What drives the youth?
As first-time voters in Europe, young people are confronted with numerous challenges ranging from economic uncertainties to environmental concerns. While climate change and environmental activism hold appeal, the complexity of 21st-century politics can be intimidating for the youth. Are green topics truly the keystone of their political choices, or are there other driving forces behind their voting behavior?
Is green leading the way?
Greta Thunberg has been an inspiration and eye-opener for wide circles within the younger generations. Her outspoken political activism, together with the Fridays For Future climate movement, reaches millions of young people around Europe. The youth has become the pioneers in the fight against climate change and global warming. However, does this passion translate into political action at the ballot box?
What’s the youth prioritizing?
Recent surveys reveal that climate change ranks high among young voters’ concerns, indicating a shift in political priorities. Yet, the correlation between environmental advocacy and voting patterns varies across countries. Anna Peters, German EP candidate from the Greens started her political career as a climate activist against nuclear power plants, and emphasizes that although “many crises are popping up and influencing young people way to vote, the climate crisis is still the most important one”. But despite the grip gained by green parties in some regions, others show less support, highlighting the nuanced nature of youth engagement in politics.
Recent elections and navigating the future
The performance of Green parties in recent European elections highlights the growing influence of young voters. However, variation in voting behavior across age groups suggests that green issues might not universally dominate youth political preferences.
So, it seems like Green policies and fighting climate change are important to young people. But does this automatically mean they will vote for Green parties? Not always. We need to look at the bigger picture and think about things like socio-economic factors. Assuming all young people will vote green might not be accurate, as we will explore further. Just because young folks care about green sustainable policies doesn’t always mean they will support green parties at the ballot box. We have to be careful not to make broad generalizations, especially since different countries have different levels of support for green parties.
A look back
Let’s look at the green results in some recent elections across Europe: In the 2019 elections for the European Parliament, the Greens won 74 out of 751 seats, making them the fourth largest group with 9.85% of the vote.
In Germany, the Greens achieved their highest-ever vote share on a federal level, collecting 20.5% and securing 25 seats. Meanwhile, in Belgium, Green parties collectively earned 15% of the vote, securing 3 seats. However, Hungary and Poland saw no Green candidates elected at the European level. Nonetheless, in 2020, Polish MEP Sylwia Spurek switched to the Greens/EFA group, becoming Poland’s first Green MEP.
Youth influence on Green Party success
The Greens’ success in European elections can be largely attributed to increased youth voter turnout, with younger demographics more inclined to support environmental issues. In both the under 25 and 25 to 39 age groups, there was a significant decline in voter participation. In Germany’s 2021 federal elections, although the Greens couldn’t maintain their second-place position from two years prior, they achieved their highest-ever vote share at 14.8%. Notably, 32.2% of Green votes came from 18 to 34-year-olds. However, voter turnout among 18 to 20-year-olds was relatively low at 70.5%.
Challenges to Green Party appeal among youth
While environmental concerns resonate strongly with many young voters, it’s not the sole factor driving their political decisions. The Flash Eurobarometer 502 from 2022 revealed that contrary to voting behavior, environmental-friendly policies ranked only fourth among youth expectations from the European Union, behind international security, job opportunities, and economic issues. This suggests that while climate and environmental issues are significant, they may not always be the primary motivator for youth voting behavior across all countries.
The future of young Green votes
What does all this mean for young people who care about the environment and want to vote green in the next European Parliament elections in 2024? With several European countries lowering the voting age to 16, more young voices are entering the political arena. This growing participation highlights a broader awareness among young voters about addressing global challenges, not just environmental ones, but also economic and social issues that affect their futures.
Despite the enthusiasm seen in movements like Fridays for Future, which play a crucial role in engaging youth and bringing attention to important issues like climate change, there’s still a gap between youth activism and political representation. Ariane Giraneza Birekeraho, a climate Policy Manager at a climate NGO, claims political parties have largely failed to take advantage of movements like Fridays for Future: “Why aren’t more Fridays for Future young people participating in the elections on a Green Party list? Where are they?”
She highlights an obvious disconnection between activism and political representation. While Fridays for Future empowers young people to demand change, political parties must do more to not only listen to the demands of young activities but also actively engage and respond to the urgent calls for action. Anna Peters shares the view that Green parties must do more to convince young voters. In her view, Parties must connect green issues with the daily struggles of the youth by campaigning for the implementation of the European Green Deal through sustainable housing, job security, and inflation reduction.
As we move forward, it is essential for both young voters and political parties to work together to address youth concerns effectively. According to Ariane, “Europe as a whole is just way too far from the people,” She also mentioned in the interview that many voters feel like politicians and regular people are not on the same page. Bridging this gap requires proactive efforts from both ends, with political parties reaching out to young voters and actively incorporating their perspectives into policy-making processes. Additionally, the young people must learn more about how the European Union works so they can take part in voting and making decisions that matter.
What’s next?
Looking ahead to the 2024 European Parliament elections, young voters have an opportunity to shape the future of Europe by voting for parties and candidates that prioritize environmental sustainability and social justice. However, whether Green parties can meet the expectations of young voters remains to be seen. With issues like environmental protection and climate change at the forefront, the 2024 EP elections will be a crucial moment in determining the continent’s direction for years to come.
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