A Generation Gap: What Does Generation-Just Know about Climate Change Compared to Generation-X or Y?

In General, Generations X and Y contrast with Generation Just on climate change knowledge and concern. Generation X was born between the years 1961-1981 and Generation Y between the years 1981-1995. Generation Just is (a new term that we will coin here at Justmeans) referring to the generation born after 1995 and will be responsible for climate change. So what does Generation-Just know about climate change compared to Generation-X or Y? Does it matter?

To begin, let's be clear: there is nothing that Generation Just (Gen-Just) knows about climate change that Gen-X or Gen-Y couldn't learn, and vice versa. The difference in knowledge isn't comparable to say technology, where people believe that since younger generations are brought up with new technology, they in general must be more natural and educated at using it. Or that due to different- *usually harsher- conditions in the past, senior generations learned different lessons and values than the youth of today. Knowledge on climate change is just emerging and is starting to develop with youth culture; we're immersing them more through their usual sources: TV, internet, & classes. Working adults may not have time for much outside of work and home. The knowledge gap is simply due to a cultural gap.

Instead of asking what does Gen-X & Y know about climate change compared to what Gen-Just knows, it would be more useful to go over how culture defines a generation and how culture acts as a viewing lens to decide on current events like climate change. This discussion moves away from asking: who knows more about climate change, and toward: why does each generation have their own particular view on climate change? Even more important to understand is how each generational viewpoint affect their response (or lack thereof).

Important in understanding culture is to understand its values. Generations X & Y are most concerned about their jobs because their employment is the lifeline for themselves and their families. Generation Just on the other hand doesn't have that responsibility, their values are just being developed and right now one value being defined is environmental protection from climate change. Gen-X and Y value their jobs more than they value the planet and climate change; it's not a problem if one's job has nothing to do with climate change (subsequently carbon taxes, or carbon cap and trade schemes). The schism between Gen-X & Y vs. Gen-Just climate knowledge arrives when climate change legislation would effect jobs and even take jobs away. Go on any LinkedIn discussion (like on the Justmeans group) and inevitably there's a rant that climate legislation would "take away freedom of the people to live a life they choose; a blatant transformation of our very way of life." Paraphrased, but grammar improved. Threaten the people from their jobs and way of life and you threaten them with hunger- the result is irrational disdain from climate change actions and acknowledgment.

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