Recent research conducted by the Center for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at Cardiff University and the University of Bath reveals that millennials and Gen-Z experience higher levels of fear, guilt, and outrage regarding the impacts of climate change compared to older generations. This first-of-its-kind study examined generational differences in attitudes towards climate change by collecting data across the U.K.
The study found that younger age groups, including millennials and Gen-Z, demonstrate a stronger emotional engagement with climate change, expressing more worry about its consequences. The researchers discovered significant differences in climate-related emotions between generations. Despite this, understandings and perceived impacts of climate change were found to be more comparable.
Lead author Professor Wouter Poortinga of Cardiff University highlights the significance of the findings, stating, “It is widely believed that younger generations are more engaged with climate change than older generations, but that has never been studied systematically. In our study, we found an overall pattern of higher levels of climate-related beliefs, risk perceptions, and emotions among younger generation groups.”
Interestingly, the gap between generations regarding climate change primarily lies in their emotional responses. There are no generational differences in beliefs about the causes and impacts of climate change. However, older age groups tend to believe that the effects of climate change are already being felt.
The Power of Emotion: Driving Youth Activism and Engagement
The research team suggests that the varying emotional responses to climate change could be one of the reasons why younger generations exhibit higher levels of activism and engagement with the issue. The study utilized data from CAST’s nationally representative surveys conducted over the course of three years: 2020, 2021, and 2022. These annual surveys provided insights into public perceptions of climate change, with approximately 1,000 respondents from across the U.K. participating.
While awareness of climate change is widespread across all generations, younger age groups, in particular, feel significantly more threatened by it and experience stronger emotional reactions. This finding is not entirely surprising, as younger generations are likely to bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change more so than their older counterparts.
The research team acknowledges that negative emotions can take a toll on the well-being of younger generations. However, they also emphasize the role of these emotions as a driving force for climate action. It is essential, though, to avoid placing the burden solely on younger generations to solve climate change. Older generations have a responsibility to take immediate action to mitigate climate change for the sake of future generations.
This groundbreaking study sheds light on the emotional responses to climate change across different generations. Millennials and Gen-Z exhibit heightened concerns, fear, and outrage about the impacts of climate change compared to older generations. While emotional reactions differ, the understanding and perceived impacts of climate change remain relatively consistent. The findings highlight the need for intergenerational collaboration and action to address this global crisis effectively.
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