Several years back, researcher Maya Gislason’s young daughter returned from school carrying a crayon illustration depicting Earth in the years 2020 and 2050. The initial image showed a vibrant world in shades of blue and green, while the latter portrayed a globe engulfed in flames, she recalls. Her daughter’s poignant question lingered: ‘How old will I be when I die in 2050?’
Recent research from Simon Fraser University delves deeply into the diverse array of emotions that children and teenagers encounter concerning climate change. This investigation offers one of the most comprehensive views to date on how the ongoing climate emergency is profoundly altering the everyday experiences, future outlooks, and feelings of safety among young individuals.
Gislason, an associate professor in health sciences and a co-author of the study, observes, ‘We are witnessing a generation grappling with uncertainty about whether to bring children into the world, particularly among young women and girls. Many youths are unsure about the kind of environment they will inherit or how to prepare for an unpredictable future.’
The concept of eco-emotions represents an attempt to broaden the language we use to describe these phenomena, capturing the multifaceted nature of feelings and experiences that extend far beyond mere anxiety.
Key Findings: Eco-Emotions Among Children and Adolescents
The research identifies a wide spectrum of emotional responses triggered by climate awareness in young people:
- Deep grief and sorrow over the loss of species, natural landscapes, and traditional lifestyles that are vanishing.
- Intense anger, frustration, and a sense of betrayal, frequently directed toward societal systems, corporations, or older generations perceived as apathetic, dismissive, or actively contributing to destructive behaviors.
- Overwhelming feelings of powerlessness and helplessness, sometimes manifesting as eco-paralysis, where personal efforts seem futile against the scale of the problem.
- Guilt stemming from participation in activities viewed as harmful to the environment, such as consuming meat or other non-sustainable practices.
- Emerging sources of hope derived from community-driven initiatives, grassroots actions, and shared efforts toward collective well-being.
- The emotional profile varies significantly based on geographic location, personal histories, and direct exposure to climate-related events.
- Certain young people avoid discussing climate change due to fears of judgment, ridicule, or being brushed off by others.
This rapid review, featured in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, examined 48 international studies employing qualitative and mixed-methods approaches. These studies focused on emotions linked to climate change awareness and ecological decline among children and adolescents up to age 19.
Lead author Judy Wu, a Ph.D. candidate, notes that emotions such as anger, apathy, and betrayal surface more prominently when youths articulate their experiences freely in focus groups or interviews, rather than through structured survey formats.
A significant number of young participants expressed difficulties in sharing their climate-related feelings with friends or grown-ups. They often worry about facing criticism, inducing guilt in others, or having their concerns invalidated, particularly in areas that seem less directly affected by climate shifts, Wu explains.
The analysis highlighted that Indigenous youth and those in regions already suffering acute climate disturbances describe tangible, present-day effects—such as disruptions to routines and activities—rather than abstract future threats.
Strategies for Supporting Children Through Eco-Emotions
Contemporary youth already contend with elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression even before factoring in climate concerns, which serve to intensify these underlying issues, according to Gislason.
‘They often lack clarity about the world they are stepping into. Adults are still processing the implications of climate change ourselves,’ she states. ‘We might not always have the perfect words, but our presence matters. We can assist them in processing their emotions, planning next steps, and ensuring they don’t confront this burden in isolation.’
Gislason emphasizes the unique strengths of young people: their creativity, visionary thinking, and capacity to manifest alternative futures. ‘By involving their heads, hands, and hearts in addressing these challenges, we harness their intellectual prowess, practical actions, and emotional acuity to drive meaningful transformation.’
Findings from the review indicate that programs centered on environmental themes hold great potential for converting detrimental eco-emotions into sources of hope, positivity, and resilience—both individual and communal. Gislason advocates for leveraging this growing body of evidence to influence school curricula, mental health therapies, and policies impacting children’s well-being.
Experts recommend facilitating activities that foster empowerment, agency, social bonds, and optimism in children. These approaches should be tailored to developmental stages:
- For younger kids: Interactive, tangible tasks like sowing seeds and tending to their growth, which instill a sense of accomplishment and connection to nurturing life.
- For teenagers: Participation in local climate movements, youth-organized campaigns, and community resilience projects.
- Suitable for all ages: Building robust community ties, such as urban gardening collectives or mutual support during extreme weather events like heatwaves.
Through these tailored interventions, the study underscores the importance of equipping the next generation with tools to navigate the emotional landscape of the climate crisis, transforming vulnerability into proactive engagement and sustained hope for a viable future.
