School students protesting for climate action.

School students protesting for climate action.Credit:Wolter Peeters

In a 2022Lowy Institute poll,73 per cent of people aged 18-29 said global warming was “a serious and pressing problem” but only 53 per cent of those aged over 60 agreed. The environment was also the top concern (51 per cent) in last year’sMission Australia Youth Survey of people aged 15-19.

It is clear that if we are to make real progress towards a sustainable future the time has come for us to pass the microphone to the younger generation.

From the age of 16,young people can drive,work,pay taxes and even enlist in the military. A whole demographic of working,contributing citizens given civic duties but withheld from one of the most important civic rights:the right to vote.

Younger people are politically engaged and contribute an essential voice. In a world where the climate emergency is such a defining issue,it is vital that the voice of the future is invited to the table to work towards solutions,rather than handing over everything to those who think they may not be around to see extreme consequences.

Young activist Greta Thunberg has led worldwide protests for climate change action.

Young activist Greta Thunberg has led worldwide protests for climate change action.Credit:AP

A drumbeat continues to sound across mainstream media that questions young people’s ability,integrity and judgment. Arguing that young people don’t know what’s best for them,that we shouldn’t have a say in politics because “we don’t understand it” or “we don’t have the maturity to make the right decisions”.

This ongoing conversation between young people and adults has been skewed by power dynamics and uneven ground for too long,and because we can’t vote,we can’t do much about it.

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It opens us up to scorn,exploitation and constant disregard. Worst of all,it is now leaving us out to dry with a quickly crumbling future that we will have to pay the price for.

Lowering the voting age to 16 is not just about having a real tangible say in politics;it is about taking a step to recognise the contributions of young people towards the world we live in now and for the future.

A School Strike 4 Climate event in May last year.

A School Strike 4 Climate event in May last year.Credit:Luis Ascui

In the fight for climate justice young people are at the forefront of an international movement involving millions of people.

In September 2019,roughly 4 million people joined the School Strikes 4 Climate,demanding that politicians and governments take the climate crisis seriously and take real action to reduce carbon pollution,largely from the burning of coal,gas and oil.

Since then,despite COVID-19 and lockdowns,millions more have gathered in protest as part of these strikes. We have been campaigning,disrupting,protesting because we know asking the adults in our lives to vote for our futures will not be enough.

We’ve seen devastating floods,fires,and droughts,sweeping across our country and the world,destroying lives and livelihoods,and impacting vulnerable communities.

Floods in Auckland are the latest in a string of natural disasters.

Floods in Auckland are the latest in a string of natural disasters.Credit:Stuff NZ

The severity of the climate crisis continues to escalate. Carbon emissions continue to rise,and tens of billions of dollars of public subsidies continue to be pumped into polluting fossil fuel projects and corporations in Australia each year. This is regardless of the fact that most of these corporations pay limited or no income tax.

This is the world you’re leaving us with and so we’re asking you to listen.

Our voices have resonated globally,yet,politically we are silenced. Lowering the voting age is not just about finally giving young people the power and autonomy in the roles they fulfil,but also cementing recognition that young people hold merit in their thoughts and values.

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It is acknowledging that our hopes,fears and dreams have just as much weight in our reality as yours.

As Ross Gittins wrote,we are the ones who’ll face the consequences of this war. We just want a say in how we fight it.

Arlo Foyn Hill,from Castlemaine in Victoria,and Qing Ng,based in Perth,Western Australia,are both members of School Strike 4 Climate.

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