The U-Report poll gathered responses from 199 young people across Greece (67% female, 33% male), mostly aged 15–19 (40%). Attica had the highest participation with 99 respondents.
When asked about the impact of climate change on natural disasters, 73% believe climate change increases their frequency, 14% it increases the risks, and 11% think the impact occurs in different ways. Only 3% believe there is no effect.
The top concerns among youth include lack of rapid assistance (34%), human safety (33%), and not knowing what to do in an emergency (11%), while damages to homes and schools worry 8%, and lack of knowledge about natural disasters 7%.
Regarding preparedness and knowledge, 57% know how to respond to earthquakes, 15% to heatwaves, 9% to wildfires, and 3% to storms. However, 9% stated that they do not know what to do in any emergency situation. Encouragingly, 92% have participated in an evacuation drill, mainly for earthquakes and fires, while only 7% have never participated.
Youth mainly trust the emergency number 112 (59%), followed by social media (15%), television (8%), and family (7%). Factors that make them feel safer include knowing safety rules (42%), being in a safe place (21%), receiving clear instructions (16%), being with parents (12%), and learning stress-management techniques (9%).
Regarding gaps in community response, the main needs identified by young people are social protection and safeguarding the most vulnerable children (35%), safe transportation to low-risk areas (24%), and better information about available services (23%). Fewer mentioned food provision (8%), continuity of education (7%), or first aid/psychological support (3%).
Finally, in terms of voluntary action, 50% said they are willing to participate in volunteer groups, 36% answered “maybe,” 9% said they would participate if their friends also join, and only 5% said “no.”
In conclusion, the findings show that young people in Greece are informed, concerned, and willing to take action. They call for more information and greater emphasis on protecting the most vulnerable, demonstrating that youth should be at the center of efforts to address climate change and natural disasters.
