Wings
Hope in a Hotter World: Youth Solutions Beyond Protest
These days, the world feels like it’s getting hotter, louder, and more dangerous. Wildfires burn forests in one part of the world while floods destroy homes in another. Glaciers are melting faster than ever, and clean air or water is no longer something we can take for granted. For our generation, this isn’t just news — it’s the reality we are growing up with. But instead of giving up or just being scared, many young people are stepping up with ideas, action, and hope. In this essay, I’ll talk about the problems the environment is facing and how youth — especially from countries like India — are going beyond protests and actually creating change.
- The Environmental Crisis: What’s Really Going On?
Climate change is not just a future problem. It’s already here. According to scientists, the earth has warmed by over 1.1°C since before the industrial age. That might not sound like a lot, but it’s already causing heatwaves, strange weather, and damage to crops. In India, 2024 was one of the hottest years ever recorded, with long stretches of extreme heat.
Air pollution is another huge problem. Cities like Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow often rank among the most polluted in the world. Breathing in this air every day is equal to smoking several cigarettes — even for children.
Our rivers are suffering too. The Yamuna and Ganga are full of waste and plastic. Himalayan glaciers are melting quickly, and that could affect water supplies for millions. Plus, animals and plants are disappearing faster than ever before. This loss of biodiversity makes the environment weaker and increases the risk of diseases jumping from animals to humans.
- Youth Are Not Just Protestors
When people think of young climate activists, they usually imagine protest marches and school strikes. But that’s not the whole story. Today’s youth are also inventors, leaders, and problem-solvers.
Greta Thunberg, a teenager from Sweden, started the Fridays for Future movement that spread across the world.
In India, Licypriya Kangujam, from Manipur, began speaking about climate justice when she was just 7 years old.
In Kenya, student groups are planting thousands of trees through something called the Green Generation Initiative.
In Indonesia, youth teams are building mobile apps to track illegal deforestation and fishing.
These examples show that young people are not just shouting — they are building things, starting projects, and using their talents to help the planet.
- Indian Youth: Doing More with Less
India has one of the world’s largest youth populations, and many of them are already working on local environmental issues.
At IITs and NITs, students are coming up with solutions like solar-powered irrigation, eco-friendly sanitary pads, and recycling bricks made from plastic waste.
On social media, youth-led pages like @climatenewsin break down complex environmental issues into simple posts that more people can understand.
In Kerala, a group of students formed an eco-brigade. Every Sunday, they clean parts of local rivers and teach nearby villagers how to separate waste.
Some startups, like EcoRight and Bare Necessities, are led by young people and offer plastic-free alternatives like cloth bags, bamboo toothbrushes, and refillable cosmetics.
All of this proves that Indian youth are not waiting around — they’re doing what they can, even when the odds are tough.
- Using Tech and Tools for the Planet
One major strength today’s youth have is technology. We’ve grown up with the internet, so we’re quick to use it for solutions.
Students are creating apps to report illegal dumping or pollution.
Drones are being used to check forest fires and monitor water levels.
AI models help predict floods and can help local officials plan better.
Through online petitions and crowdfunding, young people are raising money to plant trees or bring solar lights to villages.
In this way, our generation is turning gadgets into green tools — proving that technology doesn’t have to harm the planet. It can help save it.
- The Challenges Youth Still Face
Even though young people are full of energy and ideas, there are still many things that stop them from doing more:
No funding: Many students have ideas but no money to turn them into reality.
Lack of voice: Young people rarely get to be part of official decision-making groups or government panels.
Climate anxiety: A lot of youth feel overwhelmed. Some even believe it’s too late to fix the environment, which makes them feel hopeless.
Family and society pressure: In India, students are often told to focus only on studies and exams — not on activism or volunteering.
Still, many continue to push forward, refusing to give up even when things are difficulty
- From Awareness to Action: What Youth Are Asking For
Today’s youth are not satisfied with just posters and slogans. They want real, lasting change. Here are a few things they are already suggesting:
Green education: Environmental studies should be part of every subject, not just science. Business, law, and tech students should also learn about sustainability.
Youth councils: Governments should form councils where students can share their ideas and be part of local planning.
Funding support: Special funds should be made to help youth-led environmental projects.
Climate clubs: Schools can create fun clubs for clean-up drives, tree-planting, science fairs, and eco-quizzes.
Simple lifestyle changes: Many youth are switching to cycles, reusable bottles, and thrifted clothes — and inspiring others to follow.
- Climate Justice: Why Fairness Matters
Youth today also care about climate justice. They know that the poorest communities — like slum areas or tribal regions — suffer the most from climate disasters, pollution, and water shortages. Many youth activists now work with these groups to make sure they are not left behind in the fight for sustainability.
Conclusion: Youth Voices, Real Change
The environment is not just about trees and tigers — it’s about survival, fairness, and the future. And today’s youth are not waiting for adults to fix things. They are raising their voices, taking action, and becoming the changemakers the world needs.
Even though the planet faces a serious crisis, young people everywhere are showing that hope is powerful. It’s not just a feeling — it’s a choice. If we listen to the youth and support their efforts, we might just save the only home we have.
By: Shah Abdul Hanan Pirzada
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