Yes, it’s now up to superheroes.

We write and talk endlessly about the urgent need to fight climate change on all fronts, scientists are wearing themselves out, yet we still see that no one is standing behind their commitments, regulations aimed at reducing the impacts of climate change are being obstructed or watered down to the point of losing their purpose, and financing for fossil fuels — which should be ended immediately — is not only continuing, but not even slowing down.

I don’t want to bog you down with excessive detail, so I’ll just give one example and move on.

Almost three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions come from energy production. Looking at energy production by type, in 2024 renewable energy accounts for 30%, nuclear energy for 10%, and energy produced from fossil fuels for a full 60%. In other words, nearly two of every three units of energy we use are still generated from coal and natural gas. This last portion directly contributes to global carbon emissions.

That is why we say there should be no delay — fossil fuel production must be stopped as soon as possible, and financial support for this sector must be ended.

The new Climate Chaos Fossil Fuel Finance Report reveals the performance in this regard. According to the report, the world’s largest banks have provided $6.9 trillion in “fossil fuel financing” to the sector since the 2016 Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement, signed by 196 countries, aims to limit human-caused global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, according to The Guardian, many private interest groups in various countries continue to finance the activities of growing fossil fuel companies, contrary to their promises.

In short… We say it, and we listen to ourselves…

That’s why we say saving the planet is up to superheroes. But at the same time, we must not lose hope. Why? Because those superheroes are walking among us.

We are, of course, talking about members of Generations Y and Z.

According to a slightly older (2019) analysis by Bloomberg based on United Nations data, they make up almost five billion people worldwide.

Deloitte, one of the big consulting firms, conducted a survey among representatives of these two generations. The survey revealed results worth thinking about. And it wasn’t small-scale either — they asked 23,000 participants, and the study took almost five months to complete.

The most heartening finding: for both generations, “commitment to values” emerges as a very important trait.

Looking at the findings of the study as a whole, the following points stand out:

  • The greatest social concern for both generations is the cost of living.

  • About 90% of representatives from both generations think that “purpose” is important for job satisfaction and do not want to work with workplaces or employers whose values do not align with theirs.

  • Climate change is a significant source of concern. Therefore, they actively try to align their careers and consumer behavior with their environmental values.

  • The uncertainty created by GenAI affects career decisions, but those who use technology frequently believe it will improve their work and work/life balance.

  • Work/life balance is their top priority. Therefore, they are not keen on long working hours.

  • Return-to-office policies bring some benefits such as increased engagement and collaboration, but some complain of increased stress and decreased productivity.

The environmental focus must have caught your attention.

Protecting the environment is the area in which Generations Z and Y believe they have the most opportunity and influence to drive change in businesses. 62% of Gen Z and 59% of Gen Y say they are worried or concerned about climate change, and for this reason, they prefer to use their career choices and consumer behavior to address this problem.

54% of Gen Z and 48% of Gen Y say that both they and their colleagues put pressure on employers regarding climate change. And they don’t stop at putting pressure on them. If they see that their employers do not share their perspective, they hand in their resignation. 20% of Gen Z and 19% of Gen Y have changed jobs or industries due to environmental concerns, and a significant portion plan to do so in the future.

At this point, it’s worth saying to employers: “Be careful!” Can you imagine your most valuable and useful employees showing you a red card because of your environmental stance? Listen to your employees more and take their demands more seriously.

The same is true when we look at them as consumers. Around two-thirds of both Gen Z and Gen Y are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products or services. This attitude extends to buying electric vehicles, avoiding fast fashion products, reducing air travel, and adopting vegetarian or vegan diets in order to influence climate change and make improvements.

With these statistics, Generations Z and Y may be telling us that they could be the superheroes we desperately await to reverse climate change.

Even if they don’t have capes, can’t fly through the sky, or shoot burning beams from their eyes, they are so powerful in their roles as workers and consumers that they will certainly have the final say in the period ahead.

Until the next article, stay healthy…

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