How education can shift climate anxiety into action

Dr Rachel Manning is the Head of Transform Our World, a community of educators empowering students to take action, at environmental charity Global Action Plan. Here, she shares how values-based education can address climate anxiety and turn it into collective action.

As educators, we see daily how the world beyond the classroom impacts our students. Alongside growing awareness of environmental issues, many young people today are experiencing climate anxiety. Climate anxiety is a reflection of how much young people care about the planet. We have a responsibility to harness this passion in a way that supports their mental health and to lead collective action for change.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a pressing reality. For young people, who will inherit its long-term consequences, this awareness often manifests as climate anxiety. This term captures the worry, fear, and helplessness many feel about the state of the planet.

According to a YouGov poll, one in three young people in Britain are feeling scared, sad or pessimistic about climate change, with 28% feeling “overwhelmed”. The mounting challenges of our rapidly changing world are taking a significant toll on young people’s mental wellbeing. Research we’ve done at  Global Action Plan further reveals that many young people feel that adults, businesses, and political leaders lack the compassion necessary to address the crisis, leading to widespread pessimism about the extent to which the natural world is truly valued.

Education has a critical role in addressing climate anxiety. While many schools are increasingly integrating environmental topics into the curriculum, the focus often remains on knowledge rather than action. This approach risks leaving students overwhelmed by the scale of the problem without equipping them with the tools or confidence to contribute to solutions. These emotional responses need to be met with compassion, which fosters a sense of connection and a recognition that, though the situation is urgent, there is also room for hope and change.

Compassionate values, such as empathy, fairness, justice, and care, are essential in addressing both the causes of climate change and its impacts. These values shift the narrative from one of guilt or blame to one of collective responsibility and shared humanity. This shift from anxiety to action is vital. Young people need to understand that their concerns are valid and that they possess the power to shape the future.

When young people engage in environmental and social action, whether through local initiatives, advocacy, or lifestyle changes, they experience a sense of agency. When they can see the tangible impact of their efforts, their anxiety is replaced with a sense of purpose. When this action is grounded in compassionate values, it becomes a collective endeavour, where the wellbeing of planet and people, is at the forefront. It is no longer about individual guilt or responsibility, but about mutual care and shared responsibility.

For educators, policymakers, and parents, this is a call to action: to listen to young people, to offer support, and to provide the resources young people need to face the future with confidence. The responsibility is ours to help transform their anxiety into the driving force behind a more sustainable and hopeful world.

Global Action Plan is an environmental charity working towards a green and thriving planet, where everyone can enjoy happy and healthy lives within the Earth’s limits. Transform Our World, delivered by Global Action Plan and supported by #iwill fund, is an online community of 5,000 educators, that empowers students to take environmental and social action by showcasing quality-related resources, programmes and events.

Learn more about supporting young people and how to close the ‘Values Perception Gap’ in our upcoming event on 4th February 2025 – ‘Understanding the Values Perception Gap: Helping young people find their shared values’.

Don’t forget to visit the This Is Not A Rehearsal webpage to explore more news, training & events, resources and research to support you on your sustainability journey. If you’d like to stay up to date with training and resources related to the climate crisis within the music education sector, click here to sign up for our ‘This Is Not A Rehearsal’ monthly newsletter.