Recent studies have revealed that 70% of your people are expiriencing eco-anxiety: 59% were very worried about climate change; 45% said their anxiety about climate change negatively affected their daily lives; and 75% felt that the future is ‘frightening’.

‘The Lancet’ study described eco-anxiety as ‘distress relating to the climate and ecological crises’ and it is believed to stem from feelings of betrayal and abandonment. In ‘The Lancet’ survey, 83% of young people said they felt that older generations had failed to take care of the planet.

Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg is perhaps the most visible young climate activist – recently putting Andrew Tate in his place and having publicised rifts with Donald Trump. She first rose to prominence in the ‘Fridays for Future’ campaign which saw organised strikes by students on Fridays.

As well as the traditional forms of news, young peoples’ use of social media has undoubtably helped to spread the word about environmental issues. Recent research carried out in the United States has found that the so-called Generation Z, which is the post-millennial generation, are the most likely to interact with social media content about climate change.

Added to this, at our school our Geography and Science lessons directly cover climate change and our Eco-School Status means we place a high priority on sharing environmental news with our students via lessons, Focus Weeks, assemblies and tutor times. Linked to this there have been an increase in related university courses, connected to globalism, environmental development and sustainability, and there are arguments for similar qualifications branching down into the secondary curriculum .

If you child is feeling anxious about this issue, then there are things you as a parent can do:

* Talk through concerns and share the worries – simply holding them inside does not help..
* Take a family approach to protecting the environment – encourage children to take responsibility, make a contribution, and illustrate to wider family members that change is needed and is doable.
* Encourage and support research on the issues, whilst making sure reliable sources are used; nowadays there is a tendency for the extreme and misinformation.
* Share positive stories about the environment which offer positive solutions; for example, Coldplay’s 2022 Tour saw kinetic dancefloors helping power the event.

Matt Allman, Headteacher, added: “Every generation has their ‘call to arms’ – whether it be Vietnam, anti-nuclear weapons, and so on – and the environmental consequences facing our planet are clearly a massive concern. It is important within this that we support children by helping them develop the resilience and balance to address these issues in an effective and productive way. No child nor family can change the world alone, but everyone can make a difference. Whatever level that goes, it must be a priority, and advances are achievable for all of us.”

If you would like to learn more about eco-anxiety click here.