young Domestic Violence
My generation is quietly dealing with eco-anxiety. It happens in classrooms, bedrooms, and when we quietly look at climate news on our phones. It is not anything big or dramatic. We are always afraid that the world we will inherit will be broken before we even get to live in it. We are constantly reminded that our future is slipping away, whether it is from melting glaciers and burning forests or stories about mass extinction. This fear is not just something I think about; it’s something I live with. It is all about you. It goes with us to school, work, and even our hopes for our families. However, what if this fear does not mean you are weak? What if it is our greatest strength? This essay suggests that eco-anxiety is not something to be ignored. Instead, it is a powerful emotional force that can influence environmental policy and motivate young people to take action on climate change. Instead of trying to eliminate fear, society should learn to recognize its value and develop systems that transform fear into helpful action.
The Lancet asked 10,000 teens from ten different countries about their lives in 2021. More than 59% said they were “very” or “extremely” worried about climate change. Almost half of them said that these worries made it hard for them to do everyday things. I am one of those people. Nevertheless, the numbers do not tell the whole story. Behind every percentage, there is a student who avoids reading the news, a teenager who feels hopeless in class, or a young person who wonders if there will even be a livable Earth in 50 years.
When I turned 16, I stopped drinking water from bottles. Not because I thought it would help the environment, but because I felt guilty. I felt guilty that my daily comfort could cause a turtle to suffer for the rest of its life. That small change did not make me feel strong. It made me realize how helpless I felt. I could recycle, take shorter showers, and avoid plastic straws, but what good did it do when oil companies continued to drill and governments continued to put things off? It became increasingly frustrating and demoralizing to see people taking action while the system remained inactive.
It is the peculiar aspect of growing up in a world that is getting warmer. We learn to care, but we cannot change anything. That is where eco-anxiety begins: in the space between what you know and what you can do. It makes us feel like our minds are out of sync. We are aware of the situation and the necessary actions, but we cannot make a significant impact.
People often do not take eco-anxiety seriously because they think it is just a young person’s overreaction. They say, “Do not worry about that yet.” Alternatively, even worse, “Let the adults handle it; you should be in school.” Nevertheless, how can we not worry when we see wildfires destroying forests and typhoons ruining school years? Climate change is already having real effects. It disrupts school schedules, pollutes the air during exams, and harms the places we live. Even if we do not say it out loud, these things build up in our minds and make us feel scared all the time.
Some psychologists argue that anxiety is not always a bad thing. Anxiety can be a natural warning that something is wrong. It is not crazy to be worried about climate change. It is an informed reaction. What people are saying is not making us panic. We are reacting based on facts, science, and what we have seen and experienced. Not paying attention to our fear will not make it go away. It only pushes it inside, which makes young people feel alone, unheard, and powerless.
Do not feel sorry for people who are worried about the environment. It is a call to action. It is the warning of a generation that will have to live with the choices made today for a long time. Ignoring this signal would be wrong from both moral and strategic perspectives. Those who feel the most pressure often become powerful agents of change — if only they are given the chance to act.
This fear, on the other hand, is not without reason. It is already doing something. Young people all over the world are harnessing their concerns about the climate into a powerful force. Greta Thunberg’s lone protest outside the Swedish Parliament sparked a global movement. In South Korea, where I reside, Green Environment Youth Korea and other youth-led groups are working to enact laws that protect clean air and promote sustainable food systems. These efforts are not just one-time events. Young people are coming together, generating new ideas, and making things happen, such as school strikes and community composting.
Because of eco-anxiety, we feel a strong sense of urgency. However, what we do gives us hope. Not knowing about danger does not give you hope—choosing to face it does. When we protest, plant trees, or speak out at public hearings, we take back control of a future that often feels stolen. And when we work together, eco-anxiety becomes something else: unity.
However, young people cannot solve the climate crisis on their own. Institutions need to help people turn their feelings into actions if eco-anxiety is going to lead to real change. First, schools need to do more than just put up fake “eco-friendly” signs; they must also teach children how to understand climate change. We should know how to plan effectively, how carbon markets work, and how laws are made. We need more than just worries.
Second, governments should establish genuine Youth Climate Advisory Councils that wield actual authority and are not merely for show. It is essential to involve young people in decisions about the environment, ensuring that policies reflect the needs of those who will live with the consequences the longest. Most importantly, participation must be real. It cannot just be for press photos; we need meaningful involvement so that we can have a say in the decisions that affect our future.
Lastly, mental health systems need to be improved. People should not think of eco-anxiety as a mental illness; it is a normal response to a world that’s falling apart. Schools and clinics should have support systems that understand this fear and help young people find ways to turn it into strength and resilience. We should not ask kids to stop feeling. Instead, we should teach them how to use their feelings to fuel action.
I am still worried about what will happen next. Is it fair to dream of having children in a world like this? However, I also know that this worry has made me more awake, alive, and determined. It is not weakness — it is awareness. Awareness is the first step in taking action.
You cannot simply “fix” eco-anxiety. It is the honest response of a generation to a world that refuses to be honest with us. It is the price of paying attention. Moreover, maybe, it is the very thing that will save us.
Let us stop dismissing it. Let us start listening. Because the planet will not be saved by those who felt nothing — but by those who were afraid, and still chose to act.
By: Geonhwi Cho
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