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Why young people?
The Sustainable Living Challenge recognises that sustainable development is the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity facing young people today.
The challenges we face as a society in terms of sustainability are everywhere. They affect us all, although some of us have a lot longer left on this planet than others! Too often because of this simple demographic fact, young people are not only left with all the problems - they are also lucky enough to be bestowed the honour of creating all the solutions as well!
Engaging with sustainability issues can be daunting and depressing for many people, particularly young people. The sense of despair and fear that often develops once people start to learn about the scale of the crisis facing our society is paralysing. Much of our education about sustainability to date has fed this fear and left young people feeling disconnected and confused about their ability to create positive change.
Young people are the future!
Central to the establishment of the Sustainable Living Challenge was the belief that young people are best placed to respond to the challenges of sustainability, particularly those that require innovative thinking 'outside the square'. As Einstein reminds us, to solve a problem we can not employ that same thinking that created it. The Sustainable Living Challenge encourages young people to be creative in how they respond to sustainability in their community.
Designers, innovators and leading edge thinkers all over the world are now realising the opportunity presented by sustainability. Many claim that sustainability looks as though it will be the next major revolution, similar scale and impact to the industrial revolution. Although many can not agree when this revolution will take place, most agree that it is just a matter of time. Those who can navigate sustainability in their personal and professional lives will adapt and benefit most.
At the Sustainable Living Challenge we believe that if young people are engaged in the positive, creative and innovative challenge of sustainability then the sky is the limit. Actually, it is only our thinking that is the limit! Of course, we need to appreciate the reality around us and the scale of the challenge confronting us - but we acknowledge that this is often a source of inspiration and motivation for many.
Young people by their very nature want to make a positive difference and leave their mark on the world. The Sustainable Living Challenge encourages young people to consider themselves agents of positive change in their school, household and wider community.
