Environment

New Study: Young People Aren’t As Into Environmentalism As You Might Think

Study Shows Majority of Youth Open to Environmental Protection But Not If It Costs More or Requires Work

Surveys have found that the majority of millennials are unlikely to take environmentally friendly action if it costs more or inconveniences them. (Photo: tracitodd/Flickr)

CHICAGO (The Blaze/AP) — While there may be a perception that today’s youth are environmentally minded do-gooders, an academic analysis of surveys spanning more than 40 years has found they are not as in to tree hugging as many may have thought. The report finds they are less interested in the environment and in conserving resources — and often less civic-minded overall — than their elders were when they were young.

Study Shows Majority of Youth Open to Environmental Protection But Not If It Costs More or Requires Work

(AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

The findings counter the widespread belief that environmental issues have hit home with today’s young adults, known as Millennials, who have grown up amid climate change discussion and the mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle.” The environment is often listed among top concerns of young voters but the review actually showed a steady decline in concern about the environment and willingness to take action to save it.

Study Shows Majority of Youth Open to Environmental Protection But Not If It Costs More or Requires Work

Jean Twenge

“I was shocked,” said Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University who is one of the study’s authors. “We have the perception that we’re getting through to people. But at least compared to previous eras, we’re not.”

Twenge, author of the book “Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled – and More Miserable Than Ever Before,” has spent much of her career publishing work that challenges or attempts to explain commonly held beliefs about young people.

This study, published online this month in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, looked at the life goals, concern for others and civic orientation of three young generations — baby boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials.

Based on two longstanding national surveys of high school seniors and college freshmen, Twenge and her colleagues found a decline, over the last four decades, in young people’s trust in others, their interest in government and the time they said they spent thinking about social problems.

Researchers found that, when surveyed decades ago, about a third of young baby boomers said it was important to become personally involved in programs to clean up the environment. In comparison, only about a quarter of young Gen Xers — and 21 percent of Millennials — said the same.

Meanwhile, 15 percent of Millennials said they had made no effort to help the environment, compared with 8 percent of young Gen Xers and 5 percent of young baby boomers.

Millennials also were the least likely to say they’d made an effort to conserve electricity and fuel used to heat their homes.

In the case of heating fuel, 78 percent of young baby boomers and 71 percent of young Gen Xers said they cut back, compared with 56 percent of Millennials.

It is important to note that most of the survey data available for Millennials was collected before the country’s most recent recession hit.

Study Shows Majority of Youth Open to Environmental Protection But Not If It Costs More or Requires Work

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Even so, those working in the environmental field — including some Millennials themselves — aren’t that surprised by the findings.

Emily Stokes, a 20-year-old geography student at Western Washington University, grew up in the Pacific Northwest. She thinks people there are more likely to take environmental issues more seriously because of the natural beauty that surrounds them.

“But I still find myself pretty frustrated a lot of the time,” said Stokes, who wants to go into marine resource management. “I just think our generation seems fairly narcissistic — and we seem to have the shortest attention span.”

Kelly Benoit, a 20-year-old political science student at Northeastern University in Massachusetts, went as far as calling her peers “lazy.”

“I think it can be due to our upbringing. We want what we want when we want it,” said Benoit, who has worked with lawmakers in her state to try to ban the use of plastic bags in stores.

She thinks members of her generation, like a lot of people, simply don’t want to give up conveniences.

Study Shows Majority of Youth Open to Environmental Protection But Not If It Costs More or Requires Work

(AP Photo/Trees Atlanta, Laura Noel )

Or are they just overwhelmed?

Mark Potosnak, an environmental science professor at DePaul University in Chicago, has noticed an increase in skepticism – or confusion – about climate change among his students as the national debate has heightened. That leads to fatigue, he said.

“It‘s not so much that they don’t think it’s important. They’re just worn out,” Potosnak said. “It’s like poverty in a foreign country. You see the picture so many times, you become inured to it.”

A lot of young people also simply don’t spend that much time exploring nature, said Beth Christensen, a professor who heads the environmental studies professor at Adelphi University on New York’s Long Island.

When she attended Rutgers University in the 1980s, she said it was unusual to find a fellow student who hadn’t hiked and spent time in the woods.

