9.1 General context
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Main concepts
In Lithuania, the involvement of young people in global problems still requires a more systematic approach to their integration into various policies, strategies and programs.
The Action Plan of the National Youth Policy for 2023-2027 formulates the priorities, goals, directions of activities, as well as the goals of the state and society for the period of 2023-2027. Some of the goals mentioned in the plan are related to global youth problems, as the program aims to: ensure the development of social security, education and health care systems that meet the needs of young people; to develop a conscious, social, patriotic, mature, cultured and creative young person who can be an active part of a diverse society; develop and coordinate the system of work with youth and ensure the development of youth employment infrastructure; to create favorable conditions for consistent and high-quality activities of youth organizations and organizations working with youth, with the aim of more active involvement of young people in organized activities; to ensure inter-agency and inter-sectoral cooperation in creating a consistent, fact-based and knowledge-based youth policy. When developing youth policy, interdepartmental cooperation is strengthened at the local self-government and international level; priority is given to promoting youth employment, strengthening the potential of youth organizations, and developing work with youth; and another important aspect is informing and advising young people on topical issues. Planned measures to promote the inclusion and empowerment of young people in the implementation of sustainable development goals, the green course, creating a harmonious relationship with the environment: 1) To encourage organizations to submit projects under Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programs in the areas of the green course, by organizing information seminars on this topic remotely (1.5.1 measure); 2) Disseminate the good experience gained by young people in the implementation of projects in the field of the green course, organize trainings on sustainability and the green course for project executors of youth and organizations working with youth (Measure 1.5.2); 3) Ensure the involvement of young people in the adoption of decisions on environmental protection, the green course, climate change and sustainable development (Measure 1.5.3); 4) Increase the awareness of young people in the fields of environmental protection and sustainable development (Measure 1.5.4).
In December 2023, the new Lithuanian progress strategy "Lithuania's future vision "Lithuania 2050" was approved (EN - https://lrv.lt/media/viesa/saugykla/2023/12/x4ltEIwkfxE.pdf), this is the most important long-term strategy - a vision that covers the essential long-term issues of state development. "One of the main reasons that forced us to rethink the previous (2030) state strategy is accelerating changes and increasing uncertainty. The world is facing ever-accelerating technological changes and their diverse impact on economic, social and management systems, climate change and biodiversity loss causing an existential crisis for humanity, financial and economic trials caused by the COVID-19 disease pandemic, demographic imbalance and other challenges. It is being considered how the states should adapt to it, how the prevailing economic models and management systems should change. The picture of the international system is changing - the order established after the Cold War is being changed by the growing power of the global East and South. In addition, other challenges are relevant for Lithuania: we are faced with low self-confidence of citizens, society, state authorities, a rapidly aging society, and a decreasing population."
Chapter I is dedicated to global changes and challenges for Lithuania. The main global changes and challenges are: 1) Increasing demographic imbalance; 2) Climate change and the crisis of the planet's ecosystems; 3) Accelerating technological development; 4) Geopolitical shifts; 5) Decline of democracies and growing inequality. "Future-shaping trends reveal the complex context of opportunities and challenges for Lithuania's further development. Each of the changes reviewed above will have multiple consequences for the development of Lithuanian society, changes in social exclusion, the country's economic competitiveness, the state of the environment, education and health protection systems, national and population security, public values and the cultural identity of Lithuania. In addition to global challenges, the country will have to overcome decisive weaknesses of the local and regional context, such as lack of trust in democratic institutions, low social capital, lack of cooperation and trust, inflexible governance, inequality and poverty. In order to solve the emerging challenges of the future and realize the opportunities that are opening up, we will inevitably need a strategic public policy, strong institutions and a society that is focused on common goals and ready for change."
