3.3 Facing Challenges to Action: What are the perceived challenges in creating a sustainable world?
powerless). Social and economic challenges, such as lack of funds can also affect our ability to act (Kollmuss and Agyeman 2002).
“A winner is a dreamer who
never gives up.” Nelson Mandela
Have you ever felt it was difficult to act?
The main challenges young people feel they face in taking action to achieve a sustainable world differ considerably. These challenges may be related to perceptions of the magnitude of environmental problems, leading to denial and apathy; or lack of sufficient information and data; or an inability to influence change (for example, feeling alone or
92
In the GEO-6 for Youth survey (see Annex 1) young people were asked: “What do you think are the challenges that you face or might face in the future while taking actions to improve the environmental conditions?” Identifying challenges is the first step towards finding solutions. Here we analyze some of the main challenges, identified by those who responded to the survey, to taking actions in their daily lives in order to improve the environment (Figure 3.2).
