Turkish Rebellion Eco-Anxiety
From Eco-Anxiety to Eco-Action: How Youth Are Redefining Climate Leadership
Imagine coming home one day to find water damage, a musty smell, dust everywhere, and an insect infestation. You feel a rush of stress, as anyone would, but instinctively begin piecing together how to make your home livable again. This growing sense of fear, known as eco-anxiety, is not just a passing worry; it is a deep, chronic emotional response to the reality of climate change.
The Mental Toll of Climate Change
With nearly one billion people affected, mental disorders are among the leading global health challenges, and climate change is only deepening this growing crisis. A survey conducted in 2021 internationally reported that over half of individuals between 16 and 25 years old felt sad, anxious, or powerless, or other unpleasant feelings associated with climate change.
Hundreds of millions could be experiencing psychological distress due to climate change (Pearson, 2024). Moreover, a 2025 Springer review titled as “Climate Change and Youth” has highlighted that the escalating extreme weather events have been fueling the rising of hopelessness, anxiety, ecological grief, therefore increasing a strong desire among the youth to be included in policy decisions (Gao et al., 2025).
This emotional impact is not just individual; it is collective, generational, and widespread.
Unequal Burdens: Climate Injustice and Mental Health
In addition, research shows a seam of climate injustice. Though they played little role in causing it, today’s generation is left to bear the heaviest emotional toll of climate change. Furthermore, people who are poor, sick, or experiencing inequalities are most vulnerable to having deteriorating mental health.
The poorer communities are the ones which suffer the most when the climate changes increase the existing economic hardships, says Jennifer Uchendu (Pearson, 2024). This highlights how eco-anxiety is deeply connected to systems of inequality and social susceptibility.
Trauma and Disruption: The Global Impact
Beyond the initial shock, severe weather disasters leave lasting psychological scars, “a long tail” of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, according to Emma Lawrence, who studies mental health at Imperial College London.These chronic disruptions silently contribute to long-term mental strain for millions.
A few years ago, Lawrence notes, emotions like eco-anxiety were often dismissed as the concerns of the comfortably well-off in wealthy nations. But emerging research tells a different story; one that reveals these feelings are not a luxury of privilege, but a shared global reality.
In 2021, 10,000 young voices from 10 nations took part in the largest climate anxiety study ever, and their message was loud and clear. More than 45% of people reported that thinking about climate change affected their ability to eat, work, sleep, or participate in other aspects of their daily lives. Surveys revealed that people in the Philippines, India, and Nigeria were the most affected in their daily functioning by climate stress, a powerful rebuttal to the belief that eco-anxiety is exclusive to affluent societies (Pearson, 2024).
Eco-anxiety transcends borders and economic status.
The Frustration of Inaction
Research has established a significant correlation between increasing eco-anxiety and the failure of governments and organisations to address environmental crises (Lammel, 2025) adequately. The constantly increasing gap between “pro-environmental” messaging and assertive action reveals an absence of climate ethics that is a threat to future generations. This disconnection isn’t limited to politics, finance, or economics; it also extends to everyday lifestyles and behaviors, deepening the crisis of confidence felt by young people and children.
This generational frustration has become a powerful source of energy and a driving force for activism.
Youth as Catalysts for Change Raising Awareness
Young activists play an important role in raising awareness about climate change. Their efforts ensure that policy-makers prioritize climate-related concerns that they might otherwise overlook. By spreading information using social media platforms, exchanging ideas, and creating awareness on taking action, young activists promote a wider understanding. Their ability to shape public opinion has made them central figures in today’s climate narrative.
Advocating for Policy Changes
Engaging in meaningful discussions with policymakers and advocating for policy changes is crucial. Initiatives like campaigns, personal meetings with representatives, and large-scale constituents’ support can push legislators to prioritize and act upon making more climate policies. This approach wolud ultimately make significant change at a legislative level.
These exertions prove that young people are not only raising concerns, they are trying to alter the laws.
Inspiring Action Locally
One voice sparks many; as young people inspire those around them, their activism grows into a network of change, amplifying impact far beyond its starting point. This genius approach is very vital in creating a culture of climate awareness and action.
Even small, localized acts can contribute to a larger global movement.
Community Engagement and Intergenerational Unity
Community engagement initiatives play a vital role in empowering young activists to tackle eco-anxiety through local events and campaigns. Creating safe spaces like school workshops, environmental clubs, and climate hubs enables the youth to turn climate-related fears into collective action.
Support from educators, mental health professionals, and community leaders helps them organize impactful activities such as awareness walks and sustainability drives. With the support of NGOs and media, youth voices rise louder, carrying their message across communities and igniting widespread engagement.
Equally important is intergenerational collaboration, which strengthens these efforts by combining the experience of older advocates with the creativity and urgency of youth. Global movements like ‘Fridays for Future’ and the ‘Sunrise Movement’ have already influenced major climate policies in countries like Germany and the U.S.
Bridging generations not only strengthens strategies, it also legitimizes youth leadership on a larger scale.
Redefining Leadership in a Time of Crisis
What we call eco-anxiety is not weakness; it’s the mind’s reasonable reaction to a planet in turmoil. Yet, it is precisely this emotional awakening that has sparked a powerful wave of youth-led climate leadership. Today’s youth are no longer seeking approval to act; they are actively redefining leadership in the era of the climate crisis. From community engagement to international advocacy, they are transforming fear into fuel, anxiety into action.
Their voices call for responsibility, push for policy change, and inspire intergenerational alliances rooted in urgency and hope. Imagine the world choosing to confront not only rising temperatures but rising anxiety, addressing the climate crisis both mentally and materially. In that case, it must recognize and support youth not just as future leaders, but as leaders of today.
By: Umair Khan Durrani
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