The energy transition represents a crucial challenge in addressing the global climate emergency, particularly in countries like Mexico, where youth actively participate in environmental debates. This study examines the current level of youth environmental education regarding energy transition, exploring how students’ perceptions of renewable energies and fossil fuels are shaped by media discourses, especially digital ones, and how these perceptions correlate with their actual energy literacy.

Methodologically, a mixed-method approach was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques through initial diagnostic surveys administered to high school students. These surveys assessed basic knowledge of energy sources, environmental perception, and the use of social networks as information sources. Subsequently, a brief educational intervention was conducted, consisting of interactive sessions and pedagogical activities tailored to a youth context, aiming to enhance critical understanding of the national energy matrix, dependency on natural gas, and the concrete challenges of implementing renewable energies in Mexico.

Initial findings revealed high environmental sensitivity among young people but also identified significant gaps in technical knowledge. Many students demonstrated idealized and decontextualized perceptions about the energy transition, primarily influenced by global discourses and viral social media content. The educational intervention significantly reduced these gaps, improving not only technical knowledge but also critical capacity to interpret messages related to energy and climate change.

This research underscores an urgent need to strengthen youth environmental education in Mexico through innovative and contextually relevant pedagogical strategies. Developing critical energy literacy is essential to ensure that future generations can participate knowledgeably in energy-related decisions, supporting a realistic, fair, and contextually adapted energy transition in Mexico.

Keywords: Energy transition, youth environmental education, energy, digital activism, climate change.