Time Magazine Article Review: Climate Anxiety is Taking its Toll on Young People

As a climate advocate, I can tell you from firsthand experience that climate anxiety is painfully real and is something that will only get worse unless something is done sooner, rather than later. 

Environmental sustainability is something very close to my heart, and as I care so much about the environment, there are times when I really become anxious over what we’re doing to our amazing planet. It turns out I’m not alone. A number of my friends feel equally as passionate about the environment, and they too sometimes succumb to the harmful psychological effects associated with climate anxiety. 

One thing I have noticed recently, is the fact that more and more younger people also appear to be suffering. Turns out it’s not just me that’s noticed, either. In an article by Time Magazine, they look at climate anxiety, the negative effects it has, and how younger people in particular, are really struggling. It was a passionate, albeit moving article and it’s the one I’ve chosen to review for you today. 

Climate Anxiety and Younger People 

Take it from me, if you care, even the tiniest bit, about the environment, climate anxiety will get you eventually, often when you least expect it. There have been days where I’ve found myself feeling low, in a bad mood, and overly anxious for seemingly no reason. Then I cast my mind back to earlier in the day, when I was scrolling through my newsfeed and same across an article looking at how yet another part of the world had experienced record-breaking temperatures that summer, and suddenly my anxiety made perfect sense. 

Climate anxiety means that you’re constantly worrying about what’s happening to the planet. It can be exhausting. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve also noticed how more and more younger people appear to be experiencing the same issues. 

In a recent Time Magazine article, my suspicions were confirmed, as they looked at how climax anxiety is indeed negatively affecting young people. Now, when I say young people, I’m talking about those aged 16 – 24. As Climate Care Lead at Imperial College London, Emma Lawrence says in the article ‘It’s the people who have contributed the least to the problem who are facing the challenge of dealing with the consequences.’ And do you know something? She’s absolutely right.

Young people are constantly hearing about the dangers of climate change, and seeing firsthand just how devastating it can be. Climate change isn’t just about warm temperatures, it can be extremely cold winters, monsoons, tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, wildfires, droughts, and much more. Obviously, this is going to worry anybody, particularly younger, more impressionable people. 

I think this article is especially important because it highlights the fact that as many as 75% of mental health issues develop before the age of 24. What really shocked me, however, was the fact that the article mentioned that out of 10,000 young people surveyed, around 2/3 reported feeling sadness due to climate change and how it impacts the planet. 

What I Feel Needs to Happen

Younger people nowadays have more to worry about than generations before them. Not only have they experienced isolation as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020, but they’ve also seen numerous economic struggles, and many other global events unfold right before their eyes, largely on screen, but even so. 

I love how the Time Magazine article doesn’t hold back. It doesn’t lay the blame on younger people, and, instead shows how they’re the innocent party in what is going on in the world. It’s important because climate change is a threat to all of us, and articles like this will help inspire people of all ages and all generations to come together and work together to find a solution, rather than pointing fingers and blaming others. 

It mentions how younger people in the past such as Greta Thunberg, have channelled their anxiety, despair, and worry, into affirmative action to help tackle the issue of climate change head on. It finishes by mentioning how it will be the younger generation that will be responsible for sorting the mess out. It’s powerful, but it needs to be said.