A recent survey found that more than half of people aged 15-29 have “eco-anxiety” due to concerns about the climate, and an overwhelming majority think it is important for universities to teach about sustainability and social justice.
The Institute for Sustainability & Social Justice at Sacred Heart University, in partnership with GreatBlue Research, conducted the poll from late July to early August of this year and surveyed a random sample of 2,000 U.S. residents aged 15-29.
More than half of the survey respondents — 55 percent — said they experience “eco-anxiety” and agreed with the following statement: “My level of concern for climate change causes psychological distress that impacts my daily life.” Additionally, 73 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that “I am worried about being harmed by climate change,” and over 80 percent of respondents said that “I am worried about the impacts of climate change on future generations.”
Just over 60 percent of respondents believe that “climate change is currently happening” and it “is mostly caused by human activity,” whereas 29 percent agreed “climate change is currently happening” but attributed the cause to “natural changes in the environment.” Only 6 percent of respondents said “I don’t believe climate change is currently happening,” and 4 percent responded by saying they were “unsure.”
The survey also asked participants about higher-education institutions. Between 75 to 78 percent of respondents said that it is “important” or “very important” for colleges and universities to teach “caring,” “quality relationships,” and “consciousness/awareness/mindfulness.” Only 56 percent said it is “important” or “very important” for higher-education institutions to teach spirituality and faith.
Over 70 percent of participants said it is “important” or “very important” for colleges and universities to “teach about issues of sustainability and social justice and teach how to take action on those issues.” Only 6 percent said that was “not important.” A majority of respondents — 73 percent — were “somewhat interested” or “very interested” in “adding climate change topics into existing classes.”
“Nearly three-in-five U.S. youth say that they either currently are or would have been more likely to apply to a college or university that offered a program focused on sustainability and social justice (59 percent),” reads the report. “In addition, over four-fifths feel that higher education can have a ‘beneficial’ role in addressing sustainability (85 percent) and social justice (84 percent) issues in their community.”
Forty percent of survey respondents said that “sustainability and social justice” are “very much” intertwined, and 51 percent said they are “somewhat” intertwined. Only 5 percent said “sustainability and social justice” are “not at all” intertwined. (The definition of “social justice” that was given to participants is as follows: “Social justice is about fairness and equality in society. It means making sure everyone has the same rights and opportunities, regardless of their background, race, gender or wealth. Social justice aims to eliminate discrimination and ensure that everyone can participate fully in society, have access to resources and be treated with respect and dignity.”)
“The consistent high level of agreement on the importance of sustainability and social justice regardless of census region was surprising given the commonly divisive political rhetoric in our country,” said Kirk Bartholomew, development director for the Institute of Sustainability & Social Justice at Sacred Heart University. “The disconnect reported between U.S. youth feeling responsibility to take action verses feeling that individual actions are not effective could be contributing to the high levels of eco-anxiety experienced. This distress, coupled with respondents’ high ranking of the need for colleges and universities to engage in sustainability and social justice issues, suggests a clear responsibility and opportunity for higher ed.”