Our World, Our Say: Australia’s largest youth survey on climate change
AIDR and World Vision led Australia’s largest ever consultation of children and young people on climate change and disaster risk.
The Our World Our Say survey results are now available. The survey was completed by 1,447 young Australians between the ages of 10 and 24.
The survey was co-designed by young people and organisations working with young people in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. It included 27 questions on climate change, natural hazards and disaster risk, with questions designed to identify children and young people’s priorities for action by decision makers.
An additional document Messages from Young People to the Australian Government was released alongside the survey results, a compilation of the personal messages to government provided by 852 young survey participants, reflecting the views of individual young Australians in their own words.
From February to April 2020, approximately 1500 children and young people aged between 10 and 24 years participated in an online survey on climate change, natural hazards and disaster risk in Australia. The survey was co-designed by young people and organisations working with young people in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
It included 27 questions on climate change, natural hazards and disaster risk, with questions designed to identify children and young people’s priorities for action by decision makers.
About the Our World Our Say survey
The survey – conducted in partnership with Save the Children Australia, Oaktree, Plan International and UNICEF Australia – asks young people for their views about what Australia can do to address challenges and find solutions towards disaster risk reduction, and their awareness of international efforts to mitigate disasters.
Senior Project Officer at AIDR Brigid Little says this survey places young people at the centre of the conversation.
‘Young Australians are already taking action to protect their communities from the impacts of emergencies and disasters.
‘This survey is a chance for young people to confirm their commitment to a safe and sustainable future and awaken decision-makers to their unique points of view,’ she said.
In addition, more than 8,000 young people across the Asia-Pacific region have already contributed their voices to a similar survey on climate change and disaster risk reduction. This information will be brought to the table in Brisbane where high level policymakers and government officials will be in attendance.
Will Mezner, from World Vision Australia’s youth engagement team said the survey was designed to give today’s youth a voice in dealing with extreme weather and climate-related hazards.
‘Young people are not passive victims. They have valuable knowledge and ideas about the causes and impacts of disasters in their communities and how to address them.
‘International agreements on disaster risk reduction recognise that young people are agents of change and should be given the opportunity, and the appropriate mechanism for contribution to the reduction of risk in their community,’ Mr Mezner said.