“Now a lot of these students have very little experience with the unpaved world,” Christensen said.

So one of her goals is to get her students out into marshes and onto beaches — and even coral reefs in Australia — to help them connect with a natural world many have only seen on television.

Some of her students also volunteer with a group that cleans up trash in the bays that surround the island – one of many examples of young people who are taking environmental issues seriously.

At Babson College in Massachusetts, for instance, there is student housing called the “Green Tower,” where residents focus on conserving resources. It is a growing housing trend on many college campuses.

At Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania students are running a biodiesel plant on campus and building “permaculture,” or indefinitely sustainable, gardens in their back yards.

They’re less likely to write a letter to their member of Congress or to try to change things on a global level, said Richard Niesenbaum, a biology professor at Muhlenberg. They also don’t like to label themselves as “environmentalists.”

“In a lot of ways, they’re more pragmatic,” he said, roughly dividing his student body this way:

- 5 to 10 percent “committed environmentalists”

- 5 percent “anti-environment” (These are the students who purposely avoid putting their trash in campus recycling bins, for instance.)

- 85 to 90 percent “open to protecting the environment and natural resources, but not leaders and not interested in being seriously inconvenienced or paying a cost to do so”

“The last group is obviously the environmental educators’ potential gold mine,” said Niesenbaum, who directs the college’s sustainability studies program.

Twenge, the study’s lead author, is sometimes pegged as a critic of this generation because of her work about them. But the numbers speak for themselves, she said.

“I hope that young people see these findings as a challenge rather than a criticism,” she said, adding that the lack of interest in environmental issues isn’t exclusive to young people.

“This is a change in overall culture,” she said, “and young people reflect the changes in culture.”

The analysis was based on two long-term surveys of the nation’s youth. The first, the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future project, is an annual survey of thousands of high school seniors, from which data from 1976 through 2008 was used.

Other data came from the American Freshman project, another large annual national survey, administered by the Higher Education Research Institute. Those responses came from thousands of first-year college students, from the years 1966 through 2009. Because of the large sample sizes, the margin of error was less than plus-or-minus half a percentage point.

Comments (48)

  • I am Jacks patriotism
    Posted on March 16, 2012 at 12:53am

    Not surprising, actually quite simple; our dollar has taken a serious dive therefore everything costs more and there are fewer jobs to pay for it all. So how long before the environmental do gooders that buy all energy efficient construction products, all organic and free range foods, get only hybrid/electric vehicles, and insist on living in ‘Sustainable’ developments are considered part of the 1% ?

    Report Post » I am Jacks patriotism  
  • Voicelostinthewilderness
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 10:08pm

    Kids will be kids. My daughter took my grandkids to see the movie “Lorax”. She couldn’t belive all the trash left behind after the movie.

    Report Post »  
  • DaniL
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 5:07pm

    Let’s see…a baby boomer‘s idea of ’conserving’ was probably to turn off the lights in vacant rooms. Next generation, to use those stupid CFLs that were shoved down our throats, recycle, and drive something more fuel-efficient (given little other choice). The current youth has been so bombarded with hundreds of things they “should” do that they probably think doing 30 things to conserve is doing “a little” which would match the baby boomer’s “doing a little” by turning off the lights…

    Report Post »  
    • 4x4conserve
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 6:10pm

      Since the new bulbs use so little energy, why bother turning them off…….:)
      Someone else will do it……..just like paying for college loans.

      Report Post »  
  • Magyar
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 3:52pm

    LMAO! They’re just worn out! Geeeee maybe they’re hearing the truth!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • drphil69
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 2:21pm

    Uhh… maybe they just stopped buying the lies of the left? Maybe they figured out that global warming is purely political, with “scientists” only getting grants if their work AGREES?

    Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 2:51pm

      Actually, when you get right down to it, environmentalists aren’t into environmentalism as much as they want you to believe they are either.

      Making their motivations questionable, at best.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
  • pap pap
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 1:26pm

    These kids need to get back into the earth with their hands instead of using there ipads 24/7 and learn what actually doing something is all about. The ipod generation probably doesn’t know how to plant grass, trees, crops or flowers or build anything out of something, or hunt and fish or hike or camp out. There not even real people anymore.

