Poppy Bell | Climate and Environment Fellow
Youth Strike 4 Climate Edinburgh. Image sourced from Pete Cannell via Flickr.
In recent years, eco-anxiety – the chronic fear of environmental catastrophe – has surged among young people globally. With scientific consensus indicating a dire climate trajectory, many young people are acutely aware that their futures will be defined by these changes. This anxiety is exacerbated by the perception that governments are not doing enough to address climate issues, leading to feelings of helplessness and distress. Often dismissed as dramatic by older generations, and framed as a mental health issue by media, eco-anxiety is more than youth paranoia. It is in fact a potent political force, driving a new wave of youth-led, cross-border climate activism. It is not an inhibitor, but an instigator, of productive climate action.
Dismissal of Youth Concerns
Youth climate anxiety is frequently dismissed by older generations, reflecting a stark generational divide. By framing climate anxiety as an overreaction or psychological issue, political and media institutions undermine youth activism and divert attention from urgent climate action. Young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, for example, has often been portrayed in the media as emotionally volatile or naïve, distracting from the substantive demands of the movement she represents. Such characterisations serve to delegitimise youth movements and portray young people as overly emotional or unfit for political leadership.
Studies show that youth political participation is frequently framed through a "youth deficit" lens, seen as a phase of naive idealism rather than serious engagement. During the 2019 school strikes for climate, critics labelled the protests as mere "truancy", focusing more on student absences than the crisis itself. This tactic is deliberate, shifting focus from environmental issues onto the perceived irresponsibility and immaturity of the youth involved. Similarly, in 2021, Australian politicians dismissed youth climate activism as "alarmist," even suggesting the movement itself was damaging mental health. This trivialises both the genuine distress young people experience at the hands of the climate, and their calls for systemic change. This dismissive attitude also neglects the transformative potential of eco-anxiety to actually drive positive change.
Anxiety into Action: Securitising Climate
Eco-anxiety is neither irrational nor immobilising; it has become a catalyst for urgent and productive problem-solving. Today’s youth understand that climate change is a far-reaching, time-sensitive crisis, and a legitimate emergency. This securitisation of the climate crisis demands it to be treated with the same urgency as traditional security threats like terrorism or armed conflict. Organisations such as the Youth Climate Council hence argue that government inaction on the issue is a betrayal of public safety. By framing climate change as a human security issue, young activists compel governments and international bodies to respond with the seriousness the crisis demands. This approach has proven effective in rallying resources and attention, as seen in the youth-led lawsuit against the U.S. government in Montana, which accused it of failing to protect the environment. Eco-anxiety is a powerhouse for engagement, pushing youth to adopt sustainable practices and advocate for systemic changes. Rather than causing paralysis or determinism, this emotional response motivates youth to seek solutions. This is perhaps best exhibited in movements like Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion, which have mobilised millions of young people to take action.
Bridging Borders: Youth Cosmopolitanism
Not only has youth eco-anxiety fuelled more immediate responses to the climate crisis, but also more cooperative, international solutions. By framing climate change as a global threat, youth activists emphasise that climate policy must transcend national borders and be integrated into international security discussions. For example, youth advisory bodies have been pivotal in reframing climate action as a security imperative across a vast array of countries, from Denmark to Poland. This approach compels policymakers to acknowledge the existential threat posed by climate change and integrate climate solutions into broader conversations about global stability. This perspective contrasts with previous generations’ more nationalistic frameworks, which often prioritised domestic interests over global sustainability. Today’s youth emphasise collective action and shared responsibility, building alliances across borders to advocate for coordinated environmental policies and emissions targets, like those outlined in the Paris Agreement. By rejecting the insular perspectives of previous generations, young activists are positioning themselves as champions of the global governance mechanisms essential to addressing the climate emergency.
Reframing the Narrative
Rather than succumbing to despair, young people are transforming climate anxiety into a fuel for international cooperation. Where older generations may have viewed climate change through the lens of national interests and economic trade-offs, today’s youth see it as an existential threat to all of humanity, requiring a commensurately global response. The current challenge is to harness this anxiety and channel it into sustained, constructive activism. This means building networks of solidarity across borders, engaging in evidence-based activism, and amplifying diverse perspectives. The youth of today are well-positioned to lead this change. By working together, they can generate the political momentum necessary to bring about the systemic changes that older generations have failed to enact.
Poppy Bell is the Climate and Environment Fellow for Young Australians in International Affairs. She is a Chancellor's Scholar at the University of Melbourne, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Politics & International Studies, Economics) and Diploma in French.
As a Public Affairs Analyst for international renewable energy developer CIP, Poppy engages with Government on environmental legislation and develops stakeholder engagement strategies for renewables projects across Australia and New Zealand. This experience has honed her understanding of the complex interplay between climate action, environmental policy, and cultural considerations.
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