Chapter 2. Understanding the Impact

Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s also an emotional one for many young people. Children and teens today are acutely aware of climate threats, and this awareness often comes with intense feelings. In a recent international survey of 10,000 youth (ages 16–25), nearly 60% said they feel “very” or “extremely” worried about climate change, with almost half saying these worries negatively affect their daily lives (1, 2). Canadian youth echo these concerns: in one national study, 73% of young Canadians said the future feels “frightening” due to climate change, and nearly half believed “humanity is doomed” (3). Over three-quarters reported that climate change impacts their overall mental health, and 4 in 10 said their climate-related feelings have a negative effect on their daily life (3). Clearly, climate change is no distant abstraction for our kids – it’s a real source of stress, anxiety, and even despair in their lives.

Why Children Are Particularly Vulnerable

Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to climate anxiety for several reasons grounded in science and child psychology. Developmental sensitivity plays a big role. Kids’ brains and emotions are still developing, which can make big, abstract threats like “planetary climate change” especially scary. Young children have vivid imaginations and less ability to put news in context – hearing about wildfires or floods can easily fuel nightmares or fears that “everything will burn up” or “all the animals will die.” Teens, meanwhile, have a better grasp of the science but are bombarded with media reports of climate disasters. Constant exposure to alarming news – extreme weather, species extinctions, dire predictions – can trigger strong emotions of fear, sadness, anger and helplessness (4). Unlike some childhood fears that may be exaggerated or unreal, climate change is a genuine threat, which means adults can’t simply say “don’t worry, it’s not real.” This reality can make kids feel even more anxious because the threat is real and yet it often seems like not enough is being done about it.

Limited control and dependency. Children know they will have to live with the consequences of climate change far longer than today’s adults. As one child psychiatrist noted, young people realize climate impacts could profoundly affect their futures – it’s their world changing, in their lifetime (2). This awareness can lead to feelings of grief and loss for the future they expected to have (2). At the same time, because kids don’t have political or economic power, they depend on adults to address the problem. When they perceive that grown-ups or leaders aren’t taking sufficient action, it can deepen their distress. Many youth report a sense of betrayal or abandonment on this issue – for example, a Canadian survey found 71% of young people felt angry at the government’s response to climate change, and 69% felt “abandoned” by government inaction (3). Psychologists describe a feeling of “intergenerational injustice” among youth, who often feel invalidated when told they’re overreacting and betrayed by older generations for not doing enough (2). In short, kids may experience climate change not only as a looming threat but also as a breach of trust, which can intensify their anxiety.

Direct impacts and trauma. Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense, and children are among those most affected when disasters strike. Research has shown that children tend to have stronger psychological responses to traumatic events like hurricanes, wildfires, or floods – including higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, sleep problems and even learning difficulties (2, 5). One study noted that nearly three-quarters of children and adolescents surveyed in the aftermath of a major flood disaster showed significant learning or mental health challenges (2). Why are kids hit so hard? Partly because they are physically and emotionally dependent on their caregivers and stable routines – things that get disrupted during a disaster (5). Losing a home to wildfire or being evacuated from school is deeply frightening for a child. Young children, especially, lack the coping skills and context that adults have, so they may internalize disaster experiences in a way that produces lingering fear or trauma. Early childhood trauma can have lasting effects on a child’s ability to regulate emotions (5). This makes it crucial to recognize and address signs of trauma in kids after climate-related events (we’ll discuss signs to watch for soon).

It’s also important to note that not all children are affected equally. Factors like where a child lives, their community, and their existing sensitivities can influence their emotional risk. Children from communities on the frontlines of climate change – for instance, Indigenous youth with strong ties to the land or families living in low-lying coastal areas – may feel climate impacts in a very personal way and experience profound eco-grief or anxiety. A child who grows up fishing with their grandparents may feel real sorrow and worry when local salmon runs collapse. Likewise, children who already struggle with anxiety or have experienced other traumas may be especially vulnerable to climate-related stress (4). In these cases, awareness of climate change can compound existing mental health challenges (4). All of these factors – developmental stage, sense of control, direct experience, and personal context – help explain why our children are feeling the weight of the climate crisis so keenly. As one Canadian researcher put it, these difficult climate feelings are an “appropriate response” given the situation, but they also represent a heavy emotional burden that young people are being forced to bear (3). Understanding this vulnerability is the first step for parents in providing the right support.

Recognizing Signs of Climate-Related Distress

How can a parent tell if their child is struggling emotionally with climate change? Climate anxiety in kids can manifest in both obvious and subtle ways. In many cases, the feelings are similar to general anxiety or stress, but keyed to climate or environmental themes. Emotional signs may include persistent worry or fear about the future (e.g. a child frequently asking, “What will happen to us when the Earth gets hotter?”), sadness or despair when hearing bad environmental news, anger or frustration—often directed at those perceived as causing or ignoring the problem—and even guilt. For example, some kids feel guilty about their own environmental footprint or ashamed that humanity has harmed the planet. Research confirms that children experiencing eco-anxiety report a range of intense emotions: anxiety and worry, deep sadness (sometimes described as grief for animals or places), anger, fear, and hopelessness. Many young people also describe feeling helpless or powerless to change what’s happening (4).

