Since its creation in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency marked a critical step toward protecting the United States’ air, water, and land. Yet, over 50 years later, the fight against climate change has stalled. Progress has been blocked by corporate influence, political gridlock, and decades of inaction. Now, our generation is left to inherit a worsening crisis, forcing us to confront a pressing question: how did we allow it to get this far? And what is our generation doing about it?
Our generation has felt the impacts of climate change on our lives and futures more directly than any generation before us. According to Cardiff University, our generation feels this threat deeply, reporting higher levels of climate anxiety, fear, and guilt compared to older generations. Unlike past generations who could view climate change as a distant problem, Gen Z has grown up watching extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and wildfires unfold in real-time, making it impossible to ignore.
This constant exposure fuels urgency and frustration, pushing many young people to reimagine their futures. As reported by the Financial Times, a growing number of Gen Z workers are choosing “climate quitting”—leaving jobs at companies without clear environmental commitments to seek careers that align with their values. For a generation that has come of age alongside shrinking biodiversity, polluted skies, and contaminated waters, the urgency of addressing climate change feels both immediate and inescapable. The idea of working for companies that prioritize profits over the planet feels morally unacceptable.
Adding to the frustration, most of these corporations engage in green-washing, which is the practice of companies making false or exaggerated claims about their environmental efforts. Green-washing has been increasingly under scrutiny as consumers demand greater transparency in how corporations are actually impacting the environment. Regulators worldwide are implementing stricter guidelines for environmental claims. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. is currently reviewing its “Green Guidelines” to address this deception by corporations.
This shift reflects how our generation cares more than just career preferences. It shows that it is a direct response to the existential threat we face. Studies have shown that younger generations are more aware of climate change and more likely to demand action. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 67% of Gen Z believe the federal government must do more to address climate change, notably higher than older generations.
This awareness sends a clear message: Gen Z refuses to support businesses contributing to environmental degradation without accountability.
I am optimistic that our generation is ready to take on the severe challenge of climate change. Gen Z has already proven that we are not content to sit back and watch as the crisis escalates; our generation is full of activists, innovators, and critical thinkers. However, to effectively combat this ever-looming crisis–one inherited mainly from the inaction of older generations–we must stay informed and vigilant.
It is not enough to simply know that climate change exists; we must also understand what is happening, why, and what solutions are being put forward. Staying informed means engaging with credible science, fact-checking sources, and distinguishing between genuine efforts and corporate green-washing. Misinformation and denial have long delayed climate action, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we are spreading the most accurate and truthful information.
The climate crisis is daunting, but if we stay informed, question narratives, and demand accountability, we can become the generation that changes the trajectory.