Original Research - Special Collection: YFCC and Environmental Consciousness

Seen and heard: The youth as game-changing role-players in climate change and environmental consciousness – A South African perspective

Jacques W. Beukes
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 77, No 2 | a6893 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i2.6893 | © 2021 Jacques W. Beukes | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 01 June 2021 | Published: 27 October 2021

About the author(s)

Jacques W. Beukes, Department of Practical Theology and Mission Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

The environmental crisis, ecological injustice and climate change are some of the biggest challenges to humanity and sustainable development worldwide. The youth are at the centre of the ecological (in)justice, environmental consciousness and climate change discourse. For the youth to participate and influence development with regard to the climate crisis in a favourable way, they must understand their role and the issues and challenges that they face in this regard.

Contribution: The aim of this explorative article is twofold. It highlights the involvement of the South African youth in ecological matters. It also offers insights on why the youth can be regarded as game-changing role-players with regard to the climate crisis and being environmentally conscious.


Keywords

youth; climate change; environmental; sustainable development; sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Metrics

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