Gen Z Talk Climate Change and Mental Health

The NextGen Climate Survey has found 83% of Gen Z youth are concerned about the health of our planet, according to data from Blue Shield of California. This data provides a concerning outlook on the effects of Climate change on Gen Z.

Among 1,200 respondents aged 14-24, the majority of respondents shared that their environment affects their physical and mental health. More than half of the youth polled shared they are “very concerned” about the planet running out of resources. The top three environmental issues at the top of mind are air quality, water pollution, and plastic pollution.

“Climate change is very real and there are a lot of environmental disasters happening,” said 22-year-old Justin Valenzuela, co-president of the Ohlone College Sustainability Club and co-founder of Renegade Feedings in the Bay Area. “Most importantly, I know a lot of marginalized communities around the world are facing different ends of Climate change, even though they aren’t the contributors. Providing sustainable health care to all, especially marginalized communities that are affected by Climate change, seems like the right step.”

One in four said that an environmental event or natural disaster, flood, fires, or hurricanes, for instance, affects their ability to concentrate in school.

Source: Eco-Schools NI/YouTube

Sign this petition to demand that U.S. legislators come together to unanimously Support a Green New Deal so that we can finally address the climate crisis.

Read more about Climate change activism in One Green Planet. Check out this article about lawsuits brought by youth to stop Climate change. Greta Thunberg‘s #FridaysForFuture movement brought out millions to strike against Climate change in September 2019. Other young activists from Canada to Alaska are speaking out against governments and the fossil fuel industry.

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that are raising awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your own food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!