Climate change and eco-anxiety

To better understand

What is climate change?

The term climate change refers to variations in climate linked to global warming. It has now been demonstrated that human activity has been primarily responsible for the global warming that has been observed since the 1950s [1]. The rise in sea level and the increased risk of flooding, forest fires and heatwaves are just a few of the events related to climate change.

What role can young people play in all this?

Many believe that climate change is the challenge of our century. And young people are the most concerned. Why? Simply because these young people are the ones who are likely to be the most affected by the impacts of climate change, but they don’t think they have the power to change things.

Should I feel concerned about my teen?

Your teen may be preoccupied by climate change without it being harmful to their health. This preoccupation is not necessarily negative. It can motivate them to get involved and be an opportunity for rich and satisfying experiences. Such a commitment can also be an opportunity to develop relationships with people who share the same vision and, through concrete actions, give them a feeling of competence.

More and more people, both youth and adults, are concerned about climate change. Have you already heard the term “eco-anxiety”? According to Maxime Boivin, a researcher at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, eco-anxiety refers to “feelings of psychological and sometimes physical distress, varying in intensity, characterized by apprehension about climate change and the state of the environment and the impact this will have on individuals and society in the not-so-distant future”[2].

Eco-anxiety may vary in intensity (mild to severe) and can worsen over time and with events. Certain factors can contribute to increasing it:

• Extreme weather events (e.g. tornados, violent storms, heatwaves, fires, floods).
• Bad news about the climate (e.g. authorization of a petroleum project).
• Personal decisions (e.g. deciding whether or not to have children or to go travelling).
• Already having had to deal with the consequences of climate change (e.g. health problems, property loss, relocation).
• Anything that reminds them about or increases their sense of urgency (e.g. news in the media).

If your teen’s eco-anxiety becomes intrusive and persistent, and is getting in the way of their daily activities, don’t hesitate to ask for help and consult a professional (see resources below).

My teen’s resilience may help them:

The COVID-19 pandemic gave us a chance to discover how resilient we are. We learned to use our resilience on a daily basis. Resilience is the ability to adapt and continue living and developing following a change, uncertainty or loss. Resilience can be developed through completing projects, making meaningful connections, cultivating a positive self-image and an ability to handle our emotions and health well and by resolving problems. Therefore, resilience contributes to positive mental health, as well as preventing eco-anxiety, among other things.

Following are a few tips to help your teen develop their resilience and keep their concerns about climate change at a heathy level.