Eco-anxiety, a complex psychological response to climate change, is increasingly affecting young people worldwide. Events such as the recent catastrophic fires in Los Angeles, the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and the worsening of extreme weather globally are accelerating this trend. With the federal election in Australia approaching and a rising sense of urgency regarding climate action, educators, climate change communicators, and parents are searching for effective ways to engage young people and instil hope.
A recent study surveying young people in ten countries, Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Portugal, the UK, and the USA, revealed widespread psychological distress linked to climate change. Many participants expressed feelings of worry, concern, and betrayal, citing insufficient government action as a key driver of their eco-anxiety. This raises an important question: How can we transform young people’s climate-related distress into engagement, global environmental awareness, and collective action?
The Complexity of Eco-Anxiety and Youth Engagement
Understanding eco-anxiety requires addressing the emotional, cognitive, and social barriers that prevent young people from participating in climate solutions. One notable challenge is the scepticism some young people express about the effectiveness of individual actions or government-led efforts. This sense of powerlessness often lessens their motivation to engage.
The platforms where young people receive climate messages and learn about activism can transform their responses. In my PhD research, I surveyed young people from Australia and New Zealand aged 16 to 25. Respondents shared their opinions on climate change, their concerns, and the communication strategies they found most engaging. Contrary to earlier assumptions, many of today’s youth are globally aware. They care about environmental challenges not just locally but also worldwide, a perspective that should inform the design of climate messaging for this audience.
What Works: Peer Voices and Solutions-Focused Messaging
Survey data consistently highlighted the effectiveness of peer-to-peer communication. Young people rated content created by their peers as the most engaging, shareable, and trustworthy. They also found online depictions of climate emergencies and youth-led protests particularly compelling, as this type of content often encourages dialogue and inspires action.
Intergenerational discussions also emerged as important. Many respondents mentioned having inspiring conversations about climate change with educators and family members. These discussions provide chances to foster understanding and alleviate feelings of isolation among young people dealing with eco-anxiety.
Significantly, solutions-focused messaging plays a key role in easing distress and promoting action. Young people in the study noted that messages conveying hopelessness often act as barriers to engagement, while clear, actionable steps enhance both self-efficacy and motivation. Yet many remarked that current climate messaging rarely includes practical solutions, a gap that communicators could address.
Building Credibility: Representation and Trust
Another key finding relates to trustworthy messengers. Young people place the highest trust in scientists as credible sources of climate information. They also value communicators whose age, gender, or background resonates with their own. Young women are viewed as particularly trusted climate communicators, though it remains unclear whether gender alone significantly influences message effectiveness. These findings highlight the importance of diversity in climate communication to ensure broad representation and relatability.
Rethinking Climate Communication for Youth
To effectively engage young people, climate communicators could consider expanding their scope beyond local concerns and content to address global issues and encourage a sense of collective responsibility. Content that emphasises solidarity, hope, and practical steps can transform eco-anxiety into engagement and action.
By highlighting youth voices, promoting solutions-focused messaging, and encouraging intergenerational dialogue, young people feel more supported as they manage their eco-anxiety and take a leading role in addressing the climate crisis. This approach recognises the complexity of their concerns and empowers them to become active participants in shaping a sustainable future.
Acknowledgments
I want to acknowledge my PhD supervisory team from the University of the Sunshine Coast, who played a crucial role in my PhD research project, ‘The Role of Gender in Effective Climate Change Communication’: Prof Patrick Nunn, Dr Sarah Casey, Assoc Prof Gail Crimmins, and Dr Harry Dugmore.