Fifty-six percent of young people think humanity is doomed

Danny Jones

Young people think the climate crisis has doomed Earth

We were expecting more, to be honest

Approximately 56% of young people, aged 16-25, believe the planet and therefore humanity is doomed, according to an international survey carried out by Lancet Planetary Health, which pulled information from 10,000 young adults in ten different countries.

The report, which was dissected in detail by Vice, estimates that in the UK in particular, 51% of people agreed with the statement that ‘Humanity is doomed’; the country that agreed with the statement the most was India, 74%, while Nigeria appeared the least concerned with just 42%.

Fifty-Six Percent of Young People Think Humanity Is Doomed https://t.co/SchGmV9SvG pic.twitter.com/62Bk1L58Qt

— VICE UK (@VICEUK) September 14, 2021

This latest report – which only adds further fuel to the fire following the UN’s harrowing climate report – suggests that, on average, “Over 50% felt sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty” about the ongoing climate crisis.

Furthermore, “Over 45% said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and many reported a high number of negative thoughts about climate change.”

One person was quoted as saying, “It’s different for young people – for us, the destruction of the planet is personal”, while another answered: “I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to live in a world that doesn’t care for children and animals”.

Extrapolating data from the survey, The Guardian also noted that four in ten young people are now so worried about the climate emergency that they are unsure whether they will have children.

Just yesterday, the climate activism group Insulate Britain caused major headlines and major delays after they decided to occupy stretches of the M25 motorway. People of all ages were part of the disruptive demonstration.

COP26, the UN’s major annual climate conference – which did not convene last year due to the pandemic – is due to meet this November in Glasgow and discuss emergency climate action over the course of the twelve day summit.