
For Valladares, the essence of Ponte con el Cambio Climático lies in these questions, as they encourage participants to “dig deeper, understand the reasons behind the issues, and translate ideas into local projects with tangible impacts.” Researcher Vila-Costa emphasized the importance of acting at different levels of influence, highlighting the validity of each and reminding attendees that they are not mutually exclusive.
“We need to build a societal model based on collective benefit rather than hyper-productivity,” one participant argued, calling for a reevaluation of the current economic paradigm.
A key point that resonated among attendees was the overexposure to negative news, which can desensitize, paralyze, and demotivate individuals. “It’s important to stay informed about positive developments and progress, whether through scientific journals or other media,” suggested one participant.
Looking to the future
The initial discussion led to the formation of three working groups, tasked with developing their proposals over the coming months and presenting them on June 8, coinciding with MNCN’s commemoration of World Environment Day. The proposed initiatives include: creating a climate observatory; developing an app to raise awareness about the environmental footprint of everyday products; organizing awareness talks for students in disciplines unrelated to biology and environmental sciences.
Through these efforts, young people began turning their concerns into concrete proposals, with a firm commitment to developing their ideas and addressing the climate crisis head-on.
