Kids and climate change: stop the doom and gloom

In this article, Colleen Harkin contextualises and disseminates the findings of the IPA’s research into Climate anxiety in children.

The headlines scream catastrophe. Classrooms teach of an apocalypse. Our children fear they may not grow old because the planet is dying, and the future is bleak. The truth, however, though less sensational, is far more inspiring, and our children should know we are living in the best time in human history.

Of course, the world is not perfect and there are many challenges. But let’s look at what has been achieved through human ingenuity, cooperation, and optimism.

Extreme poverty has plummeted. In 1820, nearly 90 per cent of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty. By 1981, it was 42 per cent. Today, it’s less than 8.4 per cent, and falling every year. That means billions of people have been lifted out of grinding poverty in just two generations. More children are going to school instead of working in fields. More families can afford shelter, food, and medical care. The arc of human progress is real and profound.

Children are safer than ever. Infant mortality rates have plummeted. In 1950, more than 1 in 5 children died before their fifth birthday. Today, it’s less than 1 in 25 globally, and improving. Millions of parents now get to watch their children grow up, thanks to clean water, vaccines, better nutrition, and access to medical care.

Lifespans are longer. In 1900, average global life expectancy was around 31 years. According to the World Bank, today it is over 72 years and rising. That is more than double the average lifespan in just over a century. And with longer lives come more years of opportunity, education, contribution, and love.

Education is spreading. Globally, the literacy rate is now over 87 per cent, up from just 12 per cent in 1820. Nearly 90 per cent of primary school-aged children are enrolled in school, and girls’ access to education is improving dramatically, even in traditionally restrictive countries. The mind of a child is no longer a fate sealed by birth, but a horizon of hope.

Clean water and sanitation have expanded. Since 2000, more than 2 billion people have gained access to clean drinking water, and over 2.4 billion have gained access to improved sanitation facilities according to the WHO and UNICEF. That is not a miracle – but a result of human progress, science, and innovation.

Global prosperity has grown. Global GDP per capita has more than doubled since 1990. People not only live longer but live better. Fewer people go hungry. More people have access to technology, communication, and health care. Innovation is accelerating, not declining.

However, if you walked into a classroom or listened to the activists you would never know this. The doom and gloom and the fear-mongering are relentless, dishonest and demoralising. And it’s having a serious impact.

According to The Lancet, 59 per cent of people aged 16-25 across 10 countries said they were ‘very or extremely worried’ about climate change. More than 45 per cent said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning. In Australia, 75 per cent of young people reported feeling that ‘the future is frightening’ due to climate change narratives. A Mission Australia and Black Dog Institute study found that nearly 40 per cent of Australian teens met criteria for psychological distress – up dramatically from previous decades.

This is not an accident. Many of our institutions are flooding young minds with exaggerated apocalyptic claims:

‘Humanity is failing. We are facing an extinction-level threat. The earth will become uninhabitable unless drastic changes are made immediately.’

Greta Thunberg, COP24 Speech

‘The world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change.’

U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 2019

‘Billions will die, children will die. Civilisation will collapse. And it’s your fault.’

Roger Hallam, Extinction Rebellion founder

‘We don’t need hope. We need panic.’

Climate protest placard, School Strike 4 Climate

This messaging is not only factually incorrect, but developmentally reckless. It creates a culture of despair, particularly among the young, who are already reporting skyrocketing levels of anxiety and depression. Fear does not build a better world. Gratitude, vision, and hope do.

Progress does not mean we rest, it means we continue. It means we build on the gains we’ve made. The challenges ahead will be addressed the same way past challenges were – with creativity, productivity, innovation, cooperation, and confidence in humanity’s ability to improve.

We must stop the doom and gloom. We must free our young of their activist shackles and encourage them to celebrate our successes as we build on the best chapter in human history and work for an even brighter future.