The Co-op has revealed that the vast majority of young people are concerned that the UK’s transition to net-zero will fuel the class divide.
According to new research from Co-op and its charity, the Co-op Foundation, over three quarters (76%) of 16-24 year olds are concerned about the UK meeting its net zero targets.
The vast majority (91%) believe young people should be involved in decision-making on how to reduce the UK’s emissions while most (72%) see the transition to net zero as an opportunity for their generation. Yet, over half do not know how they can get involved.
Furthermore, the convenience retailer found that 73% of young people are concerned that the transition to net zero will widen the class divide and impact some social groups more than others.
For example, a quarter (25%) feel those on lower incomes and/or from lower socioeconomic background will feel the brunt of changing to sustainable behaviours more than those on higher incomes.
CEO at the Co-op Shirine Khoury-Haq said: “It couldn’t be clearer from this research that young people from all backgrounds care about climate change, despite other challenges they are experiencing at the moment.
“We’ve been campaigning for a just transition to Net Zero for a number of years, and while there will be many exciting opportunities as we progress on that journey, leaders in every sphere will need to ensure that fairness is a central consideration in the decisions that need to be taken.”
Chief executive of the Co-op Foundation Nick Crofts added: “At the Co-op Foundation we’re aware of the importance of youth leadership to develop a fairer and more sustainable world for future generations.
“It’s brilliant to see that young people want to become more involved in the transition towards Net Zero, and we want them to be able to take the lead on developing a more equitable and sustainable society.”
Earlier this year, the Co-op’s Youth Endowment Fund invested £7.5 million into a ground-breaking youth-led network, the Peer Action Collective (PAC), to support young people in making communities safer and fairer.