Chapter 1. Introduction

Climate change is not just an abstract environmental issue – it’s an everyday reality and growing concern for young people. In communities across Canada and around the world, youth are witnessing the effects of a warming planet, from raging wildfires and smoky skies to extreme weather and changing landscapes. These changes pose a direct threat to their future, and young people know it. That’s why discussing climate change openly is so important, especially between youth and adults. Honest conversations can bridge the generational gap, validate young people’s concerns, and mobilize collective action. In short, talking about climate change – at home, in schools, and in our communities – helps ensure that everyone understands the stakes and works together on solutions.

The Role of Young People

Young people have a unique and critical role in shaping climate conversations. Often, youth bring fresh perspectives, moral clarity, and a sense of urgency to the table. They are deeply invested in the future, and many feel a responsibility to speak up for their generation and those to come. In recent years, youth-led activism has thrust climate change into the public spotlight. For example, in September 2019, hundreds of thousands of young Canadians joined millions of peers worldwide in climate strikes, marching to demand action (1, 2). Their message was clear: the climate crisis is their fight too. As one Canadian youth activist put it, “Canadian youth aren’t just future leaders—they’re leading today.” (3) From organizing community tree-planting events to speaking at international forums, young people are influencing how society talks about climate change. Crucially, youth voices have even begun to sway adults – studies suggest that children talking about climate science can help their parents overcome ideological biases and support climate action (4). By raising their voices, youth are breaking the silence and inspiring families, schools, and governments to have the difficult conversations needed to confront this crisis.

At the same time, young people are not only activists – they are also on the front lines of feeling climate change’s impacts. Many youth in Canada have already experienced climate-related disasters or disruptions. Whether it’s students in British Columbia coping with unprecedented wildfire smoke or coastal Indigenous communities seeing thinning ice in winter, the reality of a changing climate is tangible. These experiences heighten the urgency for conversations between youth and adults. Young people often turn to parents, teachers, or Elders with troubling questions: Why is this happening? Will we be okay? Adults don’t always have easy answers. However, engaging in dialogue can help youths and adults alike understand each other’s fears and hopes. It can also ensure that youth perspectives – including their ideas for solutions – are heard. In Canada, Indigenous youth have especially crucial perspectives, as they draw on generations of traditional knowledge about living with the land. Their voices emphasize that climate change is also a matter of justice and cultural survival. Indeed, the harms of climate change disproportionately affect Indigenous communities and other marginalized groups (5), so including these voices in climate discussions leads to more equitable and inclusive solutions.

The Emotional Dimension

Yet, we must recognize that talking about climate change isn’t just about facts and policies – it’s also about emotions. Many young people feel climate anxiety or eco-grief as they grapple with the climate crisis. Climate anxiety (or eco-anxiety) refers to the chronic fear and worry about environmental doom, and eco-grief is the sense of loss or mourning for damaged ecosystems and an uncertain future. These feelings are increasingly common. In one national survey of Canadian youth (aged 16–25), over 56% reported feeling afraid, sad, anxious, or powerless about climate change (6). Nearly 40% said their feelings about climate change negatively affect their daily lives (6). In general, about three-quarters of Canadians – young and old – feel that climate change is impacting their mental health (7). It’s little wonder, given the barrage of alarming news: scientists report record-breaking global temperatures and warn that humanity is “unequivocally” to blame (8). Young people carry the weight of this knowledge. As 25-year-old Sabrina Huot from Edmonton shares, thinking about climate change “is an overwhelming feeling, especially with all the wildfires that are happening and the smoke in the area. As a young adult... thinking about my future, what does it look like? If I have children, what is the world going to look like when they grow up? ... Is it going to be so hot that I can’t go outside?” (8) Her questions echo the worry of a generation coming of age under the shadow of climate crisis. Hearing such honest feelings from youth can be eye-opening for adults. It underlines why creating space for dialogue about climate angst is vital – to support young people’s mental well-being and to motivate action that addresses the root of their anxiety.

Indeed, mental health is emerging as a key part of the climate conversation. Climate anxiety, grief, anger, and even feelings of betrayal toward older generations are now widely reported by youth (6). These emotions are rational responses to a serious threat. As one psychology professor notes, “Anxiety on the part of young people is completely justified.” (8) Rather than dismiss these feelings, adults can validate them and work with youth on constructive responses. Discussing climate-related emotions in a supportive way can help young people feel less alone and more empowered. It’s important for youth to know that it’s normal to feel upset about climate change – and that sharing these feelings can be a first step toward coping. For instance, some youths channel their eco-anxiety into eco-action, finding that doing something positive (like volunteering for a climate cause or starting a sustainability project) eases their despair. Others find hope in connecting with peers who share their concerns. Open conversations allow youths to move from paralysis toward possibility. As one guide on eco-anxiety put it, acknowledging our emotions and “talking about our emotions… can help mitigate that sense of despair. It’s important not to feel isolated, realizing that what you’re experiencing is normal and that other people feel it too.” (9) (9) In short, talking about the emotional side of climate change is as essential as talking about the science. It helps young people build resilience and imagine a future despite the uncertainties.