The future can feel overwhelming. With climate change forecasts and rapid advancements in technology, it’s easy to see why young people around the world—especially in places like the Philippines and India—are feeling a growing sense of doom. In “Not the End of the World,” Hannah Ritchie highlights a global survey where an astonishing 73 percent of young Filipinos believe the world is doomed due to climate change, and an even more troubling 92 percent say “the future is frightening.” These numbers reveal much more than pessimism; they show a generation grappling with the fear that their future may be slipping away.
These young people are not wrong. They’re paying attention, and they have every reason to be concerned. Climate change is real and urgent, and so is the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, which many fear could disrupt jobs and displace livelihoods. Yet while the challenges are undeniably daunting, we can’t let despair be our guiding force. Now more than ever, we need “urgent optimism”—the belief that, yes, we still have a future and that it is within our power to shape it.
A future worth fighting for
Every major challenge we face, no matter how insurmountable it seems, carries the potential for action and positive change. In the Philippines, where extreme weather is becoming the norm, young people’s deep concern reflects the urgent need for resilience, climate advocacy, and sustainable practices. This advocacy is already taking root; young climate activists, environmental engineers, and scientists are working tirelessly to protect vulnerable communities and find solutions.
In the same way, artificial intelligence represents an essential opportunity for progress. While conversations around AI often focus on fears—of machines taking over jobs, of technology surpassing human control—it’s vital to recognize its potential for good. AI can support everything from environmental conservation to healthcare, even helping preserve endangered languages and empower marginalized communities. For every job AI might automate, it also holds the potential to create new fields and opportunities, redefining work in ways that enhance human potential.
Embracing urgent optimism
The idea of “urgent optimism” is not about downplaying our challenges or believing things will simply improve on their own. It’s about combining hope with action, recognizing that we have a future worth fighting for and that our choices now can shape what that future looks like. For those of us in countries like the Philippines, we can harness our experiences on the front lines of climate change to lead in resilience, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
Similarly, we have the power to shape AI’s role as a positive force. By promoting ethical AI research, transparency, and inclusivity, we can develop technology that supports, rather than replaces, human work. AI can bridge divides, preserve languages and cultures, and open doors for all communities, transforming the digital world into a place of growth rather than exclusion. Initiatives that use AI to empower communities—from translating critical health information into local languages to providing equitable digital education—offer real paths to empowerment.
A future defined by action
We can choose how to respond to the challenges before us. For young people anxious about their place in the world, know this: you are not alone in these fears, and you are not powerless to change them. Every act of advocacy, every innovation, and every piece of technology designed with empathy and purpose moves us toward a future that respects both humanity and our planet.
Together, we can confront these global challenges, not with despair but with determination. Because, yes, we still have a future—and it’s one we’re building today, one choice at a time.