Climate Anxiety is Real: How Young People Are Coping and Mobilizing

Climate anxiety has become an increasingly common experience for young people worldwide. As news about extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and environmental degradation fills our screens, many youth are experiencing genuine distress about the future of our planet.

This isn't just occasional worry—it's a profound concern that affects mental well-being and daily life. However, young people aren't just suffering in silence; they're finding ways to cope and take meaningful action.

What Is Climate Anxiety?

Climate anxiety is simply "a sense of fear, worry or tension linked to climate change". A global study found that 75% of young people aged 16-25 describe the future as "frightening" due to climate change. Nearly half (45%) report that climate-related anxiety affects their daily lives. Many experience feelings of powerlessness, betrayal, and uncertainty about their futures.

This anxiety isn't irrational—it's a normal response to a very real threat. As one 23-year-old from the Philippines explained, "I grew up being afraid of drowning in my own bedroom... At its root, our climate anxiety comes from this deep-set feeling of betrayal because of government inaction".

Healthy Ways to Cope

If you're feeling overwhelmed by climate concerns, you're not alone. Here are some strategies that help:

Connect with Nature

Spending time outdoors can reduce anxiety and remind you what you're fighting for. Try visiting parks, beaches, or natural areas regularly. As one Reddit user advised someone struggling with climate fears: "Turn off the news and the computer. Go to a national park, a beach, whatever. Enjoy life".

Take Meaningful Action

Small steps can help manage feelings of helplessness. Consider cycling instead of driving, which benefits both your mental health and the environment. Studies show regular physical activity can lower depression risk by up to 30%.

Join Community Efforts

Participating in beach cleanups, community gardens, or environmental groups provides both social connection and purposeful action. Many find that working alongside others with similar concerns reduces isolation and builds hope.

How Young People Are Mobilizing

Beyond individual coping, young people are creating powerful collective movements:

Raising Their Voices

Youth-led climate protests have spread globally, with students demanding urgent action from leaders. As Beth Irving, a 19-year-old climate activist behind student strikes in Cardiff notes, "hope needs to come from palpable structural action".

Political Engagement

Young people are voting for environmental candidates and encouraging peers to do the same. Organizations like the Environmental Voter Project help mobilize environmentally-concerned citizens to vote, creating political pressure for change.

Career Choices

Many youth are channeling their concerns into career paths where they can make a difference—studying renewable energy, environmental science, or entering politics to create systemic change.

Finding Hope Through Action

The most effective antidote to climate anxiety is meaningful engagement. When we take action aligned with our values, we move from helplessness to empowerment. While the climate crisis requires large-scale solutions, the collective power of informed, passionate young people is already creating significant change.

Remember that taking care of your mental health isn't separate from climate action—it's essential to sustainable advocacy. By balancing awareness with action, rest with engagement, we can transform anxiety into productive energy for change.

At Ikaya Earth, we acknowledge how creating spaces for young people to share their climate concerns transforms anxiety into collective action. We provide resources and community support that help youth channel their environmental passion into positive change while protecting their mental well-being.

Together, we're turning climate anxiety into climate optimism.