Climate Grief and Collective Action: Understanding Emotional Responses to Environmental Loss in Urban Youth

Abstract

Background: Climate change has developed as an environmental crisis and psychological burden, especially among the youth while deeply worried about the future. Emotional reactions such as ‘climate grief’ and ‘climate anxiety’ have become more prevalent, particularly in urban communities witnessing environmental decline and engaging in climate talk.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore whether there is a prevalence of climate grief in urban youth and its relationship to collective climate action, possibly mediated by resilience and socioeconomic status.

Method: Mixed method study design was used, with 300 urban youth of 18–25 years. A quantitative tool of climate grief, anxiety, resilience, and collective action, followed up by semi-structured interviews, were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlates and multiple regression analysis is, supplemented by thematic analysis for qualitative comments.

Results: High levels of climate grief and anxiety were observed, the former of which was shown to significantly predict collective action. This relationship was mediated by resilience, resilient participants were more likely to engage in activism. In addition, socioeconomic differences were observed, poor SES youth evincing more emotional distress. Qualitative anecdotes provided added emotional and motivational weight to climate grief.

Conclusion: Climate grief among urban youth is a valid and potent emotional state that has the power to drive collective action, where resilience and social cognition can provide support. Managing eco-emotions in mental health and policy interventions is essential for engaged sustainability.