Young people's climate anxiety is soaring due to lack of access to green space, says Woodland Trust
A YouGov poll for the Woodland Trust has highlighted that one in three young people in Britain are scared (33%), sad (34%) or pessimistic (34%) about climate change, with 28% said they felt “overwhelmed”.
As part of a nationally representative sample, the survey commissioned by the Woodland Trust found deep concerns about the future among 16-24-year-olds, with almost one in four (24%) saying fears over the climate crisis mean they are willing to consider, or have already decided, to have fewer children than they would otherwise like.
The research showed that although seven out of 10 young people are worried about climate change and its effects, 86% of people surveyed felt that being outdoors and among nature had a positive effect on their mental health.
Commenting on the findings, Chief executive of the Woodland Trust, Dr Darren Moorcroft said:
“Young people are experiencing an epidemic of climate anxiety and are increasingly worried about the health of the planet. This new data shows that climate change is jeopardising more than just the environment, with people’s mental well-being and future life plans also affected.
“We know that being outdoors and among nature has a positive effect on mental health – but the level of access to green space in the UK is simply not good enough.”
The Trust says the UK currently has just 13% woodland cover, only 7% of which is in good ecological condition, compared to a European average of 37%. The Trust’s State of the UK’s Woods and Trees report, published in 2021, also showed that only 16.2% of people in the UK had access to at least two hectares of green space within 500m of their home. This was down from 21.1% in 2016.
This YouGov poll, conducted in February 2023, showed that only 9% of people aged 16-24 felt young people have a great deal of influence making decisions about climate change.
With climate anxiety an ever-increasing issue, Hayley Jarvis, Head of physical activity for the mental health charity Mind, said outdoor activities can be a great way to improve mental wellbeing:
“Ecotherapy, a type of formal treatment which involves doing activities outside in nature, can be as effective as antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
“Unlike working out in the gym or other indoor activities, the colours, sounds and smells we find outdoors stimulate our senses in a different way and can boost our mood. Getting away from modern life and into a relaxing outside space can allow us to switch off from everyday pressures, help relieve stress, and give us time to clear our heads.”
The Trust, the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK, has launched its ‘Plant More Trees’ climate campaign with a mission to plant 50 million more native trees across the UK by 2030 and create a greener, healthier world for people and wildlife.
Three quarters of all people surveyed in the YouGov poll said they would be willing to plant, or have already planted a tree, with only 9% saying they would not be willing to do this.
The Trust has already planted more than eight million trees of the 55 million trees they have planted since 1972, with young people and children.
- © Ocean Media Group