The Federal Republic of Germany, with its 16 states, has a federal structure. The states possess extensive powers, especially in the area of education. State parliaments make important decisions affecting the lives of young people in Germany.

On November 8, 2024, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom participated in an expert hearing in the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, invited by the liberal FDP parliamentary group. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the northeasternmost state in Germany, has approximately 1.6 million inhabitants.

Under the theme “Growing Up in Times of the Climate Crisis”, the commission of inquiry “Being Young in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania” addressed the impact of climate change on young people.

Benno Schulz, the Foundation’s Education and Science Advisor, delivered a speech advocating a positive outlook on human creativity, growth, and, above all, education as the most important lever for innovation, long-term economic growth, and research success.

It was emphasized that multiple crises are significantly impacting the mental well-being of young people across Germany. Studies show that concern about climate change has now been surpassed in urgency by worries about the economy, housing, and social cohesion.

Apocalyptic scenarios and calls for panic are clearly the wrong tools to address climate change. Instead, clear facts, precise analysis, and the best possible education are needed to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

Full Transcript of His Speech:

“Dear Chairman Winter,

Esteemed members of the commission,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I would like to thank you, and especially the FDP parliamentary group, for the opportunity to address some of the questions sent to us in advance.

I will begin with a psychosocial aspect from the two-page questionnaire:

Question 15 reads:

‘Do young people fear the future regarding climate change, and do children, adolescents, and young adults feel guilty and responsible for the climate crisis?’

My answer:

We do young people no favors by generalizing. Of course, there are young people who are fearful about the future in relation to the climate—even feeling guilty. However, a significant proportion—1 in 5 young people in Germany—have never heard about climate change, according to a representative survey conducted by the International Central Institute for Youth and Educational Television in the first half of 2024. These represent the two extremes.

As the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s Education and Science Advisor, I believe that school education plays a crucial role here. It is my conviction that we need the best possible education to help contextualize these surrounding issues. This education must be grounded in scientific knowledge, a positive fundamental view of human existence, and the individual needs of students. Above all, the goal of education must be to empower young people to form their own well-founded opinions.

It is important to emphasize that humans are capable of action. Through research and science, innovation, and growth, we can avert crises and create opportunities. The significance of each individual, coupled with the emphasis on human creativity, should encourage and empower, giving space for action rather than amplifying potential feelings of guilt.

Building on this, I would like to address Question 16:

‘What long-term consequences could constant negative reporting have on young people in the country, and would children, adolescents, and young adults feel better without such negative reporting?’

My response:

Here, too, I advocate for an enlightened approach. Children and young people have a right to the facts. Any form of censorship or sugar-coating of events in reporting is unhelpful. This does not change the sometimes devastating consequences of extreme weather events or climate change. These realities must not be minimized, and any attempt to do so would rightly provoke public outrage.

However, panic-mongering must also be avoided. Facts should be presented clearly, along with examples of how society can become more resilient.

Media coverage should also address the underlying problems. For example, in the Ahr Valley flood of 2021, many lives could have been saved if warning systems had worked effectively and those responsible had fulfilled their obligations. Similarly, the reporting on the Valencia region in Spain often fails to address shortcomings in building the necessary wastewater infrastructure.

It is often the combination of natural disasters and human failings that cost lives. At least the latter can be minimized as much as possible in the short term. Highlighting how progress and research have helped to solve problems—compensating for crop failures, preventing floods with levee construction, predicting earthquakes, or mitigating soil erosion—should give young people hope for the future. The focus should be on finding intelligent solutions, fostering research, and sparking interest, rather than resorting to panic, which is, as prominently suggested, the worst adviser.

Finally, I will address Question 21:

‘What are the biggest problems facing children and young people, and are there specific issues for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania?’

Currently, we observe that social and, above all, economic problems and concerns have overtaken climate change in public discourse. Recent election results (local, state, and European) indicate that so-called ‘green’ issues no longer hold the same high priority for the majority of young people.

This is also supported by the comprehensive, representative study ‘Youth in Germany’, which surveyed 2,000 young people nationwide in early 2024.

Fears of social decline, driven by the economic crisis and inflation, are now prominently on young people’s minds. Concerns about expensive or extremely scarce housing, as well as wars and conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, weigh heavily. The fear of growing social tensions in society even surpasses concerns about climate change.

While the challenges related to the climate undoubtedly remain, the immediacy of these other issues is currently more pressing. Inflation and the resulting barriers to societal participation are more immediate to young people’s lives than the relatively abstract issue of climate change.

Added to this is a sense of thematic fatigue and near resignation. Participation numbers in climate-related demonstrations, for instance, suggest this. The repeated emphasis on climate topics during extreme weather events, coupled with the slow pace of fossil fuel phase-outs by many industrialized nations, likely leads to resignation and eventual disinterest in the topic.

The multiple crisis situation is certainly having a strong impact on young people’s mental well-being.

Policy must increasingly focus on the mental health of children and adolescents. The need for greater mental health support in schools has been apparent since the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent opening of the University Clinic in Greifswald earlier this year is a positive step.

However, low-threshold psychological counseling services in schools need significant expansion. Given the rise in perceived stress, closer and more professional support for young people is urgently needed.

This would help individuals and society view crises as challenges to be overcome, rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Thank you.”

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