Though climate change has entered the national consciousness more in the Netherlands than it used to, the sense of urgency to take action is down, especially among the young. A recent poll suggests that even though many Dutch people are aware that climate change has serious consequences, they see it as something that is far off and hard to address in their daily activities.
6 months Ago
Diminishing Worry and Political Prospects
The new results suggest that climate concern has bottomed out to its lowest level since 2019. And 42 percent of the Dutch say the government should do more, a decline from 47 percent two years ago. And 18- to 24-year-olds backed more government action at a rate of 61 percent in 2023, compared with just over 54 percent now.
The decline is also apparent among the 25-to-34-year-old demographic, falling from 54 percent to 48 percent.
Many young people say they are more focused on immediate concerns like school, work and finances.
Problems such as housing and migration are more pressing to them, and global events like the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts or world politics overshadow the climate crisis in their daily considerations.
Experiences of Powerlessness and Structural Impediments
A lot of young people feel they are not able to do anything about climate,' researcher Maartje van Will said. They do not think it will matter what they do unless companies and governments change. About half of the Dutch also agree with this.
Young people also have difficulty not overconsuming even if they disapprove of it.
Another challenge is cost, with three in 10 people saying that they cannot afford to maintain a sustainable lifestyle because sustainable products are too expensive.
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