Like it or not, Generation Z is the future of the world. As the ones to live with the consequences of current climate-altering actions, this generation should be actively involved in making an impact on the physical and social environment. Choosing green is not easy, but Gen Z can reduce our ecological damage through simple acts such as biking, carpooling, recycling and more.
Green Team treasurer junior Mina Van Roy believes that even though it’s not always convenient to be sustainable, it should be a priority. In Green Team, Van Roy helps organize sustainable events to educate the student body on how to be more green. In her own life, she makes small swaps such as biking and taking trains instead of driving.
“One (way I am sustainable) is transportation,” she said. “I bike most places and take the trains, BART and bus. Aside from that, (I try) to be more sustainable and aware (of) how I consume and how I dispose of things.”
City of Palo Alto Office of Sustainability Environmental Specialist Anna Freitas finds that sustainability requires intentional efforts and another level of planning.
“One big improvement I made recently is starting to carpool,” Freitas said. “My commute is pretty long, and unfortunately public transit isn’t feasible because of where I live. Carpooling is a good option to cut down on emissions from transportation. I also incorporate other sustainable practices like bringing a reusable water bottle with me everywhere, using reusable bags when I shop, being intentional about my purchases and walking for short trips instead of driving.”
However, choosing green can often feel like a luxury for those with time and resources. Student Climate Coalition and Youth Climate Advisory member senior Anika Agarwal notes that the financial burdens of sustainable practices make it difficult for Gen Z to participate.
“I do think that sustainability often comes with financial limitations (ex. Ethical clothing brands can be expensive),” Agarwal wrote in an email. “Also, social media trends and the desire for instant gratification drive up consumerism within Gen Z.”
Along with more obvious greenhouse gas emissions, technology has other environmental costs. According to MIT News, Artificial Intelligence usage requires significant amounts of water to cool down the hardware. This leads to a lack of water supply for ecosystems and hinders plant growth. Understanding both the efficiency and negative tradeoffs of technology, Freitas suggest ways for students to use AI more intentionally.
“I’d say with any new technology, it’s important to learn about its impacts from reliable sources, ” Freitas said. “If the impacts are concerning, you can find ways to avoid that technology when it’s not necessary. With AI, that might look like prioritizing meaningful uses over throw-away experiments and focusing on quality over quantity.”
Rather than seeking perfection when beginning a path of sustainability, one should recognize how small changes can amount to large impacts.
“It’s important for everyone to try to live sustainably,” Freitas said. “For teens, I think there are additional benefits from the way teens can influence their families, each other and even pop culture. I know sometimes it feels like you don’t have a lot of power when you’re young, but teens really do make a big impact on cultural norms. Living sustainably is a continual practice. You’re not going to do everything perfectly, but you can continue to make improvements and build habits.”
