More than 80 percent of Gen Z Australian university students are being influenced by or are experiencing climate anxiety, which is affecting their quality of life.
A Curtin University survey found 46 percent of Australian university students were very concerned and a further 35 percent were concerned about climate change.
Curtin Professor of Sustainability Dora Marinova said climate anxiety is contributing to Gen Z’s “overall sense of unease towards the future.”
“Gen Z has serious concerns which will not only impact their mental health—which will be something society and the public health system will have to deal with—but also the choices young people make: how they spend their money, whether they have families, their choice of career and more.”
35 Percent Engage in Climate Activism
Researchers also found that 35 percent of Gen Z students participated in climate activism such as fundraising, donating, protesting or supporting political campaigns.“Despite this pervasive concern, 65 percent of Australia’s university Gen Z is not engaged in traditional climate activism; however, these young people are using technology to voice their concerns,” researchers noted.
Curtin research fellow Diana Bogueva encouraged more Gen Z to participate in activism to influence policymakers to accelerate climate action.
The researchers did note there were a number of limitations of the study—the respondents chose to participate in the survey, and were not approached randomly.
“First, the respondents were self-selecting to participate in the survey rather than being randomly approached. Second, the list of environmental issues was forced choices rather than free-choice,” the paper noted.
‘Mass Delusion’: Libertarian Party
Despite the concerns of Gen Z, not everyone in Australia is convinced.Australian politician John Ruddick, who is a Libertarian Party parliamentarian in New South Wales (NSW), described climate change as a “mass delusion” during a speech in November.
Mr. Ruddick said global boiling was the “dream of the central planners” because it gave them “an excuse to amass power over all of us.”
“Global warming is more than a humorous delusion. It is the reason why this nation and most of the West have barely had any economic growth for 15 years. Along with COVID, it is why we are suffering inflation.
“We are embarking on ripping down a cheap and highly efficient energy supply that has powered our success and replacing it with an extremely expensive and highly dubious replacement: the renewables—which should be known as the unreliables.”