A recent report by the Australian Institute titled “The Attitudes of Young People to the Environment” concluded that:
“Despite the increase in both scientific and political attention paid to environmental problems and a heightened emphasis on the environment in school curricula, young Australians are among the least likely to see themselves as environmentalists … They are, however, among the most likely to believe that threats to the environment are exaggerated.”
The report is based on data collected by Roy Morgan research from 56,344 respondents aged 14 and over across Australia.
Institute Director Dr Clive Hamiton has interpreted the results as a problem with our political leadership and suggested that “Howard’s children are characterised by apathy and scepticism.”
I disagree completely. I would suggest they are just a bit tired of the exaggeration and looking for something more substantive and interesting than what the mainstream media and their mostly too politically correct teachers tell them about the environment.
No doubt they will be even more jaded after the visit by Californian Professor Jared Diamond to Australia. He is speaking at the Sydney Writers festival on 29th May and in Brisbane on Thursday 2 June.
Diamond will be promoting his new book titled “Collapse”.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.