In June 2024, 13 young people in Hawaii fought their state government in court and won the right to have a greater say in climate policy.
He sued the state for violating his right to a “clean and healthful environment” guaranteed under the state constitution.
In victory, young people forced a number of concessions, including a pledge to achieve net-zero targets by 2040 and invest more than US$40 million in electric vehicles over the next six years.
Young people are turning to activism to cope with the emotional weight of a troubled world.
From Greta Thunberg to Australia’s Anjali Sharma, there are many people in Generation Z who are taking action on climate.
Although the United Nations will add the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2022, making it more likely that governments can be taken to court, it is still not easy.
Generation Z is growing up in an era where the impacts of climate change are immediate and undeniable, leaving them feeling powerless.
Generation Z – people born between 1995 and 2010 – makes up 30 percent of the global population. In Australia’s latest census, Generation Z accounted for 18.2 percent (or 4.6 million) of the country’s 25 million population.
Unlike previous generations, who had time to gradually adjust to the realities of environmental change, Generation Z is acutely aware of the ecological crises happening all around them, leading to a deep sense of environmental concern.
Distress and fear
As a result, many in the digitally connected, globally aware Generation Z experience intense climate anxiety, linked to long-term fear, distress, and deep worry about the future of the planet.
A survey of Australian Gen Z university students conducted between September 2021 and April 2022 involving 446 participants revealed that climate change is their top environmental concern.
They often feel let down by older generations, governments and institutions whose actions seem inadequate in the face of mounting evidence about the environmental threats facing the world, and especially Australia.
More than 80 percent of young people surveyed expressed serious concern, with many experiencing severe climate anxiety.
This anxiety manifests in a variety of forms, including ecological anxiety, solastalgia (distress caused by environmental changes), and climate grief, reflecting the complex emotional landscape of a generation coming of age amid a global environmental emergency.
The situation facing Generation Z and their future prospects is made even more dire by the complexity of other developments, resulting in what is known as polycrisis, “a great deal of disagreement, confusion, or suffering caused by so many different problems occurring at the same time that together they have an enormous impact.”
existential threat
Environmental anxiety is a chronic fear of environmental disaster that arises from the perception that climate change poses an existential threat.
For many of Gen Z, the overriding nature of this threat causes constant anxiety and stress. It is also driven by a sense of urgency and responsibility they feel they have to comply.
Generation Z is witnessing their local natural environments and the broader global ecosystem undergo rapid, often devastating and irreversible changes, including biodiversity loss, species extinction and ecosystem degradation.
Many people experience intense grief associated not only with physical loss, but also with the loss of hope for a stable and prosperous future.
With 96 per cent of Australian Generation Z people believing climate change is man-made, young people are experiencing rising levels of stress, anxiety and depression as they grapple with the realities of a warming planet.
For some members of Generation Z, the constant stream of climate-related news, and personal experiences of climate-related disasters, such as wildfires, floods, droughts or cyclones, cause a form of trauma that can have long-term effects on mental health.
A generational crisis
For Generation Z, concern about climate change isn’t just about fear of environmental destruction; it’s also about a crisis of identity and purpose.
As they grow up in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable and unpredictable, many young people are questioning what kind of future they can expect, and whether it is ethical to plan for the future in traditional ways, such as building a professional career, starting a family or buying a home, when the planet is under so much threat.
This identity crisis is further compounded by the pressure to take action. Many young people feel a deep sense of responsibility to tackle climate change, but this can also lead to feelings of guilt and shame when they perceive their actions as inadequate.
The burden of this responsibility can be overwhelming, leading to fatigue and feelings of futility.
The role of activism
In response to these challenges, some members of Generation Z are turning their concern into activism.
Climate activism is seen as a way to reclaim a sense of control and agency in the face of enormous challenges.
This activism takes many forms, from participating in global climate strikes to advocating for sustainable policies at the local level. However, activism is not a panacea for climate anxiety.
This is reflected in responses from 65 per cent of Generation Z university students in Australia, who are not engaged in traditional climate activism, but are instead using technology and social media to express their concerns.
While it can provide a sense of purpose and community, activism can also be exhausting. The need to constantly fight for change, combined with the slow pace of progress, can lead to fatigue and exacerbate mental health issues.
Additionally, the pressure to always be on the go and stay active can be mentally and emotionally exhausting, leading to further feelings of frustration and disappointment.
Mental Health Support
Given the serious mental health challenges posed by climate change anxiety, there is growing recognition of the need for robust mental health support for Generation Z.
This support must be designed to address the unique challenges of climate anxiety, the unprecedented levels of fear and despair experienced, and the feelings of hopelessness prevalent among young people.
There is a greater need for trained mental health professionals to understand and address eco-anxiety and related issues. Therapeutic interventions that focus on building resilience, promoting a sense of agency, and helping young people cope with their complex emotions are vital.
It is also important to build supportive communities where young people can share their experiences, especially positive outcomes, and their feelings about climate change.
These communities can provide a sense of solidarity and help combat the isolation that often accompanies climate anxiety. Schools and educational institutions can play an important role in addressing climate anxiety by incorporating discussions about mental health and climate change into their curriculum.
By providing young people with tools to understand and deal with their feelings, educational initiatives can help reduce the psychological effects of climate anxiety.
The way forward
The challenges posed by climate change concerns for Generation Z are indeed profound and multifaceted.
However, the importance and urgency of their role cannot be underestimated. With the climate crisis worsening in times of multi-crisis, Gen Z’s participation is crucial in shaping a resilient and sustainable future.
Her unique perspective and tireless drive for change positions her to play a key role in responding to global warming, as well as in bridging the gap between generations, fostering global cooperation, and ensuring that climate action is grounded in science and equity.
(Originally published by 360info under Creative Commons)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
