Empowering young climate leaders
Register for free and continue reading
Join our growing army of changemakers and get unlimited access to our premium content
How is one organisation helping young people combat eco anxiety?
Spotted: More than ever before, our news headlines and social media feeds are full of stories of natural disasters and extreme weather, from flooding in Valencia to Hurricane Helene in Florida just this year. This frequent exposure to the realities of climate change is causing a rise in what’s now called climate, or eco, anxiety. This anxiety can lead to feelings of powerlessness, resulting in inaction. Instead, Force of Nature wants to empower individuals with environmental education that inspires change.
Climate anxiety is particularly common among young people, whose lives will likely be most impacted by global warming and the climate shifts that are still to come. In fact, shortly before COP27, non-profit Save the Children conducted a survey that showed that 70 per cent of UK children aged 12-18 are worried about the world they’ll inherit, with 60 per cent saying they think climate change and inequality are affecting the mental health of young people in the country. Because of this, and recognising the power that young people can have in enacting change, Clover Hogan (then 19) founded Force of Nature.
At the heart of the organisation is the community, which young people can apply to join to get access to training, exclusive events, online resources, and support. When a new member joins, they begin with the free Becoming a Force of Nature educational programme, and can then continue with specialised educational pathways to help them become better communicators, facilitators, and consultants around climate action. The broader support also includes member-organised climate cafés, where young people can convene to have open conversations about the climate crisis and discuss ways they can take action.
The idea is that Force of Nature members take their learnings beyond the organisation’s community. For instance, Force of Nature youth consultants, who are 16-35 and have been trained in advising business leaders, deliver exclusive workshops and programmes to a select group of companies to help shift mindsets and trigger positive change within the business community. The organisation also works with teachers and directly with students to help them teach and manage climate anxiety in a way that turns it into climate agency.
Written By: Matilda Cox