An inspiring and proactive initiative! The "Future Fridays" program, focused on coastal cities and driven by students, is a great way to empower the next generation to advocate for a more sustainable future.

The program's key themes are strong and directly address some of the most pressing environmental challenges.

What follows is a breakdown of the key elements and how they contribute to citizen empowerment and resilience

1. Generating Clean Energy

Renovating dirty thermal electricity stations to generate clean energy is a critical step. By addressing this, students are directly challenging a major source of pollution and advocating for renewable sources like solar, wind, or geothermal power. This not only cleans the air but also strengthens a community's resilience by reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.

2. Promoting a Minimalist Way of Life

Encouraging a minimalist way of life is a powerful message against overconsumption. This concept isn't just about owning fewer things; it's about making conscious choices that reduce waste, conserve resources, and shift priorities from material goods to experiences and community. This change in mindset is fundamental to creating a sustainable society.

3. Increasing Surcharge on Short-Haul Flights

This is a very specific and impactful policy suggestion. By proposing a surcharge on short-haul flights, the program highlights the significant carbon footprint of air travel and suggests a way to incentivize more sustainable travel options, like trains or buses. The revenue from such a surcharge could even be used to fund clean energy projects or improve public transportation.

Expanding the Program

The "Others" category allows for flexibility and innovation. Students could explore other topics relevant to coastal cities, such as:

• Protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs. These natural barriers are essential for protecting communities from storm surges and rising sea levels.
• Improving waste management systems to prevent plastic and other pollutants from entering the ocean.
• Advocating for better public transportation to reduce reliance on personal vehicles.

Love Blitz

By having students write to local and global authorities every Friday, the program creates a consistent, powerful voice for change. It teaches young people about civics and gives them a platform to make a real difference in their communities and the world.

Team Joyist Nation Organizations