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Climate change is the most important topic for young people who contributed to this year’s UNICEF Youth Advisory Report. In a report to be published on Monday, Youth Budget Day, they come up with proposals for change.
According to the United Nations Children’s Rights Organization, more than a thousand Dutch young people between the ages of 13 and 18 contributed to the report. They want to end meat advertising, air travel and the fossil fuel industry. Additionally, they say they think it’s important “for people to understand that these services or products contribute to climate change.” This can be done by paying attention to it at school, but also, for example, by placing information about the impact of climate on packaging. Such as the amount of water, energy and animal feed needed to produce hamburgers.
The second climate tip for young people is to make public transportation more attractive. According to them, this should be cheaper, while the tax on polluting cars and scooters should be increased. “For example, increasing the tax on meat. With all this additional income, it might be possible to make public transportation free,” is their proposal. The third proposal involves “ending the consumer society”, where many things are thrown away after a single use.
“Many of us are concerned because we honestly wonder whether this problem will get better. And whether the government is taking it seriously enough,” the report’s authors say. In addition to climate change, they provide advice on poverty and wars. For example, they call for “a greater understanding of the situation of people who have fled” and believe that countries should receive post-war assistance to restore their economies.
They say minimum wages and benefits should rise with inflation to combat poverty. According to them, sports and music lessons should be free.
On Youth Budget Day, a group of young people will discuss advice with MPs.
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