Will Gen-Y Be The Green Generation?

There’s Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”. Hurricane Katarina, Haiti earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. “Gas-guzzling” and oil to biofuels. The change from global warming to climate change. Consumerism, waste, energy, over-consumption, deforestation and globalization. And the most recent and continuing BP spill. A true myriad of issues. Issues that all have one thing in common. And that’s the issue of the environment.

The environmental issue and movement isn’t really that new of an idea or trend. Every decade over the last century has seen its share of concerns and worries. Not to mention issues prior to that. But even with all the discussion around the environment, it has only culminated to a global issue and trend as of late. And like anything else, it won’t be solved overnight but is being planned to be solved over time. A time in which Gen-Y will be at the centre of the solution and leading the way.

Gen-Y and The Environment

But does this make the Gen-Y the Green Generation? As a Gen-Yer myself, I’m undecided on the issue. Not because I actually don’t want a better and greener environment. But rather, what does our sense and perception of “green” really mean? Does going “green” and being “greener” actually represent what it implies? Most importantly, does Gen-Y actually care enough to be green?

All indications suggest we do care. However, is this a result of having more ability to be green now as compared to 10 years ago? Right now there are more products and brands that are becoming green, going green and simply predicated, green. As this increases, “green” availability appears to be making things greener. Though, this wouldn’t suggest that we actually care to be greener. We might be ranting and raving over Twitter about the BP spill. But what are really doing about it?

Greener… By Accident

Being green is definitely not as easy as it sounds. There is still yet to be an automaker that has made an affordable hybrid or electric vehicle for Gen-Y. Further, as we are less concerned about driving and owing cars with our multi-tasking mentality, Gen-Y highly considers taking public transit along with other cheaper methods. Our move away from cars in order to “do more” is a great green by-product. Then again, would this change if automakers did introduce greener and cheaper cars for younger ages to buy.

The “green” dilemma takes another twist when you look at our hyperconsuming lifestyle. There is no doubt that Gen-Y wants everything and they will buy it. The smart phones, the closets full of clothes and anything else for our “dream-life”. And I’m not trying to lay the guilt trip on anyone. All of Gen-Y, myself included, shares the Gen-Y mentality in one way or another. But as green as I am by doing simple things such as using cold water to wash my clothes and proper recycling, I can’t change before other products themselves, which I use everyday, have recyclable qualities. And products that are recyclable, often don’t have practical recycling methods. Unless you are very willingly to change your lifestyle dramatically, being green with what we have available to us doesn’t make all that much sense.

That’s not to say that we are doomed or headed to an environmental catastrophe (even though that might seem to be the case). Rather, we are becoming greener through a series of passive and fascinating manners. A course which in large part is due to technology. Though our use and reliance on technology and technological gadgets will incur its own“green issues” that we have yet to face, there is no doubt that a move away from magazines, books, newspapers, CDs and DVDs to online substitutes will have a more positive environmental effect. A technological attribute that will follow Gen-Y into the future.

Gen-Y: The Greener Generation

The complexity and complexion of environmental issues are by no means simple. That is not to suggest that there aren’t solutions. What’s interesting is that these solutions are the result of Gen-Y characteristics rather than implemented solutions from environmental agendas. As Gen-Y moves away from the romanticized ways of how life once was to a greater online and multi-tasking manner, Gen-Y appears to be the Green Generation. But when you consider aspects of Gen-Y’s pursuit of a “dream-life”, the opposite would be true. The reality of the situation is that the environmental issue is much bigger than this article, as other issues will arise over time. And we might not be the perfect saviours of the environment, but it can’t be denied that our unique characteristics will make Gen-Y a greener generation. “Greener” is definitely a start.

You might also like: