6 Minute English / Kids and climate change

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I m Neil.

And I m Beth.

Many of those leading the fight against climate change are young people who feel betrayed by politicians and adults. In survey after survey, children report feeling that they have no future, that humanity is doomed, and that governments are failing to act.

This is causing many young people to feel worried about the state of the planet. There s even a name for it climate anxiety. And it s also creating conflict between adults and children in families and schools.

What s certain is that a solution to the climate emergency needs the cooperation of everyone, both old and young. So, can talking honestly about the climate help mend the divisions between generations? That s what we ll be discussing in this programme, along with some useful new vocabulary.

But first I have a question for you, Neil. Many young people s hopes and fears about climate change are symbolised by the Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg. These days Greta travels the world speaking about the climate emergency, but her protests started much smaller, in her hometown, Stockholm. So how did Greta Thunberg s climate activism begin? Did she:

a) plant trees in her school garden?b) skip school on Fridays? or,c) recycle her school s plastic waste?

Hmmm, I think Greta Thunberg went on strike and skipped school on Fridays.

OK, Neil, I ll reveal the correct answer later in the programme. One recent survey showed that three-quarters or more of young people in the UK feel the future is frightening. Here, Immie, aged 14, and Milly, 11, share some of their fears with BBC Ideas: