Climate change affecting GenZ.docx
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The document highlights the rising phenomenon of eco-anxiety among millennials and Gen Z due to the climate crisis, which is impacting their mental and physical health. Research shows that a significant majority of young people feel frightened about the future, believe that governments are not doing enough, and experience negative effects on their daily functioning. It calls for immediate governmental action and further research into the emotional impacts of climate change on the younger population.
Climate change affecting GenZ.docx
- 1. Climate Change Affecting Millennials & Gen Z: Reports of Climate Anxiety Rising
- 2. Climate crises top the list of vital global challenges of all time. While bleak headlines shine the limelight on climate change, there is an urgent need to address it. Climate anxiety or eco-anxiety is gaining attention worldwide. People are becoming increasingly aware of the current and future global crises associated with climate change. But the crises are leaving long-term imprints on physical and mental health. What is eco-anxiety? Eco-anxiety is defined as distress over what has already been lost, as concern over climate crisis or other environmental threats, and their effects on our present and the future. Eco-anxiety is exacerbating health and social inequalities between young minds vulnerable to psychological impacts. This rise is a wake-up call for world leaders to take decisive action to tackle the rising climate emergency. Young people are “excessively” concerned about the rising climate crisis, according to the data, published by researchers from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. If –the question is, how are young people coping with eco-anxiety? The answer is “not well”. The overall response could be summed up in one expression: “incredibly worried”. The respondents also emphasized the fact that they think the governments aren’t doing enough to combat climate crises. Results showthat nearly- 75% described the future as “frightening”, 60% said they were “extremely” worried about climate change, 45% said their thoughts about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and 83% believe we as a community have failed to take care of the planet. When questioned about the struggles,the respondents selected- Climate change at 41%, Global warming at 57%, highest among environmental issues, corruption at 36%, as one of the most important issues at a national level, terrorism at 31% economic instability at 26%, pollution at 26%, income inequality at 25%, climate change at 22%, and violence against women at 21% Perceived negligence of the governments towards the climate crisis is being associated with increased distress. There is a dire need for further research into the emotional impact of climate change on young people. Governments need to validate this distress by taking urgent action on climate change.