A future leader speaks

Green Futures: Now you’re into your second term, how’s it going? Living the dream? Drinking the loan?

Jo Median: Er... well I’m having a great time. But it’s not all parties. As often as not I’m too knackered and broke for the big nights. And I’m not saying I’m nerdy or anything, but I’ve put my loan in a high interest account – means I can milk it for a bit more income. Thought it was a bit clever, but it turns out 12% of my mates are doing the same.

GF: Hardly the stuff of rebellion, is it? Shouldn’t you students all be on the streets, protesting about poverty and whaling?

JM: Lots of us still do that stuff; writing to our MPs, going on demos. It’s a minority thing, though. But there are some issues we do tend to agree about – like banning those berks in their Chelsea tractors, for starters. And half the lads want to see carbon rations brought in sharpish – even if it means a bit less freedom.

GF: So you’ve avoided getting a serious C habit then?

JM: ...what?

GF: Carbon. No flying in your gap year, I assume.

JM: Ah, well, flying, that’s a bit different. I mean, you’ve got to see all these exotic places before they disappear, haven’t you? Still, most of us do walk, cycle, buy local food, whatever. I think we’re better at that kind of practical action.

GF: So you must have been pretty careful about which university you chose?

JM: Totally. Nice town, banging nightlife, and not far from my folks when I need my laundry doing. Sweet.

GF: More seriously, though?

JM: Oh yeah, seriously, you know, the best college, the best course, good teaching – it’s all in the league tables.

GF: And what they’re doing about the environment?

JM: Hadn’t thought of that. Are they doing something?

GF: Didn’t they send you anything about their efforts on environmental and social responsibility?

JM: No… not sure to be honest. I wouldn’t mind having a look at that, now you come to mention it.

GF: So, another couple of years and you’ll be looking for a job?

JM: Too right, with the debts I’ll have. My mates are all focused on getting a good career, somewhere where they really invest in you, job security, decent wages. It would be nice to have a bit of a challenge too. But I don’t want to end up a workaholic like my Dad – 70-hour weeks, he’s knackered.

GF: What about giving something back – a worthwhile job?

JM: Well, that sounds like a nice idea. But to be honest, I’m more worried about paying off my debts than finding an ethical employer.

GF: So what does the future hold? Where do you see yourself in ten years?

JM: Just the normal things really. I hope I’ll have an interesting job, and plenty of time to spend with my family and friends. I’d like to own my own house, but I can’t quite see how at the moment. It would be nice to be in a relationship, and like I said, maybe I’ll be giving something back. I want to do a masters and a bit more travel too – those exotic places are calling!

GF: A bit further out, what do you think the world will be like? In 2032 when you’re my age?

JM: You’re never that old are you? Funny actually, we’ve organised a sweepstake – what’s going to happen in the next 25 years. Odds-on at the moment are the end of oil, and Africa still starving. Then there’s climate change hitting home, more natural disasters. At least as much terrorism, inequality still getting worse – and the Amazon rainforest will have disappeared. Miserable lot aren’t we! Half of us even think nukes will have been used, and nearly half think the US will still be in Iraq.

GF: Is it all bad?

JM: Pretty much. On the other hand, there’s a pretty even split over whether quality of life is going to improve, and most of my mates still think flying is going to be widely available – I hope they’re right!

GF: So who do you blame?

JM: Everyone really. Government should be all over this stuff, and I suppose they’re doing a bit, but Brown, Cameron – we’re not really convinced they’re trying that hard on climate change. Business has got to be part of the answer yet hardly any of them are really doing anything, unless it means they can sell us some more crap. There’s lots more media coverage of some of the issues, but you still get silly climate change denial shows that set the whole debate back again.

GF: What about celebs? Live Earth, that kind of thing.

JM: Oh please. I really don’t need Bono to take a break from his world tour to tell me about poverty and carbon emissions.

GF: So, will humanity make it?

JM: Oh yes! We’ve definitely got another century in us. But it can’t be like this. We need some real leadership, and we’ve got to radically change our lifestyles, especially cut down on all this consumption – this stuff we’re so obsessed with.

GF: We’ll all have to be environmentalists?

JM: Innit.

Jo Median could have been any one of the 25,000 participants in the Future Leaders Survey carried out by UCAS/Forum for the Future, sponsored by Friends Provident. To find out in more detail what Jo’s real contemporaries thought about the issues discussed, visit www.futureleaderssurvey0708.org.uk

Ben Tuxworth is director of communications at Forum for the Future.

31 January 2008

Ben Tuxworth