“Adults Are Not Taking [Climate Change] Seriously!” Boy 12

Our children have picked ‘Climate Change’ as their ‘word’ of the year in 2023 because as one 12 year old boy says ‘It’s a serious problem that adults aren’t taking seriously.’

In an annual study carried out by Oxford University Press 33% of children picked Climate Change as their ‘word’ of the year with a further % of children picking ‘environment’ in their top six choices. ‘war’ and ‘coronation’ came second and third.

Also in older groups Climate Change was even more ‘popular’. Ages 9-11 and ages 12-14 were 34% and 36% respectively.

The comments made by the children involved are telling:

“People are forgetting about it in favour of [other events in the news].’ (girl, age 13)

‘It’s a really big issue that sometimes isn’t taken seriously.’ (girl, age 12)

‘I feel like this needs to be looked into more closely and seriously than it already is.’ (girl, age 10)

‘If we don’t start doing more about it then more people will be suffering.’ (girl, age 13)

‘We all need to do and contribute something to survive life on planet earth.’ (boy, age 10)

‘We all need to act now.’ (boy, age 13)

‘We need to make a change before it’s too late.’ (girl, age 10)

‘It is important to save the planet.’ (girl, age 13)

‘It’s becoming more important to find ways to stop it.’ (girl, age 14)

The children are well aware of the current impacts that are already occurring to us

‘The heat and fires in some countries this year.’ (boy, age 9)

‘Because of all the floods and fires.’ (boy, age 13)

‘The world is burning.’ (boy, age 12)

And they have personal connection and experience

‘It is really important as it can affect my family and me.’ (boy, age 10)

‘Every day weather is different.’ (girl, age 8)

‘It’s getting warmer.’ (girl, age 12)

‘There is lots of worry in the news about how quickly we are experiencing the effects of climate change and it is starting to become more noticeable daily.’ (girl, age 12)

‘The weather is getting worse. Summers hotter and storms worse.’ (boy, age 13)

‘It will impact on the rest of my life.’ (boy, age 13)

‘It has biggest impact on my future.’ (boy, age 11)

‘It affects my future.’ (boy, age 10)

‘Because it’s a word that will affect all children.’ (boy, age 12)

‘Because this is important for my generation.’ (boy, age 13)

The children are very aware of the problem and calling out for action. But sadly for them by the time these 10 and 12 year olds get into positions of power the die will already have been cast – possibly decades before they can seriously influence anything.

The responsibility lies with “us” the 40, 50, 60 year olds who hold power now in companies, in national and local government and in all other major organisations.

We must act now! There is no time to leave it to our children. Don’t let yourself say “at least the young are more aware of the problem”. They may be more aware but it is US that need to act!

I leave you with the quote from one 10 year old girl:

‘The world is ending due to climate change and we have to stand up now and do something.’?

Will you stand up?

file:///C:/Users/Ed/Documents/Media/Oxford-Childrens-Word-Year-Report-2023.pdf