It’s easy to think that you are small and powerless when it comes to the environment. Questions such as “what can a single person do about the climate?” may occur. Individual actions, such as taking the bus instead of the car or recycling a bottle, can seem almost meaningless. At the same time, you must think about the bigger picture. What would you like everyone to do? If no one changes their habits, nothing changes at all. But is that actually true?

One factor that may influence how people reflect on and respond to this question is age. Younger people are often exposed to the climate changes in school and on social media, since it is a wide topic that is often mentioned in today’s society. They will all have to face the consequences of the choices we make today, and therefore they might have a different perspective compared to the older generations that have different experiences and knowledge.

Another factor that may influence how people respond to the question is gender. Research from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication shows that there is a consistent, although relatively small, gender difference in how people perceive climate change. On average, women tend to express slightly higher levels of concern about environmental issues and are more likely to support climate-related actions compared to men, which may be linked to differences in socialisation, values, and perceptions of risk. However, the same research also makes clear that these differences are general trends and do not apply to all individuals, as both men and women can have strong environmental awareness and engagement.

To gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives, I decided to interview people from different generations and ask them the same question “Can one person change the environment?”

This was the response from Julia Hedblom, a 17-year-old female student from Sweden:

Photo of Julia Hedblom. Image: Anna Whitlocks gymnasium.

“I think it's very difficult for just one small person to change the entire picture, but maybe that's what is needed. I think one person needs to take a huge initiative, and then maybe gather a group of people that are spreading awareness. That could be a great start. Then also getting more people to participate in clean-ups, for example after activities or festivals. More trashcans could be placed around cities to prevent people from throwing trash on the ground.”

Although Julia believes it is difficult for one single person to affect the environment and create major environmental change alone, she also thinks that one person can inspire another person to take action. The answer might be different from a young boy’s perspective thought, which is why I decided to ask the same question to Sam Ekman, a 17-year-old male student from Sweden. This was his answer:

“It depends on how you look at it. I think Greta Thunberg did a lot as an individual for the climate, but she is not the direct cause of the changes. She has influenced a lot of people to be more environmentally friendly. A single person could decide to pick up trash from the ground or to not travel by airplanes as much, but that wouldn’t fix the problems unless more people take action.”

Sam’s answer and Julia’s answer are very similar. They both believe that it is difficult for one person alone to completely change the environment. However, they also agree that individuals can still make a difference by influencing others and encouraging more people to take action. While Julia focuses more on spreading awareness and organizing activities such as clean-ups, Sam highlights how one person can inspire millions of people, as seen in the example of Greta Thunberg. Their answers suggest that environmental change does not happen because of one individual alone, but because one person can motivate others to contribute as well.

To include the perspective of an older generation, I also interviewed Lenart, a 75-year-old man from Sweden. His answer to the question “Can one person actually change the environment?” was:

Photo of Sam Ekman. Image: Mia Ekman.

“No, but I think every person can think about their choices and for example drive an electric car or travel by train or bus, instead of driving a petrol car.”

Lenart’s answer suggests that even though one person alone cannot completely change the environment, individuals can still contribute by making better choices in their daily lives. To include an older woman’s perspective, I interviewed Eva, a 72-year-old woman from Sweden. Her answer to the question was:

“One person alone cannot fix the environment, but someone has to start. I think people can inspire each other. If more people speak about environmental problems and encourage others to help, more change can happen over time. Even small actions can become important when many people do them together.”

Eva’s answer is very similar to the younger people’s perspectives, as they both emphasize the importance of inspiration. While she does not believe that one person can solve environmental problems alone, she does believe that one person can be the starting point for change by influencing others and encouraging more people to act.

However, it is important to remember that not every young person thinks like Sam and Julia, and not every older person thinks like Eva and Lenart. While some young people care about inspiring other and make changes for the environment, some young people are not concerned for the climate and don’t believe that their habits can have any effect on the environment. Some older people take much responsibility to influence others and spread awareness, such as the members of “Gretas Gamlingar”, which is a Swedish grassroots organization of senior citizens and grandparents. Inspired by young climate activist Greta Thunberg, they organize weekly demonstrations to advocate for immediate climate action and intergenerational justice. At the same time, some older people are not careful about the climate since they’re not the ones who will face the consequences of their actions. However, attitudes vary widely within generations, and some individuals may not prioritise environmental issues regardless of age or gender.

Beautiful photo of nature. Image: Moa Warfheimer.

In conclusion, the question of whether one person can actually change the environment does not have a simple yes or no answer. From the interviews, it is clear that no one believes a single individual can solve environmental problems alone. However, all the participants agree that individual actions still matter. While Julia, Sam and Eva describe how it is important for one person to inspire and influence other people to change their habits, Lenart thinks that it’s more important to focus on yourself and changing your own habits. The differences between the generations also show how perspective shapes the answer. Younger people, who are more likely to experience the long-term consequences of today’s environmental decisions, often tend to emphasize awareness, activism, and the importance of inspiring others. Older people, on the other hand, often focus more on practical everyday choices and immediate actions that individuals can take.