What Can We Learn from Rural Youth in British Columbia, Canada? Environment and Climate Change—Issues and Solutions

Pranita Bhushan Udas, Bonnie Fournier, Tracy Christianson and Shannon Desbiens
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Pranita Bhushan Udas: School of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University, TRU Way, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada
Bonnie Fournier: School of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University, TRU Way, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada
Tracy Christianson: School of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University, TRU Way, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada
Shannon Desbiens: School of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University, TRU Way, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: “What can we learn from rural youth?” was a youth-led arts-based participatory action research project carried out to understand and facilitate positive youth development in two rural communities in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Data was collected using photovoice, visual art, journal reflections, and group discussions. During the study, youth expressed a strong connection with nature for their development or wellbeing. Issues such as environmental degradation and climate change were identified as causes for concern. They discussed human responsibility for environmental stewardship both in their local communities and globally. Climate change hazards such as flood and fire, human action leading to environmental pollution, and human responsibility for environmental stewardship surfaced as issues for their development. Youth expressed a felt responsibility to act on climate change and to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the Earth. Based on youth voices, we conclude that attempts to engage youth in climate action without considering their psychosocial wellbeing, may overburden them.

Keywords: rural youth; positive youth development; climate change; climate action; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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