Integrating the Perspectives of Youth, Women, and Marginalised Communities in Addressing Global Environmental Management Challenges

Abstract

Globally, environmental mismanagement, overconsumption, population growth, and lifestyle changes disproportionately impact society, particularly affecting marginalized and vulnerable groups in developing nations. Despite progress in raising awareness and funding, many initiatives, including Youth Engagement Programs, Capacity Building, Gender (women) Mainstreaming, and Community-Based Approaches, have been limited or ineffective due to demographic variability. This study employed qualitative and quantitative methods to examine institutional factors that hinder the effective use of demographic variables in addressing global environmental challenges. It explores how institutional and structural factors obstruct the integration of demographic variables into global environmental policies and programs. The results show that over 65 percent of the global population, particularly youth, women, and marginalized groups, remain passive victims of environmental disasters and are largely excluded from national and international decision-making platforms. This study reveals significant gender disparities in environmental knowledge, interest, and decision-making across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia, largely shaped by cultural traditions and norms. This study advocates for targeted capacity-building initiatives and the integration of indigenous knowledge to foster inclusive growth, enhance knowledge-sharing mechanisms, and address the underrepresentation of youth, women, and marginalized groups. These findings offer evidence-based insights for policymakers, researchers, and environmental organizations to enhance global environmental governance by promoting inclusivity and innovative solutions that empower these groups for active participation in policy decision-making.