Climate change refers to shifts in average global temperatures over a prolonged period resulting from natural processes and human activities. Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity, like urbanization and the burning of fossil fuels, has been the main driver of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to rapid global warming.
It’s imperative to increase our understanding of climate change while creating paths to progress and hope. Achieving measurable change is dependent on students overcoming environmental pessimism. Students can be hopeful about their role in protecting Earth’s future because of environmental science education and sustainability initiatives.
A survey on climate anxiety collected the responses of 10,000 people ages 16 to 25 years old from 10 countries, including the United States. Researchers found that 75% of young respondents think the future is frightening, 59% were very or extremely worried about climate change and over 50% report feeling sad, angry and powerless.
“There’s a thought (that) the environment (is) so big, and it’s obviously so beyond us,” said Greg Anderson, assistant professor in the Department of American Studies with an expertise in urban studies and community development.
The threat of environmental degradation is overwhelming, and its emotional toll inclines young people to doubt and disengage from sustainability efforts.
“We’ve got to wake up, pay attention (and) get involved,” Anderson said.
One step towards recognizing how students can positively impact the environment is through education. Replacing pessimistic attitudes with a hopeful outlook also means being able to identify credible climate solutions.
“If there’s a critical enough mass of people (with) optimism, (then) that’s the only way that there could be a good outcome,” said Jay Banner. “The data shows (that if) we undergo a much lower trajectory for carbon emissions then we’re presently (at), the outcomes will be better.”
Banner is a professor in the Jackson School of Geosciences, director of the Environmental Science Institute and co-teaches the signature course, Sustaining a Planet. The course provides an interdisciplinary overview of environmental science while preparing students to evaluate how diverse occupations can contribute to climate mitigation.
“If you care about the future of the planet and our environment … then you could be a part of it without having it be your major or fully your career,” said Banner. “Wherever you’re headed in life, sustainability can matter to you.”
English freshman Mackenzie Wilkey shares that taking the class made sustainability more prevalent in her life. On an individual level, it has been something she’s been able to easily blend into her day-to-day life by visiting a local farm and briefly going vegetarian to reduce her carbon footprint and methane emissions.
“The class is honest. I think we have to be honest with ourselves,” Wilkey said. “Pessimism can only get us so far. If we think too much that there’s nothing we can do, then we won’t do anything,” said Wilkey.
Students may not realize the direct contributions they can make towards mending environmental issues unless they learn how these processes work and how to get involved. UT offers many environmental awareness student initiatives such as The Green Fund, a competitive grant program funded through tuition allocation, where students from any major can propose sustainability-related projects and research.
From widespread student engagement, there’s hope for a positive shift toward environmentally-conscious living. However, if we resign to environmental pessimism, we also give up on any chance of sustaining our communities and planet for future generations. Once we incorporate environmental science education and sustainability initiatives into our everyday practices, we can recognize students’ potential to overcome despair with action.
Williams is a psychology freshman from Richmond, Texas.
