The "Transition Generation”: Gen Z’s Social Representations of Climate Change in Malaysia
Abstract
Climate change remains a heavily debated global challenge, yet public understanding is frequently obscured by abstract scientific narratives. This exploratory study utilizes Moscovici’s Social Representation Theory (SRT) to examine how a group of Generation Z in Malaysia, commonly referred to as the "Transition Generation", perceives climate change and defines their role in addressing it. This qualitative research used semi-structured group interviews with 15 university students aged 20 to 22 from a public university in Malaysia. The interview data was qualitatively analyzed, using open coding method, and then mapped onto anchoring and objectification categories from SRT. The findings reveal that majority of participants classify climate change as a critical threat requiring urgent intervention. Rather than treating the crisis in abstract scientific concept, the Gen Z in this study anchor abstract concepts within lived local experiences, such as intensifying heatwaves, irregular monsoons, flash floods, and landslides. Through objectification, they translate the lived experiences of dealing with climate change crisis into reported practices like reducing single-use plastics, conserving energy, and avoiding food waste. Furthermore, they leverage on digital platforms to share knowledge about climate change and spread awareness about climate change in Malaysia. In conclusion, this exploratory study demonstrates how this group of Gen Z translate their understanding of climate change into reported practices and civic awareness. The study proposes that green initiatives and localized environmental communication must be made available to this group to empower them to help transform environmental policies into localized green actions.
Keywords: Gen Z; climate change; social representation theory; environmental discourse; eco-anxiety; green initiatives
Perubahan iklim ialah cabaran global yang sering diperdebatkan, namun pemahaman awam sering kali kabur disebabkan oleh naratif saintifik yang abstrak. Kajian penerokaan ini menggunakan Teori Representasi Sosial (SRT) oleh Moscovici untuk meneliti persepsi Generasi Z di Malaysia, yang sering dirujuk sebagai "Generasi Transisi", terhadap perubahan iklim dan persepsi mereka mengenai peranan mereka dalam menangani isu ini. Penyelidikan kualitatif ini menggunakan temu bual kumpulan separa berstruktur yang melibatkan 15 pelajar universiti berusia 20 hingga 22 tahun dari sebuah universiti awam di Malaysia. Data temubual dianalisis secara kualitatif menggunakan kaedah pengekodan terbuka dan kemudian dipetakan kepada mekanisme kognitif anchoring dan objectification. Dapatan kajian mendapati majoriti responden mengklasifikasikan perubahan iklim sebagai ancaman kritikal yang memerlukan tindakan segera. Dapatan kajian bagi kategori anchoring mendapati Gen Z di dalam kajian ini tidak melihat krisis tersebut sebagai konsep saintifik yang abstrak, malahan kumpulan ini mengaitkan konsep saintifik yang abstrak kepada pengalaman perubahan iklim yang mereka lalui, seperti gelombang haba yang semakin meruncing, musim monsun yang tidak menentu, banjir kilat dan tanah runtuh. Melalui kategori objektification, mereka menterjemahkan pengalaman mereka dalam mendepani krisis perubahan iklim kepada amalan seperti mengurangkan penggunaan plastik, menjimatkan tenaga dan mengelakkan pembaziran makanan. Seterusnya, mereka memanfaatkan platform digital untuk berkongsi ilmu dan menyebarkan kesedaran kepada masyarakat tentang perubahan iklim di Malaysia. Kajian ini menyimpulkan kumpulan Gen Z yang terlibat dalam kajian ini menterjemahkan pemahaman mereka tentang perubahan iklim kepada bentuk amalan tertentu dan kesedaran sivik. Kajian ini mencadangkan agar kempen inisiatif hijau dan komunikasi alam sekitar yang disesuaikan dengan konteks tempatan dikongsikan dengan golongan ini, untuk memperkasakan mereka dalam membantu mengubah dasar alam sekitar menjadi tindakan hijau di peringkat tempatan.
Kata kunci Gen Z; perubahan iklim; Teori Representasi Sosial; wacana alam sekitar; kebimbangan ekologi; inisiatif hijau
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/gema-2026-2603-09
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