Earth Day 2023: Study on youth from Hyderabad shows discouraging responses to climate change, Covid

Hyderabad: It is disheartening to note that despite all the deliberations about the climate crisis, many youngsters, especially from slum areas, are indifferent to making a positive change towards the environment that actually translates into action.

On the occasion of Earth Day on 22 April, scientists from George Institute for Global Health, an independent medical research institute, conducted a study on the psychological reactions of young people to the twin crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.

The study

The study titled “Psychological responses to the climate and COVID-19 crises in young people, and their agency to build the world they hope to see,” published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia recently, was taken up by researchers in July 2021. The study’s co-authors, Dr. Sandhya Kanaka Yatirajula, Lokender Prashad, Mercian Daniel, and Dr Pallab Maulik, offer insights and recommendations for building a better future and empowering young people to shape the world they hope to see.

Need for the study

Talking about the need for such a study, lead author Dr. Sandhya Yatirajula said, “While Covid-19 has affected daily life and health on an immediate level, climate change has been silently damaging the planet with adverse impacts that are not immediately apparent. The loss of agency and hopelessness that may result from climate change is concerning, particularly for the vulnerable population who are already at risk due to the Covid-19 crisis.”

Highlights of the study

The study was conducted in Faridabad in north India and Hyderabad in south India where urban slums were purposively selected based on population size, accessibility, and proximity to regional field offices.

The study used a cross-sectional survey method to understand people’s feelings regarding climate change and Covid-19. The scientists aimed to investigate the changes people hoped for after the Covid-19 crisis and their role in bringing about these changes. Their focus was on how individuals can contribute towards addressing Covid-19 and climate crises.

This work was conducted as part of another ongoing study titled “Mental Health Risk Factors among Older Adolescents living in Urban Slums: An Intervention to Improve Resilience (ANUMATI).”

Key findings are discouraging

The study found that although most people felt that they had the power to make a difference when it comes to climate change and Covid-19 this did not necessarily translate into action.

Explaining this observation further, the lead scientist, Dr. Maulik, said, “While individuals may feel a sense of responsibility for addressing these societal issues, they do not take decisive action. This suggests that broader societal factors may be at play, such as systemic barriers or a lack of collective action that are preventing individuals from fully realising their sense of agency.”

Resilience, lack of proactive approach towards the environment

The study found that most people continued their usual behaviour towards the environment during the Covid-19 pandemic, or even did less than before. This aligns with the general belief that people may have an emotional response to climate change but that does not always lead to changes in their behaviour towards the environment.

The study emphasises the importance of involving young people in action to mitigate the effects of climate change and Covid-19, giving them a sense of purpose, and building resilience to deal with the stress and strains that adverse climate events or pandemics might throw their way.