Measurement Development and Validation to Capture Perceptions of Younger People’s Climate Action: An Opportunity for Intergenerational Collaboration and Dialogue

Climate change impacts are characterized by their differential treatment of diverse age groups and generations. Although both the old and the young are particularly vulnerable to climate change, it is the younger and unborn generations that will suffer the longest. Consequently, the youth are perceived as leaders of the climate movement. This study developed and evaluated a measure to assess the perceived role of younger people in climate action. The measure consists of three items that assess the perceived role of younger people as positive, and two items that assess their perceived role as a nuisance. The measure demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. The findings highlight the presence of both positive and negative perceptions of younger people in the context of climate change. This information can be used to address generational barriers and facilitate intergenerational solidarity toward a healthy climate.