By David Suzuki

They say more and more young people are failing to vote, and I can understand why. When have you heard a politician seriously discuss the kind of world where today's youth will spend their adult lives? Oh, there's a lot of posturing and name-calling, but what about really big issues like the terrifying state of the planet's oceans, the skyrocketing emissions of greenhouse gases, the extinction crisis that is wiping out tens of thousands of species every year, the terrible disparity between wealth and poverty that creates so much hatred and desperation and leads to violence and despair?

The problem is that for two years the current crop of elected people has been thinking about one thing and one thing only: the next election and how to get into power. But the important issues for young people will take years and billions of dollars to solve, and that's a political problem. Suppose scientists tell us that we have to massively reduce greenhouse gas production, and that it will cost billions but we can do it over 10 or 15 years. What politician is going to make such a commitment when he or she will immediately get dumped on by big business and interest groups, and even if the target is reached, he or she won't be in power by then? So they'd much rather build a nuclear plant to give the illusion they're doing something right away and get re-elected.

Well kids, you've got to get involved. You see, right now, politicians are focused on how to get the most votes. But you don't vote. Nor do future generations vote. For that matter, oceans, trees, fish, and soil don't vote. In my experience, it’s tough to get adults to change their behaviour or priorities, so when they see someone like me coming along, they duck out of the way. "Here comes that pain-in-the-ass Suzuki again telling me we'll have to sell our Hummer and four-car-garage home."

I understand that after people have invested the time and effort to go through school, find a job, save a bit of money to get married, and have a family, they don't like to be told they have to change their ways. Better to simply write off folks like me and not think about our message. But adults do have one vulnerability: you. They love you. So if you ask that they consider the world you will inherit, tell them that you are worried about where we are going, and demand that they find solutions, they have no choice. They are the two most important people in the world, so start with them and how they are going to vote. Tell them you want them to vote for the environment.