    On the bright side if the green weenies are failing to reproduce that is a good thing.

    Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 1:08pm

    And the only person in America that is upset with the mild winter we are all currently enjoying is Al Gore.
    :)

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 1:04pm

    WHAT It requires WORK?

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:52pm

    A visit to your nearest public high school parking lot and their “smoking area” would confirm that they cannot even police up their trash and butts.

    Report Post » dmerwin  
  • Marsh626
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:50pm

    Probably because White people are already a racial minority amongst young people in America.

    Whites are only 63% of the American population now, as opposed to about 85% when I was born in the 1980s, and are projected to become racial minorities in no later than 20 years.

    The decline of “Whiteness” in America is even more shocking amongst children in America. White children are racial minorities in most of our major cities now as Whites continue to have fewer and fewer children and we continue to allow non-Whites to mass migrate to America, both legally and illegally, every year.

    And numerous studies have shown that it’s really only amongst Whites, Jews and East Asians where you find large amounts of support for stereotypically “liberal” causes like gay marriage, secularism and environ-mental activism.

    I wouldn‘t be surprised at all that to discover that there’s a direct correlation with the rise in in our non-White hispanic population and selfish, greedy behavior.

    Anyone who’s ever been to a hispanic nation or community sees litter EVERYWHERE.

    So, while the Left is achieving their goal of importing hundreds of millions of non-White left-wing voters to the Western world, they’re at the same time shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to creating popular support for things like gay marriage and concern for the environment.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:27pm

    .
    “We have the perception that we’re getting through to young people.” And you wrote a book…..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Hephzibah
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:51am

    Notice all the garbage alongside the roads? Whenever I’ve seen trash thrown from cars, it’s been a carload of young smart alecks. The folks wearing orange vests in the ditches and on the road shoulders, picking up the beer cans and other litter, are always several generations older.

    Report Post » Hephzibah  
    • JimL
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:17pm

      And your papers to pick litter???

      “… a renegade air conditioning specialist who once worked for the government but left due to his dislike of paperwork.”

      Brazil, a movie the whole cohort will enjoy.

      Report Post »  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:48am

    I know my two kids couldn’t care less. I have reminded them over and over that we recycle here in the house to no avail.

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • American_Hot_Dog
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:28pm

      take your socialist recycling to Russia you communist.

      Report Post » American_Hot_Dog  
    • deeberj
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 1:55pm

      Hot dog don’t be dumb. Recycling is not communist.

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • Dr. Joel Fleischman
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 5:51pm

      American_Hot_Dog aka Encinom
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:28pm

      take your socialist recycling to Russia you communist.

      ***********************************
      whoa, a socialist calling someone else a socialist… Forget to take your stupid pills Hot Dong?

      Report Post » Dr. Joel Fleischman  
    • whatever789
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 10:58pm

      AMERICAN_HOT_DOG
      you should know some people recycle to save money, when you get charged per bag of trash there isn’t much of an option

      Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:36am

    when something becomes so trendy and mainstream like the “green movement” the college kids stay away because the entire point had nothing to do with enviromentalim and everything to do with rebellion. it will be a new trend like communism now its always something

    Report Post »  
    • American_Hot_Dog
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:50am

      If you hunt, grow food, drink water, or breath air, you should care about the environment.

      Of course, if “libs” were anti-environment, “cons” would be environmentalists.

      Report Post » American_Hot_Dog  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 1:13pm

      I own several of my own farms I take care of my enviroment the libs dont get one bit about the enviroment looking down from their condos driving around in their prius. They have no idea what it actually takes to survive. this movement never was about the enviroment

      Report Post »  
  • Rob
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:32am

    Humans will ultimately go extinct and the plant will be just fine. Get over it…

    Report Post »  
    • OniKaze
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:03pm

      True enough… Enjoy it while we have it…

      Report Post » OniKaze  
  • RayOne
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:31am

    Step away from that cheeseburger.

    Report Post » RayOne  
  • randy
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:26am

    Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled – and More Miserable Than Ever Before

    Bad parenting skills!

