T

he youth of today are a group of individuals playing many roles in an effort to create change in every aspect of life. Aspects of the changes they produce will then start to disseminate to their families and even out to the world. An interesting fact is that the majority of youth today are of Generation Y, the generation that grew up in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the development of wireless technology. Exposure to technologies ultimately affects the sensitivity of Generation Y to change.

Generation Y is not afraid of change, but sometimes, or often, impatient with the process of change. They are the generation that is familiar with the internet and is very active on social media. So, what kind of active participation can be done by young people to make changes for the sake of sustainable development? Remembering, Generation Y does not have to bear this heavy burden alone.

Lively fingers dancing on a gadget may be an alternative solution to campaigning, and educating a wide audience about climate change can be done by almost every young person in the country. The development of communication technologies, especially in the era of social media, is now a part of the process of diffusing innovative messages. These agents of change solidify the changing model where social lives and education once offline are moving online. Expect in the future that the positive side of social media will be even more able to be applied by Generation Y to push social movements in aid of sustainable development. It'€™s possible that Generation Y will be the key to achieving the global sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly in climate change mitigation.

Rotua Nuraini Tampubolon
Program officer at Perkumpulan Prakarsa
Jakarta