TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has highlighted a growing and critical issue in its latest report, “Navigating New Horizons: A Global Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing, 2024.”
EXPLANATION:
- The report identifies eco-anxiety as an “emergency crisis hidden in plain sight,” particularly affecting children and young people worldwide.
- Eco-anxiety, along with climate grief and climate anxiety, encompasses the negative emotional responses generated by the looming threat of environmental and climate crises.
Defining Eco-Anxiety and Its Triggers
- Eco-anxiety refers to the pervasive feeling of worry, fear, and helplessness in response to the climate crisis and environmental degradation.
- These feelings are not limited to individuals directly experiencing climate disasters but extend to those constantly exposed to information about these events.
- The UNEP report emphasizes that extreme weather events such as wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, storms, and floods lead to significant psychological harm.
- These events cause displacement, food shortages, and a range of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Impact on Children and Youth
- The report underscores that eco-anxiety is particularly severe among children and young people.
- A survey conducted across ten countries, including the Philippines, Brazil, Nigeria, and India, revealed that 59% of young people were extremely worried about climate change.
- They expressed deep concerns about the future and their faith in government responses.
- Over half of the respondents reported feeling sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty.
- These emotions are exacerbated by feelings of betrayal, abandonment, and confusion due to perceived government inaction on climate issues.
Psychological and Societal Implications
- Chronic exposure to the stressors of the climate crisis can have long-lasting effects on mental health, leading to an increase in mental health issues.
- The internet and social media further compound these challenges by creating echo chambers and spreading misinformation, which intensify emotional responses.
- While anxiety and anger can spur engagement and action, the report warns that they can also lead to denial, avoidance, and counterproductive behaviors.
- High levels of stress and anxiety regarding climate change may decrease pro-environmental behaviors and weaken collective responsibility.
Global Mental Health Crisis
- The report notes that mental health problems related to eco-anxiety have significant societal implications.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 15% of the global adult population experiences mental health issues, resulting in the loss of approximately 12 billion working days annually due to depression and anxiety.
- This translates to a global productivity loss of around $1 trillion.
- The emotional toll on younger generations could lead to an “emotional catastrophe,” with far-reaching consequences for society as a whole.
Recommendations for Mitigation
- To address the crisis of eco-anxiety, the UNEP report recommends fostering a sense of agency, empowerment, and hope among children and young people.
- This involves promoting action-oriented knowledge and solutions to environmental issues.
- The report emphasizes that everyone has a role to play, including families, teachers, health professionals, civil society, and international organizations.
- By empowering young people and providing them with the tools to engage in meaningful action, it is possible to mitigate the mental health impacts of the climate crisis.
