A tightening in the chest. A drop in the stomach. Quickening breath. Feelings of dread, anxiety, fear, or hopelessness when you think about the future of the planet and what it will mean for humanity. These are signs of climate distress—an experience that affects many of us, but is particularly acute in young people. 

While communities and families can help support young people in their climate distress, it is the government that has the most power and responsibility in responding to the climate crisis. PSC was recently invited to speak at a Senate hearing on independent Senator David Pocock’s ‘Duty of Care’ bill, where our submission highlighted the emotional impact on young people of the government’s climate inaction.

‘At PSC, we’re at the cutting edge of seeing what climate distress really is,’ says PSC’s Honorary Senior Advisor Dr. Charles Le Feuvre, who represented PSC at the hearing. ‘We really see a lot of people—a lot of young people—who are greatly distressed about the climate one way or another. Goodness knows how distressed they are going to be in the future, how future generations are going to feel.’ 

As the government continues to approve fossil fuel projects, young people currently stand to inherit an unlivable planet. A recent study by Lancet Planetary Health surveyed young people around the world and found the following: 

• 50% of Australian young people believe ‘humanity is doomed’ due to climate change.
• Around 60% of young people report feeling fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, and/or powerlessness. 
• 76% of young Australians say ‘the future is frightening’ because of climate change. 

There is also a correlation between government inaction and climate distress in young people, with 58% saying that governments are betraying them. 

‘Young people… are feeling very uncared for [by the government]’, Charles told the Senate committee. ‘That’s very traumatic. They can be very anxious and feel helpless and alone.’ PSC’s submission argued that the government’s duty of care extends not only to cutting emissions, but to acknowledging and safeguarding the emotional wellbeing of young people into the future. ‘Really showing due care to children and young people will have a very considerable impact on their mental health,’ says Charles

There is no doubt that climate change is both causing and exacerbating mental health problems through extreme weather events, and through slower changes such as drought and temperature increases. Climate distress will only increase as the climate crisis deepens creating more stresses on the communities and systems we live in, including water and food supply, uneven distribution of wealth, migration and conflict.

While communities and families can help support young people in their climate distress, it is the government that has the most power and responsibility in responding to the climate crisis. ‘It’s a climate emergency, and even though the current government has done a lot more than the previous government, it’s still not doing enough,’ Charles explains. ‘The government needs to do everything they can to reduce emissions, and also to show more understanding of how young people feel about the climate situation.’

While the bill is unlikely to pass, it is still doing important work: it has put the health and mental health of children and young people into the climate equation. ‘I think this can build some momentum,’ says Charles. ‘So many people are passionate about these issues.’

Climate distress is very real, and only growing. While young people are feeling particularly distressed about the climate, climate emotions affect all of us. It’s important to remember that experiencing climate distress does not mean there is anything ‘wrong’ with you; it’s actually a healthy, proportionate response to an upsetting situation. At times, particularly if not adequately cared for, climate distress can also tip over into clinical anxiety or depression which may need professional help by a Climate Aware Practitioner, GP or other mental health professional. We also have plenty of resources, events, and support available to support you and young people in your life to navigate your climate emotions. Head over to our Climate Feelings Space for more.

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If you’re interested to learn more about the Duty of Care bill and young people’s fight to hold the government accountable, you might like to watch this episode of Australian Story profiling young climate activist Anjali Sharma.