In view of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), this poll conducted through the U-Report Greece platform focused on whether children and young people have the resources to cope with the effects of climate change. This was part of a global poll that gathered the views of over 771,000 U-Reporters from 59 countries making it thus U-Report's largest poll to date. These record numbers in youth participation are also the result of UNICEF's partnership with YOUNGO, the official network of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the COP28 Youth Climate Champions, to make the thousands of children and young people voices heard for a sustainable, just climate future.
The poll was entitled "What do children and young people in Greece think about the climate crisis" and was conducted through UNICEF's U-Report Greece platform from July to September 2023.
A total of 422 U-Reporters from Greece participated in the poll. Most of the respondents (60%) were
between 15-19 years, while 16% belonged to the 20-24 age group. Girls
participated more actively, representing more than half (65%) of respondents.
The region from which most participants came was Attica, followed by Central
Macedonia, Thessaly and Peloponnese.
According to the results, half of the U-Reporters (55%) have acquired some knowledge about the climate crisis at school, but not enough, followed by 20% who mention that they have learned a lot at school, while 19% said they did not learn anything.
When asked whether they know how they can contribute to changing Greece's climate policies, half of the respondents answered negatively (55%) while 34% said they were unsure about the possibility of contributing. Only 10% answered that they feel they can contribute to changing climate policies in their country.
Furthermore, the majority of U-Reporters (82%) believe their future is at risk if they do not learn how to respond to climate change. Another 11% said they were not sure and only 7% said they did not feel at risk.
In addition, a 60% believe that they can do something to improve climate policies in Greece. A 15% said they were unsure about it and only 15% argued that they cannot change climate policies for the better with their actions.
When asked if they receive the training and skills that will help them respond to climate change and its impacts, the majority of U-Reporters (65%) gave a negative answer, whereas only 22% answered positively and 13% said they were unsure.
Participants were also asked to send their own message to world leaders ahead of COP28:
"Make it clear by your example, your strategies and your words, to everyone without exception that there are only two options: either we continue as we are for as many decades as the human race endures or we change now, to save whatever we can for future generations," stated a U-Reporter, 18 years old from Thessaly.
"It is important that all of us realize the need for immediate actions and not to be satisfied only with theoretical solutions. Because in the end every disaster in the natural environment has direct consequences for us, our health, the way and the quality of our life", highlighted another U-Reporter, 17 years old from Attica.
The results of the poll have contributed to the Global Youth Statement by YOUNGO that will be used to inform partners to advocate at COP28 and will be a powerful opportunity for youth voices to be heard by world leaders.
