Daily US Times: A new global survey shows the depth of anxiety many young people are feeling about climate change.
Nearly 60% of young people surveyed said they felt extremely worried or very worried.
More than 45% of those approached said feelings about the climate affected their daily lives.
Three-quarters of them said they thought the future was frightening because of climate change. 56% of the participants say they think humanity is doomed.
Two-thirds reported feeling afraid, anxious and sad. Many felt anger, despair, fear, grief and shame – as well as hope.
“It’s different for young people – for us, the destruction of the planet is personal,” one 16-year-old said.
The survey was led by Bath University in collaboration with five universities and it took place across 10 countries. The survey was funded by the campaign and research group Avaaz.
The survey claims to be the biggest of its kind, with responses from 10,000 people aged between 16 and 25.
Many of those questioned perceive that they have no future, governments are failing to respond adequately and that humanity is doomed.
Many feel ignored, betrayed and abandoned by politicians and adults.
The authors say the young generation is confused by governments’ failure to act about climate change. Environmental fears are “profoundly affecting huge numbers of young people”, the authors say.
Chronic stress over climate change, they maintain, is increasing the risk of physical and mental problems. And if severe weather events worsen, mental health impacts will follow.
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