by – Kaveesha Panditharathna

It is hotter outside. It is rainier outside. The seasons change and our future too.

From melting glaciers in the Arctic to drying water tanks in Anuradhapura, climate change is not something that is happening “somewhere else.” It is happening RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. And the big question in front of us is: what can we, the youth, still save?

We are not just observers of this crisis, we are living it. And more than anyone else, we can help lead the way out of it.

We see the changes in our daily lives. According to the Department of Meteorology in Sri Lanka, the average temperature in the island has increased by 0.016°C per year since 1961. In the dry zones, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, with the maximum temperature in areas like Anuradhapura rising above 38°C during prolonged dry spells. Farmers in Polonnaruwa are struggling, as rainfall patterns have become increasingly unpredictable, and nearly 50% of Sri Lanka’s agricultural population has reported crop losses due to climate-related reasons (FAO, 2023).

In urban and coastal areas, the impact is also alarming. Floods in Gampaha District displaced over 12,000 people in 2021 alone, according to the Disaster Management Centre. Off the coast of Hikkaduwa, coral reefs are dying nearly 90% of coral reefs in Sri Lanka are reported to be affected by bleaching due to rising sea temperatures (IUCN Sri Lanka, 2022). Even in Colombo, students and office workers breathe air increasingly polluted by urban emissions. A 2023 WHO report ranked Colombo’s air quality as “moderately unhealthy” on multiple days throughout the year.

And while much of the world remains silent, we choose to speak out. Because we are the generation that grew up with the Internet, with access to knowledge and networks. We have the power to learn, to share, and to act. We are the most aware generation in history, and also the most affected. That’s why we are the most powerful.

Young people across Sri Lanka are already stepping up. At the University of Peradeniya, students are developing low-cost solar dryers for farmers. Youth-led NGOs like Earth Guardians Sri Lanka and The Pearl Protectors are initiating beach cleanups, climate literacy programs, and single-use plastic reduction campaigns. In Jaffna, climate clubs led by teenagers are organizing reforestation drives. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are being used to promote eco-friendly practices, turning entertainment into education.

This is not just “activism”. It is innovation. It is science-based. And it is working.

You don’t need to be a scientist or a government official to make a difference. You just need to care and to act. SPEAK UP, LOUD, AND CLEAR. Talk about climate change with your friends, family, and on social media. Post stories, share verified facts, and create art that inspires. If you love coding, build an eco-app. If biology is your strength, support climate-smart agriculture. If engineering is your path, work on clean energy projects. Use your passion to protect the planet.

Take action in your daily life: say no to plastic, eat local and seasonal foods, support eco-friendly brands, travel by bus, bike, or carpool. Start a green project at your school or in your village. Join youth climate forums like SLYCAN Trust’s youth network or Earth Watch Sri Lanka. Write to your Member of Parliament. Support youth campaigns. Vote for leaders who prioritize the environment because, real changes needs strong policy.

Across Sri Lanka from the hills of Nuwara Eliya to the shores of Batticaloa, young people are rising. We are speaking out, standing up, and saying what others are afraid to say.

Yes, it is hard. Funding is limited. Recognition is rare. But every time we plant a tree, launch a project, or say no to a plastic bag, we are winning.

We are not too young. We are not too late. WE ARE THE NOW.

This is the fight of our lives, and we are not giving up. Not when the rivers are drying. Not when our future is at stake. We still have time to save our oceans, our forests, our skies, and our dreams.

Let’s not wait for someone else to fix this.

Let’s be the generation that did.

TOGETHER, WE CAN.