Millennials and Gen-Z are the Most Anxious and Angry About Climate Change

Millennials and Gen-Z experience greater levels of fear, guilt and anger about the effects of climate change than older Gen-X, “baby boomer” and postwar groups.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Various messages calling for the protection of the Earth were conveyed during the annual Earth Hour celebration at Senggigi Beach, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday (25/3/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Millennials and Gen-Z experience greater levels of fear, guilt and anger about the impacts of climate change compared to older Gen-X, baby boomer generations, and postwar groups. It is this perception among millennials and Gen-Z that drives higher levels of activism and engagement with issues related to climate change.

The research conducted by the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformation (CAST) at Cardiff University and the University of Bath uses data from the CAST national representative survey conducted in 2020, 2021, and 2022. This annual survey provides insights into the perceptions of different generations on climate change by asking approximately 1,000 respondents from across the United Kingdom.

The participants in the survey answered ten questions to assess their beliefs, risk perceptions, and emotions related to climate change. Most of the questions used a 5-point response scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of belief in anthropogenic nature, proximity and urgency of climate change, perceived risk and threat, and stronger perceived emotions.

The older generation has a responsibility to take action now to mitigate climate change for future generations.

The study findings indicate the average score and standard deviation for ten questions for each of the five generational groups in 2020, 2021, and 2022. There is an overall pattern of higher levels of confidence in climate-related beliefs, risk perceptions, and emotions among younger generational groups, particularly in 2020.

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

One of the theatrical scenes during the climate action in the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area, Jakarta, Friday (3/3/2023).

Meanwhile the differences between generational groups appear to be less profound in 2021 and 2022 with Generation Z and millennials scoring slightly lower and baby boomers I and postwar groups scoring slightly higher than in 2020. The overall pattern The same.

From the first study, it can be seen that younger age groups are more concerned about climate change and show stronger emotional involvement with the topic than older age groups. The researchers also found that although there are significant differences in climate-related emotions between generations, the understanding and perceived impact of climate change are more proportional.

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The principal author, Wouter Poortinga from Cardiff University, said, "It is widely believed that the younger generation is more engaged in climate change than the older generation, but this has never been systematically studied."

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

A boat that became a transportation out of the village during high tide in Timbulsloko Village, Sayung District, Demak Regency, Central Java, on Tuesday (16/5/2023).

In this study, researchers found a pattern of higher overall levels of climate belief, risk perception, and emotions among younger generations. "However, the generation gap on climate change, particularly in their emotional response to climate change, is not in their belief about climate change. For example, there is no generational difference in beliefs about the causes and impacts of climate change, although older age groups are more likely to think that we have already experienced the impacts of climate change."

The young generation is most threatened

The research team stated that different emotional responses to climate change may be one of the reasons why younger generations show higher levels of activism and involvement with this issue.

Also read: Anxious Young Generation, Earth Signs Are Not Alright

"Meanwhile, there is a widespread awareness about climate change across all generations, the younger generation feels more threatened by it and has a stronger emotional reaction. This is not entirely surprising considering that the younger generation will bear the heaviest burden of the impacts of climate change, especially compared to the older generation," said Poortinga.

The team suggests that negative emotions can have a significant impact on the well-being of the younger generation, although negative emotions can also be an important driver of climate action.

"However, we must be careful not to burden the responsibility on the younger generation to address climate change. The older generation has the responsibility to take action now to mitigate climate change for future generations," said Poortinga."