Big worry: The state of the earth has spurred new thinking into our responses to a planet in peril. — 360info
FROM Greta Thunberg to Australia’s Anjali Sharma and Malaysia’s Braden Yong, there are plenty of people in Generation Z who are taking action on climate.
Gen Z is growing up in an era where the impacts of climate change are both immediate and undeniable and it’s leaving them feeling powerless.
Gen Z – those born between 1995 and 2010 – make up 30% of the global population.
Unlike previous generations, who had time to gradually adjust to the realities of environmental transformations, Gen Z is acutely aware of the ecological crises unfolding around them, leading to a deep sense of environmental anxiety.
As a result, many digitally connected, globally aware Gen Zers experience intense climate anxiety, characterised by chronic fear, distress and deep concern for the planet’s future.
They often feel let down by older generations, governments and institutions, whose actions seem inadequate in the face of the growing evidence about the environmental threats the world.
Many young people have expressed significant worry and many experiencing severe climate anxiety.
This anxiety manifests in various forms, including eco-anxiety, solastalgia (distress triggered by environmental changes) and climate grief, reflecting the complex emotional landscape of a generation coming of age amid a global environmental emergency.
The situation Gen Z faces and their future prospects are further exacerbated by the complexity of other developments resulting in what is known as a polycrisis, a “great disagreement, confusion, or suffering that is caused by many different problems happening at the same time so that they together have a very big effect.”
Existential threat
Eco-anxiety, a chronic fear of an environmental catastrophe, arises from the perception that climate change poses an existential threat.
For many in Gen Z, the overwhelming nature of this threat leads to persistent worry and stress. This is also fuelled by the sense of urgency and responsibility they think they have to comply with.
Gen Z are witnessing their local natural environments and the broader global ecosystem undergo rapid, often destructive and irreversible changes, including biodiversity loss, species extinction and the degradation of ecosystems.
Many experience profound grief which is tied not just to physical harms, but also to the loss of hope for a stable and prosperous future.
With many of the world’s Gen Zs believing that climate change is human-made, young people are experiencing heightened levels of stress, anxiety and depression as they grapple with the realities of a warming planet .
For some members of Gen Z, the constant stream of climate-related news, coupled with personal experiences of climate related calamities, such as wildfires, floods, droughts or cyclones, leads to a form of trauma that can have long-lasting effects on mental health.
A generational crisis
For Gen Z, climate change anxiety is not just about fear of environmental destruction; it is also about grappling with a crisis of identity and purpose.
As they come of age in a world that seems increasingly unstable and unpredictable, many young people are questioning what kind of future they can expect to have, and whether it is even ethical to plan for the future in traditional ways, such as pursuing professional careers, starting families or buying homes, when the planet is in such peril.
This crisis of identity is further complicated by the pressure to act.
Many young people feel a deep sense of responsibility to address climate change, but this can also ignite feelings of guilt and shame when they perceive their actions as insufficient.
The weight of this responsibility can be overwhelming, leading to burnout and a sense of futility.
In response to these challenges, some members of Gen Z are channelling their anxiety into activism.
Climate activism is seen as a way to regain a sense of control and agency in the face of overwhelming 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.
While it can provide a sense of purpose and community, activism can also be exhausting. The constant need to fight for change, coupled with the slow pace of progress, can lead to burnout and exacerbate mental health issues.
Additionally, the pressure to always be “on” and engaged in activism can be mentally and emotionally draining, leading to further feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Mental health support
Given the significant mental health challenges posed by climate change anxiety, there is a growing recognition of the need for robust mental health support for Gen Z.
This support must be tailored to address the unique challenges of climate anxiety, experiencing unprecedented levels of fear and despair, and feelings of hopelessness that are so prevalent among young people.
There is a need for more mental health professionals trained to understand and address eco-anxiety and related issues. Therapeutic interventions that focus on building resilience, fostering a sense of agency and helping young people navigate their complex emotions are crucial.
Building supportive communities where young people can share their experiences, particularly positive outcomes, and feelings about climate change is also important.
These communities can provide a sense of solidarity and help combat the isolation that often accompanies climate anxiety. Schools and educational institutions can play a key role in addressing climate anxiety by incorporating discussions about mental health and climate change into their curricula.
By providing young people with the tools to understand and cope with their emotions, educational initiatives can help mitigate the psychological impacts of climate anxiety.
The challenges posed by climate change anxiety for Gen Z are indeed profound and multifaceted.
However, with the climate crisis in a time of polycrisis worsening, Gen Z’s involvement in shaping a resilient and sustainable future is critical.
Their unique perspective and relentless drive for change position them as key players in responding to global warming as well as in bridging generational divides, fostering global cooperation and ensuring that climate action is grounded in science and equity. — 360info
