A few weeks ago I replied to a reader who wanted to stay active in environmentalism despite growing older and feeling put out by “ageism.” After the column came out, I received several delightful responses, one from a trio of environmentalist compadres defying the age gap and another from a Brit who wants some advice on enticing a younger generation to engage in environmentalism. Let’s explore these topics.
Hi Dr. Green!
Thank you for your answer on aging. I’m one of a trio of “old fogeys” who have had to cut back our conservation work due to various and sundry health issues, but we lift each other up and keep finding new avenues to work within our limitations. Having this group is essential! We’ve found opportunities for each other, teamed up for lectures, done some writing, pursued new observations, and are digitizing decades of our data, which is helping new research today. We haven’t formally mentored yet, though, so thanks for that advice.
Hello my friends!
Well, this is a fresh and much-needed perspective for environmentalists who have been around awhile and are opening the vaults of their considerable experience and wisdom to others — especially the next generations.
There’s power in a group, and it sounds like you’ve collectively found a solution that solves issues on several fronts: Ageism, reinventing yourselves at this time in your lives, and sharing your knowledge, hard-earned through years of experience and active commitment.
As Kate Ireland, director of youth engagement at The Nature Conservancy, has written:
“Any conservation action, any policy measure, any partnership built today must be stewarded tomorrow. The transfer of care is a continuous cycle.”
“Formal” mentoring is not always necessary, but there are programs organized by The Nature Conservancy Youth Engagement Program and the National Geographic Society Externship Program, among others, specifically for mentoring — and a lot of this can be done virtually through Zoom and other technology platforms to reach an international audience of young people eager to learn from you. If you three want to start a mentoring program of your own, you might study how these environmental giants do it, then do something modelled like that in your field, town, or city.
“To solve our biggest environmental challenges, we need leaders who are prepared to use their talents for nature,” Ireland wrote. With online mentoring and training, “each participant determines their own schedules, research topics and action steps.”
When you guys are at an event, presentation, or lecture, spend some time during breaks or meet-and-greets to scan the room for younger folks. Introduce yourselves and ask what brought them to this event. Once they’ve gone to the trouble of attending, it’s likely they’re open to making new contacts and willing to ask questions, learn, and get tips on how and where to spend their energy. You’ll make an impression.
Here’s the thing: Many of the young feel lost, lonely, and rudderless. They tell me they’re angry with older people for leaving them with a big mess to clean up, but older people don’t always let them in to step up and be heard. We older folks still have time to right that wrong. And really, it’s our obligation.
Your experience may help them to have hope, ignite their passion, or guide the way toward real solutions.
Bravo and applause for these amazing Green Amigos! Exciting work from seasoned environmentalists. Keep taking names and kicking ass!
Cheering you on,
Dr. Green
Dr. Green,
Thank you for this! I’ve already learned a lot. My story: After decades of (toots own horn: successful) activism here in the UK, I feel a disconnect with my sons’ friends. They seem to have given up on trying to make a difference. I try to engage them with stories of our wins, but I can’t seem to break through.
They act like they have lost the battle. Any advice?
Incidentally, we call these advice columns “agony aunties” in the UK. Not sure if that carries over in the States!
Signed, Agonized in Bath
Hello, Agonized in Bath,
Please say hello to Bath for me. It’s a beautiful town. I’ve lived in England and was actually inspired by the British “agony aunties” to create this column for environmentalists. (Tips her hat and bows to the UK agony aunties).
I understand your feelings of disconnection to your son’s friends — as I explained to the Three Green Amigos, younger generations are quite disgruntled with us older folks for leaving the planet in its current state. As much as we tried our best for the environment, we weren’t entirely successful. Young peoples’ minds have also been annexed by “social” technology that overwhelms their minds (which are still developing) with addictive tech-use habits, misinformation and often nonsensical and nihilistic content (Kops, Schittenhelm, and Wachs, 2025; Anvarovna, 2025).
Let’s take a look at some ways we can communicate with the young and meet them where they live in their hearts and minds:
My colleagues who specialize in youth psychology find that creating and facilitating intergenerational conversation should be based on mutual learning, shared values, and focusing on hope rather than anxiety or fear. Be an active and present listener, without interrupting or correcting young people (see resources below).
Pay attention to their concerns, mutually share feelings about environmental change, and plan local, practical projects to collaborate on.
Intergenerational Conversations on Climate and the Extinction Crisis Are Effective When Older People:
-
-
- Listen and validate their rightful concern about the future and their fears.
- Share personal stories (after they have shared their concerns — don’t act like the expert just because you’re older). For example, talk about how much local seasons or rivers have changed over the decades.
- Focus on action and solutions, avoiding doom-and-gloom wallowing to actionable, positive steps. Are there local green efforts you can do with them to make feel empowered? If they can make even one small, visible, local change in their community, they can brag to all their friends and get them involved. For example, creating a planting of some sort in a park, cleaning an empty lot, or arranging an information booth at local events.
