Exploring climate anxiety and the role of young people in climate action

On airplanes, we are reminded to put on our own oxygen masks first, before assisting others. We have all encountered variations of this concept – ‘You can’t care for others unless you care for yourself’. It appears in many aspects of life. But how does this apply to climate change? How capable are we of addressing global issues, if we don’t address our own? 

On Wednesday October 7th, three students from the SEC (Student Environmental Committee) travelled to a Climate Anxiety conference to learn about and discuss this topic. We arrived just in time to watch the school’s students flood in for the start of class. However, we had a different mission. We were welcomed by a school leader, two host student representatives, and five students from a school north of Chiang Mai.

Apparently, there were fewer participants than expected due to the recent floods affecting Thailand. This seemed particularly relevant during an environmentally focused event, and remained a prominent part of our discussion for the rest of the morning. The professor facilitating the workshop was keen for us to reflect on the state of Thailand after the floods.

I distinctly remember an ice-breaker activity where we were presented with a collection of miniature illustrations, and each asked to choose a card that best represented our feelings about the situation. The responses varied drastically, reflecting empathy, personal struggle, and even some sense of excitement about the ample rain.

This, I found, was a constructive way of approaching the climate crisis. Environmental emergencies can provoke contrasting perspectives and disagreements, but acknowledging the emotions behind those perspectives can help us address the issue with greater understanding. I was encouraged by the respect and tolerance with which we listened to one another.

Throughout the session, the presentation and the conversation often segued into more psychological territory. I don’t think it’s what any of us expected, and for a moment it was frustrating to avoid discussing immediate environmental action. But, how often do we reflect on our emotions in response to the ever-shifting environmental state?

For many, this is an unfamiliar topic, so let’s define it: climate anxiety, as summarised by UNICEF, [1] is the ‘heightened emotional, mental or physical distress in response to dangerous changes in the climate.’ You may encounter other terms that have arisen, such as eco-anxiety, eco grief, or climate doom [2]. This phrase, ‘anxiety’ is often associated with stigma or misunderstanding. However, climate anxiety deserves particular attention. Although it is not, itself a formal psychiatric diagnosis, the feelings it can trigger are very real. What could be more human than feeling distressed in the face of external threat?

Although climate anxiety can be experienced by people of any demographic, research suggests that it is particularly prevalent among younger generations, and those experiencing the impacts of climate change first-hand. A 2021 survey of youths (aged 16 – 25) found that 59% of respondents were ‘extremely worried’ about climate change [3]. This, of course, does not represent the whole population, but it does point to the perturbation felt by many young adults. The study also found that these respondents were disillusioned with their governments’ environmental actions.

However, it’s not all bad. Although climate anxiety could be overwhelming, it can reflect how deeply we care about our planet. Not everyone can be motivated by unease about the environment. Anxiety can be inhibiting, but with appropriate support and opportunities to take action we can redirect worries to strengthen our ongoing awareness, connectivity with nature, and proactivity towards sustainable goals. As Thomas Wadsworth – one of the students who participated in the conference – reflected, we must “Focus and take action on what is actually achievable by you. In the case of climate change, to take action on what would make the most positive impact. There is no point on focusing on topics that you can’t even influence.”

Understanding climate anxiety is an important first step. The next question is what we can do to both manage these feelings, and use our passion as incentive to act. While there is no single solution, several approaches may help to combat climate anxiety, without losing sight of environmental challenges themselves:

• Limit doomscrolling. Constantly consuming climate-related news is a common symptom of eco-anxiety. Hence, knowing when to limit social media exposure is important [4]. A pleasant way to step away from fatalistic content is finding certain media outlets that offer optimistic global updates, such as the BBC Happy Pod. 
• Seek out meaningful and collective action. Individual habits, such as turning off the lights and recycling, continue to be important measures, but we can also look for community initiatives, school projects, and other opportunities to collaborate.
• Keep the conversation open. Thoughts on navigating climate change should be shared and heard. Staying informed and communicating openly can help to build a community that is more understanding and capable of taking action.
• Focus on what can be done. It is hard to stay hopeful and driven when concentrating on goals beyond our influence. As Varsha Dahiya, another student who attended the conference, wisely suggested, we must “channel our intrinsic passion and concern regarding climate change into direct action, whether it may be on a small or grand scale… If we brainstorm, research and implement feasible methods to actually tackle these problems step-by-step, then progress will eventually be achieved.”

Ultimately, climate change is one of the most ubiquitous struggles we face, and we tend to discuss it on a grand scale: what are governments doing? How are the oceans affected? How will the world look in a hundred years?

Yet climate change affects us as individuals too, not just in a hundred years, but now. Perhaps addressing it involves recognising both the world around us, and the emotions it brings. So, to return to my original metaphor: let us take care of ourselves, so that we can better care for the world. 

Written by Naomi Alpern

With contributions from Thomas Wadsworth and Varsha Dahiya

bibliography:

1. UNICEF. «Climate Anxiety». Unicef.Org, 2025, www.unicef.org/parenting/mental-health/climate-anxiety. Accessed 11 oct. 2026.
2. Leiserowitz, Anthony , y Sarah Lowe. «Yale Experts Explain Climate Anxiety». Sustainability.Yale.Edu, 13 mar. 2023, sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-climate-anxiety. Accedido 11 oct. 2026
3. Hickman, Caroline, et al. «Climate Anxiety in Children and Young People and Their Beliefs About Government Responses to Climate Change: A Global Survey». The Lancet Planetary Health, vol. 5, n.^o 12, dec. 2021, pp. 863-873, www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00278-3/fulltext, 10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00278-3. Accessed 10 oct. 2026.
4. «Got Climate Anxiety? Here’s What to Know». UCLAHealth, UCLA Health, 13 feb. 2025, www.uclahealth.org/news/article/managing-climate-anxiety. Accessed 16 oct. 2026..

Image courtesy: https://terrapass.com/blog/science-behind-climate-change-what-we-can-do/