Changes in the Climate: Views from Peripheral Youth

Abstract

Abstract: The climate emergency constitutes one of the most pressing and complex challenges confronting humanity in the 21st century. Climate change exerts profound impacts across all societal dimensions, ranging from the economy to public health and the environment. In 2023, the state of Rio Grande do Sul confronted environmental disasters and extreme climatic events, thereby reinforcing the warnings issued by the scientific community and activists. Floods affected a significant number of individuals, while extratropical cyclones impacted various regions between June and October. Notwithstanding government actions aimed at disaster response, there is a distinct lack of resolve regarding the implementation of preventive measures. Consequently, this article seeks to analyze the interaction between society and the climate emergency, highlighting the challenges, perceptions, and actions of the youth in Rio Grande do Sul in the face of the extreme climatic events that transpired within the state in 2023.

Keywords: Youth; Climate Emergency; Environmental Racism.