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Young People's Political Engagement in 2024

The speech addresses the engagement of young people in politics, highlighting that a significant portion of youth in the U.S. and Europe are concerned about global issues like the economy and climate change. While voter turnout among young people may vary, their willingness to act through activism and grassroots movements demonstrates their commitment to these issues. Ultimately, the speaker emphasizes the need for governments to listen to and address the priorities of younger generations to foster greater political participation.

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17 views2 pages

Young People's Political Engagement in 2024

The speech addresses the engagement of young people in politics, highlighting that a significant portion of youth in the U.S. and Europe are concerned about global issues like the economy and climate change. While voter turnout among young people may vary, their willingness to act through activism and grassroots movements demonstrates their commitment to these issues. Ultimately, the speaker emphasizes the need for governments to listen to and address the priorities of younger generations to foster greater political participation.

Uploaded by

bmg5hgbs4p
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Speech

Good morning everyone,

Today I want to address a question often asked about our generation: Do young people
really care enough about politics and global issues?

Some might say that youth are disengaged, too distracted, or even apathetic. But the
evidence tells a very different story.

First, in the United States, the Harvard Youth Poll in 2024 found that more than half of young
people aged 18 to 29 intended to vote, with their top concerns being the economy, climate
change, and international conflicts. This clearly shows that young people are not only paying
attention, but are motivated by issues that shape the world beyond their borders.

Second, while youth voter turnout is not always as high as older generations, it is still
significant. In the 2024 U.S. election, 47% of young people cast a ballot. That was lower than
in 2020, but still far above earlier years. It proves that when issues feel urgent, young people
do take action.

Third, this isn’t just an American phenomenon. In Europe, youth turnout in the 2024
European Parliament elections did drop compared to 2019. But when asked what matters
most, young voters pointed to climate change, the economy, and education. These are not
small or local concerns—they are global priorities.

Fourth, a 2024 Eurobarometer youth survey confirmed this, showing that the environment
and economy are the top areas young people want the European Union to address. Once
again, we see that young people are engaged, but in ways that reflect their values, not just
party politics.

Finally, we must acknowledge the gap: the Edelman Trust Barometer in 2025 revealed that
younger generations, like many others, have lost trust in traditional institutions. This explains
why their engagement is often expressed through activism, digital movements, and
grassroots campaigns instead of conventional politics.
So, do young people care enough? The answer is yes. They care deeply about global issues
and are willing to act. But their energy often flows outside of traditional channels. If we want
higher voter turnout and stronger political participation, leaders must meet young people
where they are—by addressing climate change, social justice, and the economy, and by
rebuilding trust.

In conclusion, young people are not apathetic; they are selectively engaged. They care about
the future of the planet, the fairness of the economy, and the health of democracy. The
question isn’t whether young people care enough—it’s whether governments care enough
to listen.

Thank you.

📚 Sources:

• Harvard Youth Poll, Spring 2024 (Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics)

• CIRCLE, “Nearly Half of Youth Voted in 2024”

• EU–Council of Europe Youth Partnership, “Young People’s Participation in the


2024 European Elections”

• European Commission, Eurobarometer Youth Survey 2024

• Edelman Trust Barometer 2025

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