Today’s young adults are coming of age under the looming shadow of climate change. While awareness is high among Millennials and Gen Z, so too is the emotional burden. Climate anxiety—a chronic fear of environmental doom—is widespread among youth, often coupled with feelings of betrayal by older generations and hopelessness about the future. This existential dread affects not only mental health but also decision-making about careers, relationships, and whether to have children.
The pressure to “fix” climate change often falls on young shoulders, creating unrealistic expectations and deep fatigue. Activists, students, and even those simply aware of the issue struggle with guilt over personal lifestyle choices and anger at systemic inertia. Many report feelings of paralyzing overwhelm—wanting to act but feeling that individual efforts are insignificant against such a massive, global crisis.
Social media, while helping mobilize climate movements, also intensifies these emotions. Constant exposure to alarming news, coupled with the pressure to be vocal and active online, can lead to burnout. Moreover, the intersection of climate anxiety with other societal stresses—economic insecurity, housing crises, political instability—compounds the emotional toll, creating a generation uniquely burdened yet deeply determined.
Support for young adults facing climate anxiety must go beyond platitudes. Educational institutions, mental health providers, and policymakers need to recognize climate anxiety as a legitimate concern, not youthful exaggeration. Empowering young people through meaningful action pathways, climate literacy programs, mental health resources, and intergenerational dialogue can transform anxiety into agency—and foster hope in an uncertain future.
Kanishka