Young People Are Worried About Climate Change. Why Are No Candidates Talking About It?

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A study published October 17, 2024 in the medical journal The Lancet — Planetary Health finds the overwhelming majority of young Americans worry about climate change and more than half say their concerns about the environment will affect where they decide to live and whether to have children.

“One of the most striking findings of the survey was that this was across the political spectrum,” lead author, Eric Lewandowski, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told The Guardian. “There was no state sample where the endorsement of climate anxiety came in less than 75%.” The study was paid for by Avaaz, an advocacy group and conducted by researchers from NYU School of Medicine, Stanford University, Utah State University, the University of Washington and George Washington University, among others.

An overwhelming majority of young people said they were worried about the climate crisis. 85% said they were at least moderately worried, and more than half (57%) said they were “very or extremely” worried. Nearly two-thirds endorsed the statement: “Humanity is doomed,” and more than half of the sample (52%) endorsed: “I’m hesitant to have children.”

“I often hear adults say that our generation, gen Z, will fix what they have broken. What they may not understand is the pressure this puts on all of us,” said Zion Walker, a student and member of the Climate Mental Health Network’s Gen Z Advisory Board, in a statement. “Yes, we are taking steps and fighting for the future, but many of us are overwhelmed by the daily reality of climate disasters — waking up to news of wildfires engulfing homes and hurricanes taking lives.” Large majorities of both main political parties — 92% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans — said they worried about the climate. Respondents also said they had negative thoughts about the climate and had planned action to respond to their concerns, including voting for political candidates who would pledge to support “aggressive” action.

Using a statistical technique called a regression model, researchers also found that young people who reported more exposure to more climate related disasters were more likely to want a plan for action. “One of the findings we talk about in the text was the proportion of people who want this to be talked about,” said Lewandowski. He added that more than 70% of young people want the climate to be a subject of discussion, “and for older generations to try to understand how they feel.”

The new research represents an emerging topic in mental health stressors. The relationship between mental health impacts and natural disasters — such as Helene, Milton, and even Covid-19 — is well established. Researchers have even found a dose-response relationship, with more reported depression symptoms associated with greater exposure to disaster. Climate anxiety, such as worry about the future of the planet, is an area of emerging research.

“Stressors like divorce, unemployment, having your kids do poorly in school, having a hard time looking after your ageing parents are all associated with worse mental health,” said Dr Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, who was not involved in the research. Although less studied, Galea said, “having stressors around climate, worsening of the planet, fear of things like conflict — those are all very plausibly associated with poor mental health.”

The Climate Change Study

In the Introduction to the study results, the researchers wrote,

“As the impacts of climate change increase, emotional and psychological consequences are becoming apparent. A well established literature from countries around the world has described many adverse effects to mental health posed by climate change, including direct effects of weather-related disasters and extreme temperatures, and indirect effects associated with displacement, economic loss, and other environmental risks and changes. Expanding global research has also reported mental distress in response to the awareness of climate change and its impacts. In particular, climate anxiety has been identified as a type of emotional response to climate change that can impair functioning and might be linked to specific mental health problems, including depression and generalized anxiety, and in severe cases, substance use and suicidal thinking.

“The term climate emotions has been used to describe the range of emotions related to the recognition of current and future risks from climate change, including distressing emotions such as anxiety, fear, sadness, grief, and anger. Distressing climate emotions have been conceptualized generally as normal responses to climate change that do not necessarily reflect a mental health problem. However, considering the WHO definition of mental health as not only the absence of disorder, but as a general state of well being, productivity, engagement, and resilience, these emotions can reflect a substantial challenge to an individual’s mental health.”

The study narrative continues,

“To our knowledge, this survey is the largest to assess climate emotions in adolescents and young adults (aged 16 – 25 years) in the USA. Additionally, it is the only study of which we are aware to consider the influence of perceived exposure to severe weather events linked to climate change, and of political identification, as a salient factor for climate beliefs, on climate related distress. Results indicated widespread endorsement of distress about climate change, identifying responses of governments and corporations, and exposure to an array of severe weather events types, among the factors most frequently contributing to this distress.

“Results also indicated that respondents desire action from industries, corporations, and governments, including the US Government, and that respondents have plans for action, including a likelihood of voting for political candidates who support aggressive climate policy. This is the first study of which we are aware to show high frequencies of climate related distress and desire and plans for action across the political spectrum. Distress increased incrementally as respondents reported exposure to more types of climate related severe weather events.”

Where Are Our Political Leaders?

During the one (and only) debate between the two current candidates for president of the United States, exactly one minute of the hour was allotted to the topic of climate change. One candidate had nothing to offer and the other largely sidestepped the issue. Arguably the most vital topic that should be important to most voters was ignored. Nor is climate change a feature of any campaign ads this election season. Instead, the discussion has centered on immigrants eating dogs and cats. What does that say about relying on the political process addressing climate change in any effective way? If you said, “Not much,” go to the head of the class.

The Secretary General of the United Nations has pleaded in the most strenuous terms about the need to address the coming climate emergency. Meteorologists who attempt to educate people about climate change are rewarded with death threats for their efforts. China is sending aircraft carriers into the waters east of Taiwan — something it has never done before. Israel is intent on expanding its military campaign to most of its neighbors. Russia and Ukraine continue to trade military thrusts and parries. The Earth is sending us multiple warnings that it is overheating to the point where humans may no longer be able to survive in many countries, yet our focus continues to be on war, corporate profits, and whether gay people have a right to exist. Based on that background, the prospect of climate change becoming a focal point for global political action seems remote.

If the results of this latest study are accurate, the majority of potential voters are concerned about climate change but their political leaders are ignoring it to focus on wedge issues. In the past few weeks, two powerful hurricanes have done enormous damage to many parts for the southeast portion of America. Those storms were turbocharged by unusually warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. But the political debate is about FEMA, not climate change.

It reminds me of the story of a man in a flood zone, watching the water rise to the first floor of his home. A man in an rowboat comes by and offers to take him to safety. He thanks the man but declines because he believes God will protect him. An hour later, the water is up to the second floor. A man in canoe comes by and offers to take him to safety but he again he declines because he believes God will save him.

An hour later, he is standing on his roof as the flood waters continue to rise. A helicopter passes overhead and offers to transport him to safety. He declines the offer. An hour later, he drowns. The man goes to heaven, where he gets to meet God in person. He yells at God for failing to save him. God says, “I sent you a rowboat, a canoe, and a helicopter. There is only so much even I can do.” What excuse will we offer our children and grandchildren when they ask us why we failed to protect them from climate change when we had the power to do so?