The Love Actually, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and Funeral writer has said he has "a lot of respect for people who don't like my films," so long as they are trying to change things in their lives, rather than just criticising.
Speaking to Dutch historian and author Rutger Bregman, who has guest-edited a special kindness edition of The Big Issue, Curtis said: "When we talk about the big challenges of our time, like climate change, the younger generation feel the urgency in their bones.
"They feel it in a way we never did... I would encourage young people who read this magazine to be as energetic as they can."
He added: "I've got a lot of respect for people who don't like my films. As long as, in their own lives, they're trying to change things rather than simply trying to knock things down."
Curtis also said that he believes younger people are far more motivated to take action on pressing issues, compared to his own generation.
