In today’s world, the urgency to integrate climate education into every school’s curriculum has never been more apparent. This initiative is not just about education; it’s about safeguarding our children’s well-being. Witnessing the climate crisis unfold firsthand, in all its severity, has a profound impact on their mental and physical health.

Unsurprisingly witnessing the destruction of homes, livelihoods, and entire communities amplifies feelings of hopelessness and despair — and now it even has a clinical definition — it’s called climate depression.

Climate depression is a specific form of mental health distress characterized by profound psychological tension and emotional anguish stemming from the awareness of climate and ecological destruction, compounded by a perceived lack of meaningful action from world leaders. It is exacerbated by the escalating impacts of global heating, with symptoms including fear, sadness, anxiety about the future, and a sense of helplessness, particularly prevalent among young people.

In addressing climate depression, it becomes imperative to provide a platform for open dialogue and education, particularly within the classroom setting. This not only imparts essential knowledge about the changing world we inhabit, but also empowers the younger generation to comprehend the broader implications of climate change, from its scientific underpinnings to its societal, health, and justice dimensions.

Currently, an estimated 850 million children — 1 in 3 worldwide — are directly impacted by climate change. These young individuals, like all of us, grapple with the climate crisis on a daily basis, yet experience its effects at a significantly higher rate than adults.

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