Last Updated on November 26, 2022
A survey conducted by the UK-based eco-grocery startup Modern Milkman found that more than 70 percent of children between the ages of 7 and 12 now have anxiety due climate change.
According to a report from Euronews, the survey polled 1,000 children within the age bracket between 2010 and 2015. It asked for their views on the environment and whether they were concerned about climate change, among other things.
In total, 71% of respondents indicated that climate change is a source of fear and anxiety in their lives.
More than a quarter (27%) of surveyed children said that harm to animals is a chief concern, while one-in-four cited effects of plastic pollution. Almost a fifth of children pointed to a fear of rising temperatures.
“The results show that environmental challenges are having a prominent effect on the children of today, proving that it’s never been more important to educate communities on the actions they can take to protect our planet,” said Simon Mellin, the CEO and founder of Modern Milkman.
In terms of action, the vast majority of respondents (85%) said every individual has a responsibility to tackle climate change.
Hysterical, trauma-based mind control. https://t.co/OC6AGqAC5J
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) November 25, 2022
The study comes as massive increases in mental health issues affecting children have been reported across the western world in the aftermath of pandemic-related lockdowns and remote learning. A 2020 report from the CDC stated that 44% of American teenagers reported feeling “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.”
20% indicated that they had contemplated suicide, while another 9% stated that they had attempted to kill themselves.
A more recent survey from the U.K. found that 54% of girls between the ages of 16 and 17 reported experiencing “elevated psychological distress” over the last twelve months.
Climate change-related anxiety, commonly known as “eco-anxiety,” has been an increasing issue among children in recent years, numerous studies have found. The growing issue comes as schools increasingly focus on an often-bleak outlook of the planet’s future.
