Press release: New Global Youth Energy Outlook report brings the voices of 42,000 youth to COP26
4 Nov 2021 – GLASGOW – The Global Youth Energy Outlook is a new report released by Student Energy, a global youth-led organization. Featuring nearly 42,000 survey responses from young people 18-30 in 129 countries, the report is the largest youth-led data gathering initiative on energy.
What did the report find?
- 80% of youth surveyed believe their governments should take drastic actions to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, with two-thirds of youth who expressed support for decarbonization targets indicating they wanted their governments to work toward a 2030 goal rather than 2050.
- As a global average, youth ranked ‘Government willpower, policies, and regulations’ as the biggest barrier in achieving a sustainable energy transition in their respective countries – especially in Latin America (56%) and South East Asia (48%). Youth also indicated they are prepared to vote on this issue, with 83% of respondents said that they would vote for a political candidate based on their position on the energy transition.
- Government policy was chosen as the factor having the ‘most importance’ in accelerating the sustainable energy transition, with 44% of respondents choosing it as their top option. Youth in all regions also identified that governments had the most responsibility to reduce emissions.
Find the initial insights from the report at www.studentenergyoutlook.org. The full report is expected to be released in early 2022.
Student Energy launched the initial findings from the report at the Science Show Theatre as an official event of the COP26 Green Zone Programme. Several of the youth coordinators leading the project shared key insights from their region, including Chibunna Ogbonna from South Africa, Arsenii Kirgizov-Barskii from Russia, Nabila Putri Salsabila from Indonesia, and Linette Knudsen from Denmark.
The Global Youth Energy Outlook intends to bridge the gap between youth and decision-makers in governments and industry – for youth to use the Outlook as a data-backed advocacy tool, and for decision-makers to use the Outlook to understand how to meaningfully engage young people. While fully youth-led, the project received financial support from DNV, Natural Resources Canada, and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition.
Quotes:
Meredith Adler, Executive Director, Student Energy:
“The Global Youth Energy Outlook was developed by young people who are passionate about rapidly transforming the energy system. Through this 18-month process, Student Energy has seen that youth want to address the unique needs and opportunities that exist in the energy systems in their own communities, while also mounting a united global call to action. We look forward to seeing how decision-makers will build on this report to meaningfully partner with young people on the energy transition.”
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, Canada:
“Young people are demanding a clean energy future. I am confident that this new generation has what it takes to build it, too. With this report, they’re not only outlining what they expect from a sustainable energy transition, but how they are going to help make it happen”
About Student Energy:
Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since founding in 2009, Student Energy has worked with thousands of youth from over 120 countries, to build the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to take action on energy. Student Energy operates on a unique youth empowerment model, which means that initiatives are co-created with youth, for youth.
Student Energy also works with governments, the UN, and other decision makers to facilitate meaningful youth engagement and mobilize resources, coaching, and mentorship to support youth-led work. Student Energy has built coalitions with over 100 diverse partners, such as Indigenous Clean Energy, Sustainable Energy for All, HSBC Global, the Stockholm Environment Institute, DNV, WSP, and national governments like Canada, Denmark, and Sweden. Student Energy has stewarded CAD$10 million+ in funding to date, supported the development of over 280 youth energy projects, held 6 international Student Energy Summits, and attracted over 12.5 million people to its digital energy education platforms.
Media Contacts:
Shakti Ramkumar, Director of Communications and Policy
shakti@studentenergy.org
Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 445 4306
Meredith Adler, Executive Director
meredith@studentenergy.org
Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (604) 354 2930