Youth Want to Act on Climate But Feel Ill-Prepared
A global report released today by the Capgemini Research Institute in collaboration with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited paints a sobering picture of how young people perceive their role in climate action. Titled Youth Perspectives on Climate: Preparing for a Sustainable Future, the report highlights that while young people are increasingly motivated to tackle climate change, a lack of green skills remains a major obstacle.
According to the research, 61% of 16–24-year-olds believe acquiring green skills would lead to new career opportunities. Yet, less than half (44%) of them feel they actually possess the skills needed for today’s green economy. This gap is stalling their ability to transition into meaningful, climate-focused jobs.
Climate Anxiety on the Rise Among Youth
Climate anxiety continues to rise globally. The report finds that 70% of youth are concerned about the impact of climate change on their future a significant increase since UNICEF USA’s 2023 findings, which reported 57% of youth felt this way. Notably, concern is higher among youth in the Global North (76%) compared to those in the Global South (65%).
A location divide is also evident: 72% of youth living in urban and suburban areas worry about climate change’s impact on their lives, while only 58% of youth in rural areas report the same level of concern.
Green Jobs: An Aspiration with a Skill Barrier
Young people are not only aware of the climate crisis they want to be part of the solution. More than half of youth (53%) globally, and 64% in the Global North, express interest in pursuing green careers. However, this ambition is stifled by a skills mismatch. While recycling and waste reduction remain the most familiar green skills, knowledge in more technical domains like sustainable design, energy efficiency, and climate tech has declined especially among youth in high-income countries.
In contrast, youth in parts of the Global South, such as Brazil, reported relatively high confidence in their green skillsets. However, in places like Ethiopia, only 5% of youth felt adequately prepared.
What Are Green Skills?
Green skills are competencies that contribute to environmental sustainability. According to the OECD, these include understanding scientific principles, climate change, sustainable practices, and the confidence to promote environmental action. Green skills are foundational to the global transition toward a low-carbon economy but young people, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas, are being left behind.
Youth Call for Inclusion in Climate Policy
Beyond career ambitions, 71% of surveyed youth say they want to influence environmental policies and decisions. However, many feel their voices are ignored. While two-thirds feel engaged enough to speak to local leaders about climate issues, less than half believe those leaders actually listen to them.
This disconnect signals a broader concern: young people want to shape climate solutions, but existing systems fail to fully engage or empower them.
Capgemini and UNICEF Call for Systemic Action
The report calls on businesses, governments, and education providers to step up. Key recommendations include:
- Integrating green education into school and university curricula
- Providing access to green skill training programs
- Co-creating green job pathways with young people
- Supporting youth-led climate initiatives
- Embedding youth voices into corporate sustainability strategies
Green Rising: A Global Youth Movement
In response to these findings, Generation Unlimited’s Green Rising initiative supported by Capgemini and other partners aims to support 20 million young people by 2026. The program offers training, volunteer opportunities, climate-related employment, and entrepreneurship pathways to help youth turn their climate passion into real-world impact.
The Capgemini Research Institute conducted a global online survey in February and March 2025, reaching 5,100 young people aged 16–24 across 21 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. Of these, 83% were from low- and middle-income countries (Global South), while the remaining respondents came from high-income countries (Global North). The survey also included parental consent for 706 minors under 18.