Young people are less satisfied with their own sustainability actions, points out a research at Rock in Rio

Compared to younger people, people over 45 years old say they feel, on a larger scale, that they are contributing to the preservation of the environment and sustainability, according to research carried out in the last edition of the Rock in Rio festival.

The survey was carried out by Datafolha, hired by Suzano, a pulp and paper company. A total of 2,843 people aged 16 and over were interviewed over the seven days of the event (the average age was 31.4 years). The margin of error is plus or minus two percentage points.

One of the questions asked was about how much their individual attitudes are contributing to sustainability and environmental preservation. Festival participants should give a score from 0 to 10 for their own actions in this regard.

Among respondents aged 16 to 44, 5% to 6% rated themselves with a grade of 9. Among those aged 45 and over, about 13% gave themselves a 9. In grade 10, the situation is similar: from 4% to 6% of people under 44 years of age gave the maximum assessment, against approximately 11% of those over 45 years old.

The largest share (31%) of the audience aged 45 and over at Rock in Rio ranked 8th in terms of contribution to sustainability. Among participants aged 16 to 24, most (31%) ranked themselves as a 7 on the sustainable scale, the same score that prevails among the rest of the population under 44 years old questioned.

The average score among audiences also reflects this difference in perception. In the population over 45 years old, the average was 7.5, while in the population below that age it was 6.7 (for people aged between 16 and 24 years) and 6.9 (in the populations aged 25 to 34 years and 35 to 44).

In recent years, the demand of young people around the world for actions against climate change has grown. The now classic Friday strikes are an example of youth participation in the global climate movement.

Among the complaints is the fact that older generations are leaving to younger generations a problematic climate legacy, which will greatly affect the rest of the lives of today’s children and young people.

One of the biggest figures in this movement is 19-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

Datafolha also asked different questions daily to the participants of the event. In this case, the margin of error is plus or minus five percentage points.

On one of the days of the festival (9 September), 407 people were asked who are primarily responsible for taking care of nature. The majority response (44%) blamed citizens. About 88% stated that Brazilians do less than they should to protect the environment.

On another day of Rock in Rio (September 8), Datafolha asked 405 attendees what are the most important actions for environmental preservation. Recycling waste was the most cited, followed by saving water and using products from sustainably sourced materials.

Another survey carried out at the festival, on September 4, asked about the concern with greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for climate change, related to consumption habits.

About 78% of the youngest (aged 16 to 24) at the festival said they did not take into account emissions associated with products or services they use. Among the public aged 45 and over, the value was lower, 64%.

In Brazil, the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions are deforestation (especially in the Amazon) and agriculture (a considerable share here has to do with cattle raising, due to the enteric fermentation process in bovine digestion). In recent years, especially after the beginning of the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government, deforestation has increased in the Amazon.

In the survey conducted on the 8th, only 13% of respondents cited reducing meat consumption and buying less as ways of preservation and sustainability.

_{The Planeta em Transe project is supported by the Open Society Foundations.}