Projects launched by a student energy club at Massachusetts Institute of Technology – such as a dorm electricity conservation competition and converting waste vegetable oil into bio-diesel to power the MIT shuttle fleet – are a good indication of the enthusiasm of younger people for battling climate change. Whether this will survive in the face of a difficult jobs market remains to be seen.
Many companies have claimed that, when talent is in short supply, their commitment to the environment has helped them recruit and retain top individuals. A 2007 study conducted by Monster, the online recruitment firm, found 80 per cent of young professionals wanted a job in which they could have a positive impact on the environment.
