Surveying adult support for child and youth voice on environmental governmental decision-making in Australian and New Zealand

Abstract

The global movement of student strikes for climate action illustrates that many children and youth want to have a voice on governmental decisions on the environment. Yet in most nations, an electoral voice is not granted to those under the age of 18. From prior research, we see the main barrier for child and youth voice to parliament is adult attitudes towards children and youth. To find out who supports their voice on government decisions for the environment, we added such a question to the Australia and New Zealand iterations of the International Social Survey Program 2020 survey. The results indicated that the majority of surveyed adults support 11–14 year olds (Aus 62 %, NZ 59 %) and 15–18 year olds (Aus 79 %, NZ 80 %) having opportunities to influence government decisions on the environment. Analysis of responses to this question in relation to demographic survey data indicated variations in preferences for different age groups of children and youth, and that age, gender, education, concern for the environment, environment organisation membership and prior election political party preference of respondents were variables of significance for both nations. Recommendations for policy and practice to broaden support for child and youth voice to contribute to government decisions on the environment are suggested with application of Iris Marion Young’s propositions for more inclusive democracy.