Many teenagers today grow up immersed in social media, yet disconnected from what really matters: the environment, the future, and the concrete actions needed to protect them.
Today my fifteen-year-old son was sitting on the couch with a lemon popsicle in one hand and his phone in the other. Short-sleeved t-shirt, earphones in, scrolling through socials like there was no tomorrow.
And maybe, “tomorrow” is exactly what’s missing from this scene. Outside, the spring sun is shining. Inside, the thermometer reads 18.5 degrees Celsius. It’s not cold, I’d say. Yet he asks me to turn on the heating. I tell him no, it’s not necessary. He could put on a sweatshirt, maybe drink a hot tea instead of a popsicle. But his answer is a shrug as he goes back to watching pointless videos—dances, pranks, and challenges.
This seemingly trivial episode reflects a generation at risk of growing up disconnected from the reality that truly matters. A reality made of climate crisis, out-of-control energy consumption, depleting resources, and a planet that, while we scroll, is burning. Literally.
Everyday choices that change the world
Not turning on the heating for just a couple of degrees less isn’t just an economic choice – although, with today’s prices, that would already be a good reason. It’s an ecological, ethical, and urgent choice. In Italy, home heating accounts for over 17% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Every time we use heating or air conditioning when it’s not needed, turn on a light unnecessarily, buy something we don’t need, every time we choose immediate comfort over sustainability, we’re choosing the kind of future we want. And the one we’re building today isn’t promising.
10 sustainable actions for teens who want to make a difference
So, what can we do? Where do we start?
The good news is that change is possible. It’s necessary. And this especially applies to you teenagers, because you have the power to turn the present into a better future. And it’s not as hard as it seems.
Here are 10 practical things every teen (and adult) can start doing right now to stop scrolling aimlessly and start saving their future:
1. 🔌 Turn off what you’re not using
Lights, TV, computer, console – everything uses energy. If you’re not using it, turn it off. It’s a simple but powerful rule.
2. 🧥 Sweatshirt, not heating
If you’re cold, don’t rush to blast the heating. Put on a sweatshirt, make yourself a hot tea. Comfort shouldn’t cost the future.
5. 🍔 Eat smart
Cut down on meat and junk food. Choose fruits, vegetables, and local and seasonal produce, reduce food waste. Sustainable food is cool (and good for your skin too).
6. 🚲 Move smart
Walk, bike, or take public transport. You don’t need a car to go 1 km. And you might even discover corners of your neighborhood you’ve never noticed before.
7. 📵 Scroll less, live more
Set limits on social media. Use your phone to get inspired, not just to waste hours. Go for a walk, talk to someone, look at the sky.
8. 🧠 Open your eyes
Don’t stop at the headlines. Follow creators who talk about the environment, watch documentaries, read, and stay informed. Knowledge is power – even to save the planet.
9. 🗣️ Make your voice heard
Talk about it at school, with friends, online. A post, a story, a conversation – even one voice can spark change.
10. 🌱 Love nature. Live it. Defend it.
Go outside. Touch the earth, look at the sky, listen to the trees. Discover the beauty of the world around you, and you’ll understand why it’s worth fighting for.
Scrolling through a feed might entertain you for a few minutes. But saving the planet can give your life a lasting purpose. And in the end, isn’t that what you’re really looking for?
Because climate change isn’t a future problem. It’s here, now—in your house, in your lemon popsicle in April, in the heating that shouldn’t be on. And you, teenager of today, will be the adult of tomorrow. The world you’re building is the one you’ll have to live in.
And if you’re teenagers today, you’ll be the adults who truly have to face the consequences tomorrow.
Turn off your phone. Turn on your awareness.
