Course:CONS200/2024WT1/Climate and eco-anxiety amongst gen Z and millennial youth

1. Introduction

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Climate anxiety, especially prevalent among youth, has garnered significant attention due to the escalating impacts of climate change. This term refers to the distress and fear that arise in response to perceived environmental threats (Clayton, 2020). Over time, as awareness of climate-related disasters grows and uncertainty about future conditions increases, this form of anxiety has intensified. Youth, who are more vulnerable to the long-term consequences of climate change than previous generations, tend to experience heightened levels of concern and anxiety.

To address this rising concern, various interventions have been introduced, including promoting hope, building emotional resilience, and incorporating climate change education into school curricula (Brophy et al., 2023). Tools like the Youth Climate Anxiety Scale have also been developed to better monitor and support youth mental health (Wu et al., 2023). Looking forward, increased youth involvement in climate action is essential to transform anxiety into proactive behavior. Furthermore, policy frameworks must address the mental health needs of young people while fostering a sense of collective responsibility (Chou et al., 2023). While climate-related anxiety is a reasonable response to this global crisis, structured interventions are needed to reduce its negative impact and promote constructive engagement.

2. Understanding Climate and Eco anxiety

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(1)Climate anxiety refers to concerns, anxiety and fear caused by climate change. It is often expressed as a continuing concern and concern about climate issues such as global warming, extreme weather, natural disasters, and sea level rise. This anxiety involves not only concerns about the future ecological environment, but also deep-seated fears about human society, economic structure, and personal life.

(2)Ecological anxiety refers to anxiety, fear and helplessness caused by ecosystem degradation and environmental crisis. This anxiety stems from deep concerns about environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, deforestation, pollution, resource depletion, etc. Ecological anxiety not only reflects concerns about deterioration of the natural environment, but also concerns guilt over human damage to the planet, as well as uncertainty about the future state of ecosystems and human survival. (Brophy, H., Olson, J., & Paul, P., 2023).

(3)Causes of climate and ecological anxiety:                                              

1. Climate change: Global warming causes frequent extreme weather phenomena, such as droughts, floods and hurricanes. These events are a reminder of the gravity of the climate crisis, especially among young people, who will face the long-term impacts of their future environment.

2.Environmental degradation: Deforestation, plastic pollution, biodiversity reduction and other phenomena have caused people to worry about the Earth's ecosystems and feel that the natural environment is irreversibly destroying.

3.Global inequality: The impacts of climate change are often unequal, with developing countries and low-income people bearing a greater burden. Young people are outraged by this injustice, and fear that their future will be shaped by global economic and environmental injustices.

4.Lack of policy support: Despite widespread concerns about climate change, many young people feel that governments and businesses are inadequately responding, adding to their anxiety.

(4)Climate and ecological anxiety have a significant impact on the mental health of young people：

1.Anxiety Symptoms: Persistent attention to climate and environmental crises can trigger chronic anxiety symptoms such as insomnia, excessive worry, and inattention.

2.Depression: Feeling pessimistic, helpless, and hopeless about the future can lead to depression. Some young people feel powerless on global environmental issues, which in turn creates a deep sense of loss.

3.Impotence and burnout: Many young people realize that their impact on climate change is minimal, and this feeling of helplessness has led them to gradually abandon their environmental concerns and even become bored with their lives.

4.Existential crisis: Some people may fall into an existential crisis, question the meaning of life, or even be reluctant to give birth to the next generation because they fear that future generations will face worse conditions.

3. Generational Focus

(1) Generation Z's Perspective:

①Heightened Awareness: Generation Z grew up in an era of increasing climate change awareness, making them particularly sensitive to environmental issues (Wu et al., 2023).

②Eco-Anxiety Prevalence: This generation experiences significant eco-anxiety, often feeling a profound sense of distress and urgency regarding the ecological crisis (Brophy et al., 2023).

③Proactive Engagement: Gen Z frequently participates in climate activism, advocating for systemic changes in policies and behaviors to combat climate change (Wu et al., 2023).

④Personal Connection: They perceive the climate crisis as a deeply personal issue, influencing various aspects of their lives, including career paths and daily habits (Brophy et al., 2023).

(2) Millennials' Perspective:

①Formative Experiences: Millennials encountered climate change awareness in their youth but were also shaped by significant economic events, such as recessions, which influenced their perspectives on ecological issues (Crandon et al., 2022).

②Pragmatic Activism: Their approach to coping with eco-anxiety often includes practical activism, such as engaging in policy advocacy and adopting sustainable lifestyle practices (Chou et al., 2023).

③Structured Coping Mechanisms: Millennials tend to balance their immediate socio-economic concerns with long-term ecological goals, often developing more structured coping strategies (Galway & Field, 2023).

④Intergenerational Comparison: Compared to Gen Z, millennials may display a more measured response to climate change, focusing on gradual and systemic changes rather than immediate activism (Crandon et al., 2022).

4. Factors Influencing Eco anxiety in Youth

(1) Media and social media

①Frequent exposure to alarming climate news and visuals can exacerbate fear and helplessness.

②Social media is also a platform for environmental activism, fostering hope and community among young people.

③Information overload can be overwhelming and complicate emotional responses.

(2) Economic and social factors

①The anxiety stems from concerns about the impact of climate change on future job prospects.

②Housing instability can exacerbate anxiety.

③Marginalized communities often face greater challenges with social inequality.

(3) Education and awareness

① Effective environmental education enhances their understanding of climate issues.

② Practical projects promote active participation and turn anxiety into positive action.

5. Coping Mechanisms

We can reduce young people’s anxiety about the environment through two approaches: mental health support and activism. Mental health support includes counseling and community support. Activism focuses on how young people can alleviate anxiety through environmental protection actions. Society should provide positive guidance to young people, describing climate change not as an inevitable disaster but as a challenge that can be addressed (Stoknes, 2014). This approach can foster their sense of involvement and reduce anxiety. Additionally, collective action should be encouraged, as collective environmental actions are considered an antidote to anxiety (Benoit, 2021) and are often associated with lower anxiety levels and a positive psychological state (Clayton, 2022). Communities and schools should organize more environmental activities to give young people a sense of belonging and control over their environment. Adults should also bear moral responsibilities and obligations regarding climate change. Many young climate activists believe that adults have not assumed their corresponding responsibilities (Galway, 2023), which is a significant factor contributing to youth anxiety, as adults have not provided them with hope for the environment. Meanwhile, schools should offer more mental health counseling, providing support and planning within the educational system, such as offering counseling services, creating student support groups, and teaching students how to cope with the climate crisis. The voices of young people should be heard; about two-thirds of Canadian youth feel that they are always ignored when discussing climate change (Galway, 2023). Acknowledging their voices is crucial in alleviating anxiety.

6. Long-term Impacts

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7. Resources and Further Reading

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References

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