I had a hard time getting inspired to write about climate change because everything we see online to do with this issue makes me think of a broken record.

Climate change has been a constant noise in the background for my lifetime. 

In fact, Covid provided a welcome relief to the constant doomsday climate messages on the news. 

It has been said time and time again that climate change is predominantly caused by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Because of this, the consequences of inaction are dire and will resonate for centuries. Rising temperatures, melting ice, sea levels rising and warming oceans all pose a threat to human lives, ecosystems and other species, as we have seen on the news from the northern hemisphere just this last week. 

This is a serious topic that needs to be addressed, but have we had enough of hearing about it?

Young people’s desire to create change has seemingly faltered recently. 

There was a low turnout to Alexandra's most recent climate change march to the Central Otago District Council. One student said: “I care about it but I feel like I can’t do anything about it;” while another said: “It’s the big corporations who need to take action, not us.” 

Me and other young people are sick of people talking about action rather than being proactive. 

The issue is being passed down through generations with the hope somebody will finally bite the bullet and make actual change.

It has become painful trying to get our voices heard. We are exhausted from all this fighting but still have nothing to show for it. 

I used to be a huge advocate for youth taking action against climate change. (Although it seemed like the older generation was keen on supporting us just so they don’t have to bear the brunt of the blame.)

But I and many others quickly learned we have no impact on climate politics. In all honesty, I would much rather we spend time and money addressing problems that affect New Zealand more directly such as the cost of living, poverty and homelessness. 

Frankly, small tweaks in New Zealand will not be enough to make real change. Countries like the United States, China and India will have a much greater impact if they make an effort.

So, if your teen seems blasé about what’s happening with the climate, don’t be surprised. It’s not that they don’t care. It’s more likely they are exhausted, fed up, and feeling powerless - just like me.