Mobilising the Next Generation of Planetary Health Leaders: The Dynamism of Youth Engagement in Malaysia

Saidatul Maisarah Faiesall (), Sarah Hanani Ahmad Tajuddin (), Andrew Jason George (), Nur Hazirah Marzuki, Oliver Lacey-Hall, Jemilah Mahmood, Gopalasamy Reuben Clements and Renzo Guinto
Additional contact information
Saidatul Maisarah Faiesall: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Sarah Hanani Ahmad Tajuddin: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Andrew Jason George: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Nur Hazirah Marzuki: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Oliver Lacey-Hall: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Jemilah Mahmood: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Gopalasamy Reuben Clements: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
Renzo Guinto: Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia

Challenges, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: With planetary health gaining traction as a global movement and problem-solving approach, this trans-disciplinary field is well-placed to provide an exciting and dynamic platform to promote engagement with young people. Previous studies have shown that although there is great energy and passion from youth, the global planetary health community struggles in sustaining young people’s motivations and engagement in today’s crowded physical and online environments. Planetary health advocates are also dealing with an increase in climate anxiety that has taken a toll on the emotional and mental wellbeing of young people. Here, we review our experience in engaging youth groups and networks in Malaysia through a four-pronged approach (consultation, facilitation, capacity-sharing, and evidence-building), as well as challenges commonly faced by the planetary health community in educating and building a youth movement. After a year of engagement, we found that mobilising the next generation of planetary health leaders requires a change in existing power dynamics to a capacity-sharing model, an emphasis on clear, simplified, and effective communications that utilise the mainstream youth spaces (e.g., social media), and hopeful messages to counter apathy and anxiety into action.

Keywords: youth engagement; planetary health; Malaysia youth; climate anxiety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/1/18/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/14/1/18/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jchals:v:14:y:2023:i:1:p:18-:d:1093091

Access Statistics for this article

Challenges is currently edited by Ms. Karen Sun

More articles in Challenges from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().