One of the goals of the Law on Education of the Republic of Lithuania is "[...] to create conditions that would allow a person to acquire the foundations of civic and political culture embodying democratic traditions, to develop the skills and experience he needs. person for competence as a citizen of Lithuania and a member of the European and global community and multicultural society." The Lithuanian education system also aims to develop the values of a young person, allowing him to become an honest, knowledge-seeking, independent, responsible and patriotic person; develop communication skills important in modern life; to strengthen society's ability to ensure the sustainable development of the country's economic, environmental and human resources, internal and external economic competitiveness, national security and the development of a democratic state; to convey to every person the traditions and values of humanist culture of Europe and the world. The law defines a preventive program - a set of planned and systematic measures that help strengthen the protective factors of the student's personality and environment and reduce the influence of risk factors.
Youth interest in global issues
Information about Lithuanian youth's interest in global issues is rather fragmentary. In 12.8 point of the Action Plan of the National Youth Policy 2023-2027 states that "according to Eurobarometer data published in 2017, the interest of Lithuanian society in environmental protection issues is high - 94 percent." respondents in Lithuania say that it is important for them to protect nature. However, the results of the same study show that Lithuania is only in 20th place in the EU (82 percent; EU average - 87 percent) in terms of belief that the country's residents can have a direct impact on protecting the environment, and of those who believe, as many as 71 percent believes that it is not doing enough to protect the environment. There are no accurate statistics that would allow an objective assessment of the knowledge of environmental protection topics of the Lithuanian society, especially the youth. A survey of Lithuanian residents conducted by UAB "Baltijos tirima" in 2018 shows that only 28 percent of the population contribute to the protection of the environment and only half of them (50%) feel well informed about this issue. According to Eurobarometer 2019 data, 62% Lithuanian residents believe that climate change is a serious problem. However, data from the same Eurobarometer survey show that, when environmental issues are compared with other important issues in human life, only 4 percent Lithuanian residents indicated climate change as a very important problem (as many as 61 percent of the residents indicated that they are worried about the economic aspects of their well-being - rising prices, inflation, or rising costs of living). The results of the Eurobarometer survey conducted in 2019 show that 40 percent Protecting the environment is personally important to Lithuanian residents, so it can be concluded from the collected data that Lithuanian residents, like a considerable number of residents of other European countries, have strong environmental attitudes and values. However, the fundamental problem is that these attitudes and values are still very rarely translated into real nature-friendly behavior. According to the data of the European Commission, the awareness of the Lithuanian population on environmental protection issues is lower than the EU average: only 40%. Lithuanian respondents indicate that environmental protection is very important to them (compared to the EU level - 53%). Lithuanian residents are most concerned about the increasing amount of waste and air pollution. The results of a study conducted in 2019 (UAB "Sprinter tyrimi" 2019 survey of the opinion of the country's residents on the use of investments) show that only 24 percent Lithuanian residents have heard about the goals of sustainable development or know them well, and an international survey conducted by the World Economic Forum in 2019 revealed that the value of this indicator is three times higher on a global scale and reaches 74 percent. In the 2020 survey report of the Lithuanian population's attitude towards climate change and sources of energy production, prepared by the Kaunas University of Technology, it is noted that Lithuanians are reluctant (only 23.5%) to personally take active steps to combat climate change, and if others did, those who support this initiative the number would almost double (43.8 percent)."
In the 2023 special "Eurobarometer" survey on climate change (source – here), the survey found that 50% In the opinion of Lithuanian respondents (58% of EU respondents), energy price jumps and uncertainty regarding gas supplies after the Russian invasion of Ukraine show that the transition to a green economy needs to be accelerated. Almost nine out of ten - 87% of Lithuanians - agrees that if you want by 2050 to neutralize the EU's climate impact, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced as much as possible and the balance offset. 93% Lithuanians (87 % of Europeans) believe that it is important for the EU to set ambitious goals for increasing the use of energy from renewable sources. The vast majority of Lithuanian citizens - 92% (and 93% of EU citizens) - already make personal efforts in the climate field and consciously choose sustainable solutions in their everyday life. But when asked about who is responsible for tackling climate change, citizens emphasized that other reforms are needed alongside individual efforts, and that national governments and business and industry should also be held accountable. 86% of Lithuanians (84% of Europeans) agree that the fight against climate change and environmental problems should be a priority in order to improve public health, and 63% Lithuanians (and the same number of Europeans) agree that preparing for the effects of climate change can bring positive results for EU citizens.