Things Millennials Say: 'Don't Call Me an Environmentalist!'

Born between 1980 and 2000, "(m)illennials are more likely than other generations to believe that humans are responsible for climate change," states Chris Benderev in this radio report (with text) that is part of NPR's New Boom series on millennials in America. Just think twice before calling them environmentalists, regardless of how environmentally-oriented their lifestyles may be.

A Pew Research Center poll earlier this year asked participants if they felt the term "environmentalist" describes them very well. Over 40 percent of respondents said yes, except when it came to millennials. Just 32 percent of them agreed. That might not seem substantial, but Pew says it's statistically significant.

Benderev's reporting suggests that 'environmentalist' may be more of a generational term—one that the parents and grandparents of millennials would be comfortable using but millennials may be uncomfortable with.

Lisa Curtis, the young composter, offered a reason.

"It's starting to be used more in a derogatory way," she says. "Oh you're such an environmentalist. You're not in touch with the real world."

Curtis also penned her own opinion piece on this topic for Grist in 2012. My apologies to Ms. Curtis for my re-using the title of that piece.

[Hat tip to Sierra Club California for discussing this radio report at their fall meeting in San Luis Obispo, California]