A recent study has revealed that almost one million Canadians experience climate anxiety severe enough to disrupt their daily lives. Published in Nature Mental Health, the study estimates that about 2.35 per cent of Canadians aged 13 and older report symptoms of climate-related anxiety that reach clinical significance.

Researchers surveyed over 2,400 Canadians using a climate anxiety scale that measures emotional and physical responses to climate change, including difficulty sleeping, crying, and an inability to concentrate. While 90 per cent of participants said they were concerned about climate change, 68 per cent reported some degree of anxiety — a reaction the researchers describe as a normal response to the growing climate crisis marked by wildfires, floods, and extreme heat.

However, the findings show that for nearly a million people, the anxiety is more than just concern — it is affecting their mental health and daily functioning. These individuals reported symptoms such as persistent distress, sleep loss, and difficulty focusing, mirroring levels seen in other recognized anxiety disorders. The rate of clinically significant climate anxiety is only slightly below that of generalized anxiety disorder in Canada, which affects between 2.5 and 3 per cent of the population.

The study also revealed that climate anxiety is widespread across the country, including in communities that have not been directly affected by extreme weather events. This suggests that awareness of climate threats alone can trigger deep emotional distress. Researchers emphasized the importance of creating systems of support for those affected, from access to trained therapists who can address eco-anxiety to community-based initiatives such as climate cafés — informal spaces where individuals can share their concerns and feelings about climate change.

The data also indicated clear generational differences. Younger Canadians, particularly those belonging to Generations Y and Z, were found to have the highest levels of climate anxiety, while older generations, including Baby Boomers, reported the lowest. This pattern reflects the greater exposure of younger people to climate discourse and their growing awareness of the long-term risks posed by global warming.

The study identified several groups with elevated levels of climate anxiety, including Indigenous peoples, women, individuals with household incomes below $60,000, and residents of Northern Canada. People in northern regions are especially vulnerable, as they are witnessing rapid environmental transformations firsthand. The North is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, leading to more frequent lightning storms, expanded wildfires, and significant ecological changes.

In these regions, residents have experienced dramatic disruptions to their environment and traditional ways of life. The 2023 wildfires that forced mass evacuations in northern communities left visible scars on the land — from charred forests to firebreaks carved into the terrain — and deep psychological impacts on the people returning to these altered landscapes. For many, the constant reminders of environmental loss and instability fuel a pervasive sense of uncertainty about the future.

Researchers noted that even in areas less directly affected by severe climate impacts, people are increasingly reporting a sense of dread about the planet’s future. Among children and adolescents, this anxiety often manifests as existential worry — questions about meaning, purpose, and the future of humanity in a changing world.

Mental health professionals are beginning to adapt to this emerging crisis, developing new therapeutic approaches to address climate-related distress. Experts emphasize the need to destigmatize conversations about eco-anxiety and to provide open spaces where individuals can express their fears without pressure to take immediate action.

The findings highlight a growing recognition that climate change is not only an environmental and economic issue, but also a profound psychological one. As the effects of global warming become increasingly visible, addressing the mental health dimension of the crisis may prove essential for building resilience — both for individuals and for society as a whole.