A new study from Örebro University has revealed that 73 percent of surveyed 16-year-olds in Sweden report being largely indifferent to climate change, a finding that has surprised researchers. The long-term study, which follows approximately 1,000 high school students over three years, collected initial data from 600 teenagers.
According to preliminary results, only 17 percent of respondents were classified as 'climate resilient' - meaning they engage with climate issues despite feeling sadness and anxiety. Another 10 percent reported high levels of climate anxiety that affected their daily lives. The remaining 73 percent indicated low engagement with climate issues.
That group was so large was a surprise
Marlis Wullenkord, an environmental psychologist at Lund University and one of the researchers involved, expressed surprise at the size of the indifferent group. 'That group was so large was a surprise,' she said. Wullenkord noted that survey responses might not provide a complete picture, emphasizing the importance of deeper investigation.
The study, led by Maria Ojala at Örebro University and funded by the Swedish Research Council, aims to understand how young people are affected by climate change and how these feelings develop over time. Researchers speculate that multiple ongoing crises and feelings of powerlessness may contribute to youth distancing themselves from climate concerns.
Climate anxiety among Swedish youth increased between 2010 and the early 2020s but has since declined, according to the study's findings.