From Watts Up With That?

Essay by Eric Worrall

If the young victims of climate education suffer a nervous breakdown, how can educators “truly equip young people for life and work in a changing climate”?

Why emotional resilience should be at the heart of climate change education

Published: March 26, 2026 4.01am AEDT
Jessica Newberry Le Vay
Senior Researcher in Climate Change and Health, University of Oxford

The mental health effects of climate change are receiving growing attention, including how children and young people are uniquely affected. Supporting young people to build and sustain good mental health and wellbeing, and to feel prepared for life and work in an uncertain world, has never been more urgent. However, action is still lagging behind need – including in education. 

…

What surprised me was just how much students spoke of climate denial and disengagement, mental health stigma, and stigma around engaging with climate action. Students highlighted these as barriers to discussion and community building. One said:

There seems to be a passive feeling amongst my age cohort and, despite most accepting the truth of climate change, they feel removed and disempowered. This is obviously quite demoralising.

…

The transformational societal changes that the climate crisis demands can only take place by considering the emotions, thoughts and beliefs that shape our actions, including support to minimise burnout. Our actions, in turn, shape our emotions and can influence our health and wellbeing. Recognising and resourcing these connections in education systems is critical to truly equip young people for life and work in a changing climate.

…Read more: https://theconversation.com/why-emotional-resilience-should-be-at-the-heart-of-climate-change-education-275610

There is evidence that such “climate education” is doing real harm;

Aussie Climate Activists are Still Brutalising the Kids

I’m outraged there is still no sign of people like Jessica urging a pullback from “climate education”.

During the WW2 London Blitz, when people huddled in underground shelters with bombs detonating overhead, parents and teachers didn’t try to indoctrinate kids about all the ways they could die. They tried to distract the kids from the nightmare unfolding above their heads, they told kids stories and played games, to try to create a sense of normality, to help the children feel safe.

Only climate activists seem to think it is necessary to indoctrinate young children with the full horror of their apocalyptic fantasies.

Even worse, when faced with evidence climate education is causing significant distress in children, instead of pausing, maybe suggesting a deferral of climate education until kids are old enough to cope, the climate educator response appears to help kids integrate this distress into their lives by turning the kids into little activists.

One day there will be an accounting for this brutal mistreatment of our children.