‘Generation COP’ is less fearful than older people about climate

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🗞️ Driving the news: Seiko Epson Corp.'s third annual Climate Reality Barometer report revealed that almost half of young respondents believe they will not personally experience a climate disaster in their lifetime, despite the increasing number of extreme climate events occurring globally

🔭 The context: The survey was conducted on over 30,000 individuals from 39 economies
• It found that the primary concern for those under 29 (the so-called “COP generation) is actually rising costs, while climate change is the top issue for participants 30 and above
• The Chief Executive Officer of Seiko Yasunori Ogawa said this could possibly be attributed to widespread familiarity with climate change and a belief in technology-driven solutions among younger people

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Addressing the lack of urgency towards climate change among younger people compared to their older counterparts is a concern for the global community
• This younger generation will soon be the primary decision-makers, leaders, and consumers, influencing policies, economies, and social structures
• Ensuring they are well-informed, concerned, and proactive about climate change is crucial

⏭️ What's next: This report clearly indicates that many people might not be fully aware of the severe repercussions of ongoing fossil fuel emissions on Earth's climate
• There is a need to take immediate action to prevent a temperature rise of 2.8C and an even more pressing need to educate young people about the dire situation the world is in

💬 One quote: “Younger people... have been living under global warming since birth, so they may not feel so threatened by the change,” (Yasunori Ogawa, Chief Executive Officer of Seiko Epson Corp)

📈 One stat: Nearly 49% of respondents aged 16 to 29 are “very optimistic” or “somewhat optimistic” they won’t be impacted by events like floods, droughts or landslides

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