    Report Post » randy  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:34am

      or the working mothers thanks to the womens movement of years past. if more men acted like men and more women actually raised their children instead of pawning them off we would have better generations in the future

      Report Post »  
  • mymissusisanutter
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:18am

    The youth of today are all about APATHY. I spent time volunteering with a local environmental company that was collecting signatures to help clean the water around the area. Nothing radical, no money needed, just signatures. The college kids I met could have cared less.

    Then when I was working on voter registration with the youth, I experienced the same thing.

    Report Post »  
    • hauschild
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:23am

      You’re right. I don’t have a lot of confidence in them, or their ability to eventually buckle-down and see the light.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:53am

      Apathy is correct. From witnessing “kids” from ages 15 to 30, the only things they really care about are FB and Twitter updates and the current episodes of their favorite shows. Take those away THEN get out of the way……there will be HE77 to pay. But I sure don’t expect the majority to be actively be involved in whatever the current Prog cause……well, other than retweeting it.

      Report Post »  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:18am

    Not suprising…since all the technology in the world utilizes petroleum based products in their design and construction……the populations need for ‘immediacy’ and ‘convenience’ trumps all ‘environmental morality’…it just is what it is…just be a good steward of the patch of earth you inhabit, as best you can.

    Report Post » Mark0331  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:17am

    I Knew that.Most environmentalist are baby killing hippies,Emasculated men or women with hairy underarms who do not want to wear bras. The only exceptions are people who get rich or richer from it such as Al Gore or hair brained celebrities wearing $3000 sunglasses and riding around in Private jets.You Know the type. Harrison Ford who hops in his jet to go get a cheese burger.Or Barbra Streisand who has to have 120 laundered fresh towels in her hotel room while telling people set their dishwashers on energy save…Usual Hypocrites.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:27am

      Exactly, the people who haven’t grown up, mentally, and their children. The instant gratification crowd, who want to hurry the future, NOW! It will happen, in time. We will find a cleaner, more efficient source of energy, eventually, just let it happen. The early baby-boomer generation was one of the worst things that has happened to this country in the last 50 years. I belong to the later baby-boomer generation, and it seems we are always having to clean up what these bastiches have done.
      It’s a shame that the WWII generation spoiled their childen and created a monster in doing so.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • JimL
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:58am

      Shadow boomers w/ broom in hand– its a calling.

      Report Post »  
  • Itsjusttim
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:16am

    Hmm, let me think about it for a minute, Jail? Sure why not, an asteroid is going to hit earth next year anyways.

    Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:19am

      And if one doesn’t do the job, then two asteroids will hit earth.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:31am

      I mean think about it. What is God getting from earth? Nothing. Because all people don’t really believe in God, because they say and don’t do, and the rest think earth was an accident – a galactic accident.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:34am

      Therefore if someone commands that an asteroid hits the earth, then people will believe earth was not an accident.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:50am

      See like the Good Book says: Woe to those who dwell in the Aisles, and it says that people in the Forts will perish from plagues, and in the wilderness will perish from the sword.
      http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2012/mar/15/greece-breadline-hiv-malaria

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • Itsjusttim
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:53am

      You like Big Government, well you sure the hell are going to get it.

      Report Post » Itsjusttim  
    • KnowledgeIsPower
      Posted on March 16, 2012 at 8:54am

      Get a job. Your comments are lame and your icon is irritating.

      Report Post »  
  • guntotinsquaw
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:16am

    Well, they are the generation of instant gratification…I want it now..so break out the credit card.

    Report Post » guntotinsquaw  
  • Minonkman
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:13am

    The only reason to go green is cost, this is why Obama is running our gas prices up.

    Report Post » Minonkman  
  • huey6367
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:13am

    The Millenials are too selfish to care about anyone but themselves. That’s how I see it. Talk to some.

    Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:12am

    I could have saved them money on this study, but just telling them I knew this all along. As often as I see young people throw trash on the ground or out the car window, tells me they don’t care about the environment. The will smoke in their car, but they won’t use the ash tray in the car. They throw the butt out the window. I mean look at OWS, that should be your biggest clue. They are slobs.

    Report Post » COFemale  

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