Engaging youth in climate discussions and decision-making for planetary and public health

The climate crisis is a monumental public health and intergenerational justice issue. Youth have a key role and right to participate in climate discussions and decision-making yet have limited structural power and agency to influence actions by governments and fossil fuel and high-polluting industries.

This research qualitatively explores how Australian youth view the commercial and political determinants of climate including donations and lobbying, marketing and greenwashing, and youthwashing; the role of advocacy tools including climate justice protests and social media; and strategies and mechanisms to embed youth influence in climate research, policy and practice.

This research advocates for renewed commitment from the public health community to meaningfully platform youth in climate discussions, and advocate for their role as genuine actors in climate decision-making. It also highlights the importance of engaging structurally disadvantaged and marginalised groups including young women, youth in lower-middle income countries and in First Nations communities.

About the speaker

Dr Grace Arnot is a qualitative public health researcher in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University on Wurundjeri country (Melbourne). Her PhD investigated youth views about the commercial and political determinants of the climate crisis, and strategies and mechanisms to embed youth influence in climate discussions and decision-making.

Grace is interested in structural and systemic drivers of health (in)equity, and using creative qualitative methods to engage communities (particularly youth and women) to understand and platform their lived experiences and perspectives of health-harming industries and public health issues such as gambling, alcohol and fossil fuels.