107. Teaching Hope: Supporting Students Through Climate Anxiety
How do we navigate climate anxiety in the classroom?
I struggled with climate anxiety for a big part of my youth, so this is a topic that hits close to home for me. I remember confusion (why don’t more people seem concerned about this?) mixed with anger and despair (why aren’t we doing more about it?). The emotions that might surface as you wake up to the realization of our climate crisis are many, and they’re real!
So if you work with young people — whether as a teacher, parent, or community leader — you’ve probably felt it: the mix of hope, fear, and uncertainty that climate change brings. It’s not just a scientific topic anymore; it’s an emotional one. More and more, I hear from educators and mentors who notice the same thing: students grappling with eco-anxiety, asking tough questions, or expressing deep concern about the future.
Professor Angus, a geography teacher in the UK, is one of those people. Earlier this year, he reached out and asked if we could please have a chat, since he kept getting questions from his students about climate change — and especially how to navigate environmental anxiety. I obviously said yes.
I also asked if it was okay that we recorded the conversation so that it could benefit more people, and if you want to listen to the conversation in full, you can tune in here:
“We have to find the courage to meet students in their feelings and validate how they’re feeling. That gives them the right to feel that way.”
Key Takeaways:
Validation matters — Teachers can help students process climate anxiety by naming and acknowledging their feelings instead of avoiding them.
Shift the story from responsibility to opportunity — Reframing climate action as an exciting chance to co-create the future sparks curiosity and hope.
Every student has a “climate superpower” — By connecting passions and skills with climate solutions, students feel empowered and purposeful.
Inner leadership is key — Teaching emotional resilience and adaptability helps young people face uncertainty with confidence.
Optimism is a practice — It’s not about ignoring difficult truths, but about holding grief and hope side by side while taking meaningful action.
If you’re a teacher, I’d love to hear from you.
How are your students experiencing climate anxiety, and what’s working for you in the classroom to help them navigate it? Share your thoughts or questions with me here.
And again, if you’re looking for a guide on how to navigate these conversations in the classroom, in community meetups, or at home with your children, you can download the free Youth Guide below — it comes with conversation starters and good topics to explore deeper together!
