The extreme climatic conditions experienced in Brazil during 2024, with record temperatures, torrential rains, and forest fires, caused a growing sense of fear and uncertainty among the population, especially among young people. This phenomenon, known as “eco-anxiety,” reflects the chronic fear generated by environmental crises.
This year, marked by devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul, extreme droughts in the Amazon, and widespread fires, could close as the warmest on record in human history, according to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. According to this organization, the environmental disasters altered the perception of nature, sowing mistrust and deep concern about the future.
For this reason, the consulted experts highlight that “eco-anxiety” is significantly affecting adolescents. Francisco Nogueira, a psychoanalyst at the Sedes Sapientiae Institute, points out that this emotional state not only generates distress but also impacts long-term decisions, such as the willingness to start a family. “Many young people express not wanting to have children because they do not see a hopeful future,” commented the psychoanalyst.
The impact could extend to a social and demographic level. Countries like Brazil, which are already facing a decline in birth rates, could see this trend exacerbated due to pessimism about the climate and its consequences.
Inundaciones en Brasil
A shift in collective perception
The succession of environmental tragedies led to 77% of Brazilians acknowledging the existence of climate change, which they attributed to human action, according to a survey by the Datafolha Institute. More than half of the respondents (52%) foresee immediate effects of global warming.
This feeling intensified between August and September, when smoke from the fires in the Amazon covered the skies of cities like São Paulo and Brasilia, reminding the population of the magnitude of the environmental crisis.
Ciclón extratropical en Brasil
The young generation demands answers
Brazilian students are showing a greater awareness of environmental degradation and its consequences. Adalberto de Sales, a Geography teacher at a school in Brasilia, recounts how his students seek answers and show concern about recent events such as the floods in Rio Grande do Sul and the fires in the central region.
“Young people make connections quickly and question the intentions behind the fires. They are also very attentive to the health and environmental implications,” Sales commented.
The impact of the record drought in Brasilia, which this year reached 167 days without rain, also raised concerns among adolescents. Sara Ferreira, a primary school student, expressed her worry: “It was a very difficult period. The heat was unbearable, and the fires made it hard to breathe. I’m concerned about the future.”
A global and collective challenge
Nogueira believes that the lack of effective international agreements to address the climate crisis exacerbates the feeling of hopelessness. “It is not necessary to have experienced a tragedy directly to feel threatened. The climate crisis generates a state of collective suffering,” he asserts.
The increase in “eco-anxiety” underscores the urgency of addressing climate challenges not only from an environmental perspective but also from social and emotional angles, especially for the younger generations that will be most affected by climate change.
What is eco-anxiety?
Eco-anxiety is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic fear of an environmental catastrophe. It arises from witnessing the impact of climate change on Earth and concern for the future of people. Eco-anxiety manifests through worries, stress, anticipatory anxiety, panic attacks, feelings of despair.
To alleviate eco-anxiety, actions can be taken such as participating in ecological initiatives, implementing daily actions in favor of the environment, sharing concerns in a group, spreading information, seeking contact with nature, or seeing a psychologist if discomfort and emotional management become overwhelming.
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