This was the first serious study into climate stress. It was conducted among young people between the ages of 16 and 30. Some notable findings:
- 9 out of 10 young people experience negative feelings caused by the climate crisis;
- 1 in 5 experiences stress;
- 70% are concerned about climate change;
- 75% sometimes feel powerless;
- 25% avoid climate news and have doubts about having children.
Winnie Oussoren (20), chair of Milieudefensie Jong, finds the results painful: “Everywhere around me, I see peers who are worried and feel unhappy because of climate stress. These figures are not a surprise, yet it hurts to see how big this problem is. We were already an unlucky generation because of the student loan system, and now we are also a stress generation.”
Taking action helps
Of the young people between the ages of 16 and 30 who experience climate stress, three quarters believe that politicians and businesses are doing far too little to solve the climate crisis. As a result, young people have even less trust in politics than older people do.
2 out of 5 young people want to take action for the climate, but do not really know how. Winnie says: “I have been active in the climate movement since I was 16, because I have experienced climate stress from a young age. Taking action helps me. I hope that other young people will find the climate movement and Milieudefensie Jong, because together we can achieve a great deal.”
Read the full study here. Test here whether you are suffering from climate stress.