Blog written by Alfie, a member of the Young People's Forum:

The state of our natural world is a particularly important issue for us as young people as it is the younger generation that will be affected most by the action or inaction resulting from this election. The accomplishments of the next government will have repercussions for years when it comes to urgent environmental crises which will affect the youngest among us for the longest time.

Practically, it can be hard for young people to vote depending on living situations: moving out after living with parents, short-term rental agreements, and university summer breaks can lead to uncertainty and confusion about where you should be registered to vote. These practical considerations can then be compounded by a sense of helplessness which reduces voter turnout. Young adults often feel sidelined and think that their vote doesn’t matter as politicians vie for the votes of older demographics, ignoring issues that disproportionately affect and are important to younger voters. Hopelessness and defeatism can impede us in using our democratic right to have a say in who will make the big decisions about the direction of this country in the next five years. Young people generally have low voter turnout which means that political parties are liable to ignore us because we do not change election outcomes. We need to prove this assumption wrong.

On the 4th of July, we need to take action for nature. Your vote matters and needs to be used according to your priorities so that the elected government is committed to supporting us as we build a better future. This includes protecting the UK’s wildlife to ensure that our country supports diverse and healthy ecosystems that underpin human life and wellbeing while taking action on climate change to have a global impact on the stability of our planet. As young adults, it is our future that hangs in the balance.

My biggest concern for the future of our environment is inaction. The government after the election will have many competing priorities and it is important that the environment doesn’t fall by the wayside. Although for many people and political parties, environmental issues are secondary to the cost of living crisis and a plethora of other socio-economic issues, those issues cannot be forgotten for the sake of present and future lives. Environmental and socio-economic goals are intertwined - they are not mutually exclusive. To reach their goals and satisfy their citizens, the next government will have to realise this.

Young people aren’t always listened to when we express our concerns. We are often brushed off as disaffected and apathetic youth or an angry or combative mob. This is why it is essential that we use our vote to express our concerns in a way that politicians must listen to in order for their party to succeed. I have great hope that we will be taken more seriously, especially in the wake of well-known young campaigners such as Michaela Loach and Mya-Rose Craig. We are a powerful political force and the MPs elected in a few weeks will have to listen to us.

Part of the hopelessness that young adults feel in the face of government and big business is a lack of faith in their ability and willingness to do what wildlife and the climate need. Things seem to have changed very little over the past decade with reneged ‘green’ commitments across the political parties and corporations like our water companies unashamedly destroying the natural world. It is understandable why some young people who feel like they have been failed by politicians, choose not to vote or engage with political change. However, defeatism will solve nothing. Progress will be made if we take action.

Using your vote sends a message to the political parties telling them that you care about the future of the country. It is important to look at the key points of each party manifesto and choose carefully which candidate in your local area to vote for based on your personal priorities. For example, the Wildlife Trust’s priorities for the next government are bringing back the UK's lost wildlife, ending river pollution and water scarcity, funding wildlife-friendly farming, enabling healthy communities, and tackling the climate emergency. Even if you are not 18, you can contact your local MP and candidates to share your concerns and show that the environment is something that people care about.

If, after engaging with the political process in the run-up to the election, you still feel helpless and ignored, there are plenty of other things you can do to make a difference for nature. You can take action in your community, join volunteer groups or get involved local campaigns. 

Wildlife Trust Campaigns 

As a young person, it can seem as if our actions and words do not matter, especially under the pressure of overwhelming environmental issues. It is understandable that large swathes of our generation feel angry or apathetic about politics but it is essential that we still take action for nature.

Use your vote and your voice to demand better.