Climate change is affecting our world and our livelihoods, from rising sea levels to extreme weather events. Last month, the U.N. Science Panel on Climate Change released a dire report on the situation. Still, some experts say it's not too late.
Juliette Rooney Varga, a professor at UMass Lowell and director of the school's Climate Change Initiative, said the students she works with are experiencing a sinking anxiety about the state of the environment, something often referred to as climate anxiety. To better understand that, GBH's Morning Edition hosts Jeremy Siegel and Paris Alston met up with the professor and her students to learn how the state of our planet is affecting their lives.
Libby McGrosky, a junior environmental science major, said many in her generation feel a sense of urgency to act.
"I guess you could ignore it and not care — and maybe people who [do] are probably happier and a little less burdened by it all," she said. "But like, I'm aware of it and I want to do something about it."
Maddy Roop is clear: She is not passionate about climate change, but it has shaped her life. The senior business major said it has changed the way she lives, and that she carries the guilt of not doing enough to help the planet.
"I hate climate change. ... I don't want to, like, literally throw my whole life away to fix this problem that is not my problem, really. But I have to," she said. "Because what else can I do? My planet's dying."
For some young adults, climate change is at the forefront of major decisions, such as their career and family. McGrosky said reports about a single person's impact on the climate have led her to weigh what it means for people to have kids.
"And so it's like, is it worth it or is it selfish?" she asked.
Madison Sachs, a senior environmental science major, grew up on Cape Cod. Her family still lives there. She loves the area, but she knows that climate change is already having an impact there, and it could become uninhabitable.
"I would love to live there," she said. "Like, that's always kind of what I envisioned. But like, realistically, it's not smart to do that."
Sachs said it's important not to overly stress about environmental action. She believes an "all-or-nothing" mentality will lead to people giving up on their efforts. Her advice: Do small things here and there.
"You can't do it all. No one can do it all. You know, we're just one person," she said. "And so it's kind of just like a team effort."
