Young Quebecers are significantly more concerned than those in other Canadian provinces about climate issues, even going so far as to question their decision to have children.
This is revealed by a survey conducted by Léger in the fall of 2022 among more than 3,000 Canadians aged 15 to 39. According to the data, 80% of Quebecers surveyed do not believe that the economic situation will improve over the next year, compared to 72% elsewhere in the country.
“This eco-anxiety among young people is caused by what they hear, whether in relation to environmental upheaval, loss of biodiversity, pollution or eco-toxicity. But it can also come from the inaction they observe around them, ”explains Inês Lopes, psychologist and educator in the environment and social issues, in an interview.
According to Ms. Lopes, eco-anxiety can express itself in various forms, whether psychologically, physiologically or cognitively.
“It can range from mild to severe: you can have physiological signs such as shortness of breath, sweating, insomnia or even a lump in your stomach. […] Some will feel a significant despair or pessimism about the future and the decisions of life, ”lists the psychologist.
The survey shows that these concerns can even influence some major decisions of young Canadians. According to the data, a quarter of Gen Z (25%) say they never want to have a child, compared to nearly one in five millennials (19%).
Among the reasons given by these respondents, 44% of them expressed that they were not comfortable bringing children into the world in the context of a climate crisis.
For Alexandra Hénault, 21, her concerns about the climate conflict with her desire to be a biological mother.
“I remember that in 2018, the IPCC report made me very uncertain about my own future, and I had insomnia. I said to myself: “what is my role as a mother if I don’t have confidence in the future? What image does it send to the child?”, says in an interview with The Canadian Press sociology student.
This questioning of parenthood can sometimes provoke reactions, especially among older generations, recognizes Inês Lopes. Although the desire of some parents to have grandchildren is legitimate, more and more young people feel that the impacts of the climate crisis do not really leave them a choice.
“I believe that having a child at the moment is also an additional polluting factor. And if I don’t have hope for the future, I don’t know if that would make me a good mother, ”adds Alexandra Hénault.
Detachment sometimes necessary
Among the multiple impacts of eco-anxiety, the questions “What if?” and catastrophic scenarios are also a source of stress for many young people. While some develop avoidance mechanisms, others will rather get involved in militant groups in order to dispel their feeling of powerlessness.
Seeing a medical professional can help manage this range of emotions, which can sometimes be “paralyzing”. Other paths are also possible, says Inês Lopes, depending on the behavior and emotions of the individual.
“It really depends on where the person is in their eco-anxiety. We will not give the same advice to a person who is in avoidance and to another who is in relentlessness”, supports the psychologist, adding that there is “a diversity of eco-anxieties”.
For Alexandra Hénault, the best way to reduce this anxiety is to detach herself as best she can from the less than rosy possibilities of the future.
“I inquire less than before, because it stressed me too much. I was going to read different scenarios, for example if the Earth warmed up by 2, 3 or 5 degrees… Today, I still experience eco-anxiety, but in a different way. […] I pay attention to my diet and my consumption, but I’m not going to stop myself from living,” she says.
According to a 2021 Léger poll, 73% of Quebecers aged 18 to 34 say they are eco-anxious, an evil specific to Generation Z and millennials.
“There’s no denying the science, and eco-anxiety can impact career choice, study choice, and even personal finances. […] We have to discuss this with young people, always validating their perception. Their concerns are well-founded, but we don’t want them to take up all the mental space, ”sums up Ms. Lopes.