One distinctive sign of climate-related distress is when kids express loss of trust or feelings of betrayal. If your child voices that “adults don’t care” or “no one is going to help us,” that points to real despair and frustration stemming from climate anxiety (4). In interviews, children have said they feel betrayed and abandoned by older generations on climate action (2). A teen might lash out in anger at family members for not recycling enough, or a younger child might say things like “why won’t the government stop climate change?” These comments are indicators that the child is not just intellectually concerned about climate change, but is also carrying an emotional burden of anger, distrust, or fear about it. Climate distress is not a pathological or “bad” emotion in itself – experts emphasize that feelings of anxiety or anger in the face of a real threat are normal and even healthy (6). The goal is not to dismiss these feelings, but to notice when they become overwhelming for the child.

Beyond what kids say, parents should also watch for changes in behavior, mood, and physical well-being that could be linked to climate stress. Anxiety-related behaviors might include: constant worrying or talking about climate change (beyond a passing school interest), trouble concentrating on schoolwork because their mind is occupied with climate fears, or avoidance of certain activities out of worry (for instance, a child refusing to go to a summer camp because they’re afraid of wildfires). Some children, especially teens, might become very obsessive about climate news or activism – for example, compulsively scrolling through climate headlines or feeling a need to “check” on environmental problems frequently. While engagement and action can be positive, if a child seems unable to disengage from the topic and is anxious more days than not, it may be a sign of distress. The line between passionate interest and anxiety can be blurry here. One guide notes that spending lots of time on climate websites or talks isn’t necessarily a problem – it becomes concerning if your child can’t enjoy other parts of life or is driven by fear to do so (7).

Parents can also look for physical and emotional symptoms that often accompany anxiety in kids. Common red flags include changes in sleep and appetite, unexplained headaches or stomach aches, irritability and meltdowns, or regression in younger children. Your child might have trouble falling asleep or experience nightmares (perhaps nightmares about floods, fires, or other disasters). They might start complaining often of stomach pain or headaches with no clear medical cause – stress and anxiety can manifest as real bodily symptoms in children. You might notice your child is more on-edge or quick to get angry and upset, or conversely more withdrawn and apathetic. According to mental health experts, signs of anxiety in children can include fatigue, frequent headaches or tummy aches, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, irritability, constant negative thoughts, or restlessness (1). In the context of climate anxiety, some specific behaviors to watch for in young kids are new or worsening separation anxiety (a child becoming very clingy, not wanting to leave a parent’s side), and nervous habits like nail-biting or thumb-sucking that appear or intensify as they hear scary climate news (4). A younger child might repeatedly “check” for reassurance – for example, asking over and over, “Are we safe from hurricanes here?” If such worries persist for weeks, it suggests the child’s fear isn’t fleeting (4).

For adolescents, climate-related distress might show up as a kind of existential preoccupation. Teens may voice hopelessness about the future (“What’s the point of planning for college if the planet is collapsing?”) or even decide they don’t want to have children of their own because of climate fears – a sentiment we now hear surprisingly often from youth (3). They might become cynical or deeply sad when confronting climate topics, or conversely, they might throw themselves into activism or lifestyle changes in a way that seems driven by anxiety or anger. Pay attention if your teen is losing interest in activities they used to enjoy or withdrawing socially because of their climate worries (8). For instance, if they stop hanging out with friends to stay home and monitor climate news, or if an avid student activist starts skipping classes out of despair, those are warning signs. In summary, look out for patterns: is your child’s climate worry persistent and intrusive? Is it interfering with their sleep, appetite, schoolwork, friendships, or general joy in daily life? And does your child seem stuck in feelings of dread or anger without relief? These are indications that their climate emotions may be reaching a distressing level.

Responding to Climate Emotions

Recognizing that a child is distressed about climate change is important – but what next? As parents, it’s natural to wonder how to respond. Do we reassure them, distract them, take them to therapy? This is where a triage approach to emotional support can be helpful. Just as a physical injury can range from a mild scrape to something requiring a doctor, climate-related emotions can range from mild worry to severe distress. The way we respond should match the intensity of the child’s needs. Above all, it’s critical not to dismiss or ridicule these feelings. Climate anxiety is not a made-up or silly issue; it’s a genuine emotional response. In fact, experts note that climate anxiety itself is not a mental disorder, but a healthy reaction to an existential threat (4). Most children experiencing eco-anxiety do not need clinical treatment – they need understanding, validation, and support so they don’t feel alone with their fears (4). The goal is to provide that support, and to step up the level of care if and when the child’s coping ability is overwhelmed.

