Ahead of Election Day, 85% of Young Americans Are Worried About Climate Change

A majority of Gen Z Americans are concerned about the climate crisis, highlighting the importance of the issue on the ballot this year.

Two weeks from now, we’ll likely know who the next president of the US will be. One of the major candidates, the incumbent vice-president, has been endorsed by environmentalists but has a tricky reputation when it comes to fracking. The other, a climate sceptic, has been in the job before, and was pilloried for undoing years of climate progress the country had made.

There are no two ways about it: climate change is a voter issue this year, more than it has ever been, especially with the backdrop of two devastating hurricanes in the southern part of the country.

To court young Americans, promising a fight against the crisis – and delivering on it – is critical. That’s because a majority of Gen Zers are worried about climate change, and plan to vote for candidates who back strong environmental action policies – no matter whether they’re Democrats, Republicans or independents.

The study, published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal, was conducted by researchers from NYU School of Medicine, Stanford University, the University of Washington, and George Washington University, and others. They interviewed nearly 16,000 Americans aged 16-25, living in all 50 states and Washington DC.

The results were eye-opening: 85% of respondents were at least moderately concerned about climate change, and 58% were very or extremely worried. Across the nation, at least three-quarters of consumers in every state showcased moderate levels of concern.

More than a quarter believe the future is frightening, and nearly two-thirds think humanity is doomed. Moreover, 52% of young Americans are hesitant to have children because of the implications of the changing climate.

“Climate change is causing widespread distress among adolescents and young adults in the USA, across the political spectrum, and is affecting multiple aspects of their planning for the future,” the researchers wrote. “As the effects of climate change become more evident, the emotional, psychological, and behavioural consequences might also intensify.”

Young Americans dejected about climate change

In the survey, 88% of American Gen Zers say we’ve failed to take care of the planet, with most blaming the actions of corporations and industries (82%) and the current response of the US government (77%).

Over six in 10, meanwhile, feel powerless, anxious, afraid, sad, and angry. While 38% say climate change negatively affects their daily life, nearly two-thirds believe it will make their life worse, threaten their health, and impact where they choose to live.

In fact, 58% feel the climate crisis is life-threatening, and a similar number of young Americans are questioning whether the work they’re putting into their education or career would matter.

The issue is also affecting the mental health of 42% of respondents, which is why 45% say they’ll talk to a doctor or mental health professional for support when asked what actions they’ll take in response to climate change.

Likewise, over two-thirds of respondents say they’ll decrease their and their families’ emissions, choose to work for employers who show commitment to reducing climate impacts, and stop buying products or services that harm the planet.

Additionally, only 29% of Gen Zers are optimistic about the crisis, and just 19% think it’ll make their lives better. Over a third (36%) feel indifferent.

Apart from corporations and governments, a major driver of these feelings is extreme weather. For over three-quarters of respondents, severe or unusual weather events in their area impact their perceptions of the issue.

“Self-reported exposure to more types of severe weather events was associated with a greater intensity of negative emotions and thoughts about climate change, and stronger endorsement of desire and plans for action,” the study said.

Democrats and Republicans feel let down by US government on climate action

The researchers asked Americans what they felt about their government’s response to the climate crisis – the overarching sentiment was anger and frustration. More than three-quarters of Gen Zers say the government has betrayed them and future generations, dismissed people’s distress, and lied about the efficacy of the actions they’ve taken.

Meanwhile, four in five say policymakers are failing young Americans on climate action and not doing enough to avoid a climate catastrophe. In terms of response to climate change, 77% want to see the US carry out a plan to prevent the worst impacts.

The same number are also calling for governments to collaborate and execute a plan on a global level, and urging the corporate and industrial sectors to make major emission reductions. Meanwhile, 75% want schools and universities to provide education about climate change and support student concerns.

Climate concern is also a bipartisan issue – 92% of Democrats are at least moderately worried about climate change, but so are 87% of independents and 74% of Republicans. Similarly, 86% of Democrats, 75% of independents, and 62% of Republicans say they’ll vote for candidates who support “aggressive policies to reduce climate change”.

It is widely accepted that a White House return for Donald Trump would spell catastrophe for the climate. The Republican rolled back over 100 climate policies during his term as president, and withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement, a global pledge to keep global post-industrial temperature rises down to 1.5°C by reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Trump has been running on a platform of “drill, baby, drill”, and has criticised President Joe Biden for not allowing oil drilling in the Arctic wilderness of Alaska. Fossil fuels are the leading cause of planet-heating emissions, and scientific consensus states that we need to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas – not double down on them.

Kamala Harris, despite backtracking on her anti-fracking stance, has been endorsed by many climate activists, and is part of the administration that passed the US’s biggest investment towards climate change mitigation, the Inflation Reduction Act. But she is facing calls to lay out her environmental plans ahead of November 5, which could well win her voters, as this survey has shown.