- Pinpoint shared values in protecting family, community, health, and nature.
- Avoid intergenerational blame and steer the focus on working together to tackle climate change and the destruction of the wild.
- Acknowledge young people’s existing knowledge and motivation to make a change in the status quo.
- Use creative, fun and active engagement like community gardening, cleanups or other local events that bring folks together.
-
Never give up on the young; we owe it to them to meet them halfway.
I hope these suggestions help — and let me know how it’s going.
Cheers!
Dr. Green (who secretly hopes she’s your new favorite “agony auntie”)
Are you having trouble communicating the importance of environmental issues with younger people? What are your challenges and concerns? Do you have some success stories to share with our readers? We want to know! Maybe together we can come up with solutions for bridging the age gap.
See you next time!
Share your challenges and success stories by sending Dr. Green your questions using the form below:
Resources:
Dr. Green: How to Stay Environmentally Active at Any Age
The National Geographic Society Externship Program
The Nature Conservancy Youth Engagement Program
Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever (CNN series, April 2026): Inspired by her own experiences with mortality, award-winning journalist Kara Swisher embarks on a deeply personal and sharp-witted journey into the science, culture, and business of longevity.
Young people and false information: A scoping review of responses, influential factors, consequences, and prevention programs. Kops, M., Schittenhelm, C., & Wachs, S. (2025). Computers in Human Behavior, 169, 108650.
Psychological characteristics of difficulties in communication in adolescence. SHOKH LIBRARY, 1(11). Anvarovna, A. S. (2025).
Engaging Teens with Story : How to Inspire and Educate Youth with Storytelling by Janice M. Del Negro and Melanie A. Kimball
7 Active Listening Techniques for Better Communication by Arlin Cuncic, MA (2026)
Previously in The Revelator:
Dr. Green: Can Wildlife Get PTSD?
Facts Only
A trio of older environmentalists, referred to as "Green Amigos," continue conservation work despite health issues by digitizing data, collaborating on lectures, and supporting each other.
They have not yet engaged in formal mentoring but are open to the idea.
The Nature Conservancy and National Geographic offer mentoring programs for young environmentalists, including virtual options.
A British activist in Bath struggles to engage younger people, who seem disillusioned about environmental activism.
Younger generations often feel alienated by older generations’ perceived environmental failures.
Experts recommend intergenerational conversations focus on mutual learning, shared values, and actionable solutions.
Suggested strategies include active listening, validating concerns, and collaborating on local environmental projects.
Social media and technology are cited as factors contributing to younger people’s disillusionment and nihilism.
The article references studies on misinformation and adolescent communication difficulties.
Programs like community gardening and cleanups are proposed as ways to engage younger people.
The columnist, Dr. Green, encourages older activists to meet younger generations halfway and avoid intergenerational blame.
Executive Summary
Full Take
This piece presents a nuanced look at intergenerational dynamics in environmental activism, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities for collaboration. The strongest version of this narrative emphasizes the potential for older activists to mentor younger ones, leveraging their experience while avoiding condescension or blame. However, the article also reveals a subtle tension: younger generations are portrayed as disillusioned, overwhelmed by technology, and resentful of older generations’ perceived failures. While this framing is not inherently manipulative, it risks reinforcing a binary of "wise elders" versus "lost youth," which could oversimplify the complexities of generational attitudes.
The advice offered—active listening, shared projects, and avoiding doom-and-gloom messaging—is constructive, but the underlying assumption that younger people are primarily motivated by fear or nihilism may not fully capture their diverse perspectives. The article’s reliance on anecdotal evidence and a few cited studies (e.g., Kops et al., 2025) leaves room for questioning whether these patterns are universally applicable. Additionally, the focus on older activists "meeting younger generations halfway" could inadvertently place the burden of bridging the gap solely on the older cohort, rather than framing it as a shared responsibility.
Root cause: The narrative reflects a broader societal struggle with intergenerational trust and the legacy of environmental degradation. The unstated assumption is that older activists hold the key to re-engaging youth, which may underestimate the agency and innovation of younger generations. Historically, this echoes patterns of generational conflict in social movements, where experience and urgency often clash.
Implications: If older activists adopt the suggested strategies, they may foster meaningful collaboration, but the risk of paternalism remains. The emphasis on local, actionable projects is a strength, as it grounds abstract concerns in tangible outcomes. However, the article could benefit from more voices of younger activists to balance the perspective.
Bridge questions: How might younger environmentalists describe their own motivations and barriers to engagement? What structural factors, beyond intergenerational communication, contribute to their disillusionment? Could a more reciprocal mentorship model, where younger activists also guide older ones in areas like digital advocacy, be more effective?
Counterstrike scan: A coordinated influence campaign might exploit intergenerational tensions by amplifying blame narratives or portraying younger people as apathetic. This article does not match that pattern; it advocates for collaboration and mutual respect. The tone is constructive, not divisive.
Patterns detected: none