• Mild anxiety – Worry but still functioning. If your child occasionally expresses worry about climate change but is generally able to go about life (school, play, social activities) without major disruptions, this can be considered a mild level of climate anxiety. In this stage, the best response is to open up conversation and validation. Encourage your child to share what they’ve heard and how they feel. Listen calmly and acknowledge that their feelings make sense (“I understand why you feel scared after seeing that flood on the news – it is scary”). Simply talking about it can be a huge relief for a worried kid. You can offer age-appropriate facts to put things in perspective (for example, clarifying misunderstandings—“Yes, summers will be hotter, but it doesn’t mean the world will burn up next year”). It’s also helpful to highlight what is being done – show your child that people are taking action, which can instill hope that solutions are possible. At this mild stage, validate and educate is the mantra. By taking their feelings seriously and providing reassurance, you help your child feel safer and more supported. Many times, this is enough to keep typical worry from spiraling into something worse.

• Moderate distress – Persistent anxiety or behavior changes. What if your child’s climate worries start to crop up more frequently or begin to affect their daily life? Perhaps you notice they’ve been anxious most days this month, or their sleep is chronically disrupted, or they’re more irritable and on edge. Maybe a teacher mentions your child keeps bringing up climate change in class in an agitated way. These signs suggest the anxiety is moving beyond mild. Here, a parent’s role is to provide extra support and healthy outlets. Continue validating their feelings, but also help them channel anxiety into constructive action or coping strategies (without forcing it). For example, doing something tangible like planting trees locally or writing a letter to officials can help a child regain a sense of control – turning anxious energy into action. Be careful, however, not to only focus on “action” as the cure; make sure the child is processing their emotions, not just pushing them down. This might be a good point to involve others: perhaps a school counselor, a supportive teacher, or a community group for eco-conscious youth. Sometimes sharing their concerns with peers (in a supervised setting) can greatly relieve a young person’s sense of isolation. Keep an eye on how long and how intensely the distress is lasting. One psychologist suggests watching for anxiety that persists most days for a couple of weeks or more (7). If your child has been anxious every day for two or three weeks and normal routines (like sleeping, eating, attending school) are consistently affected, it may be time to consider a higher level of care.

• Severe distress or trauma – When professional help is needed. If a child’s climate-related anxiety becomes overwhelming or disabling, do not hesitate to seek professional help. How do we know it’s that severe? Mental health experts say to look for intensity, duration, and interference (7). For instance, if your child is so anxious that they cannot attend school, concentrate on homework, or maintain friendships; if they’re experiencing frequent nightmares, panic attacks, or ceaseless doom-laden thoughts; or if their distress has been ongoing for many weeks or months with little relief – these are clear signs to consult a mental health professional. According to the Child Mind Institute, key signs that a child could benefit from professional support include anxiety that gets in the way of daily life (disrupting sleep, eating, school, or family time) and feelings of worry that dominate most days over an extended period (7). For example, a teen who stays up all night obsessively watching climate crisis videos and can’t function the next day would fall in this category (7). Likewise, a child who frequently hyperventilates or has panic episodes when the topic of climate comes up needs extra help. Sometimes climate anxiety at this level may intersect with clinical anxiety or depression, and a therapist can work with the young person on coping skills (often using approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy) (7).

Importantly, if your family has personally experienced a climate-related disaster – such as losing your home in a wildfire or enduring a major flood – be aware that your child’s emotional reactions might be signs of trauma rather than general anxiety. The nightmares, intense fear, or reenactment play (e.g. repeatedly “pretending” a storm) that children show after such events are normal trauma responses. However, trauma is addressed differently than anxiety (7). In these cases, it’s especially important to involve a professional who can assess for PTSD or trauma and provide appropriate therapy. Trauma-focused counseling or play therapy might be needed to help your child process what happened in a safe way. The bottom line: trust your observations and instincts. If your child’s climate emotions are severe enough that their well-being or development is at stake, seeking help is not an overreaction. In fact, early support can prevent worse difficulties later. Many therapists today are becoming “climate-aware” and understanding how to treat eco-related distress (2). You might even look for counselors who specialize in youth anxiety or trauma related to climate events. Getting help sends your child the message that they’re not alone in this – that it’s okay to feel this way and that support is available.

Before concluding this chapter, it’s worth reinforcing that most kids will not need therapy for climate anxiety. With caring adults to talk to and healthy ways to cope, many children can navigate their climate-related feelings and even find strength and motivation in them. The role of parents is to pay attention, open the doors for communication, and provide comfort or extra help as needed. By understanding the impact of climate change on your child’s mental state – the why and how of their climate emotions, and the signs of distress – you are better equipped to be that steady, compassionate support they need. In the next chapters, we’ll explore how to talk about climate change in an honest but reassuring way, and how to foster resilience and hope. But first, as we close this chapter, let’s look at a real-life example of how climate emotions affect young people and how supportive approaches can make a difference.