18-07-2025
‘Clinically significant distress': Peak psychological bodies urged to act amid surge in climate anxiety among young children
The peak bodies for Australian psychologists and psychiatrists are being urged to back a ban on alarmist climate messaging targeting primary school aged kids amid a surge in climate anxiety among young children.
Research released in June found Australia's National Curriculum was causing an 'epidemic of climate anxiety' among young kids, with primary school-aged children being fed alarmist content that is 'developmentally inappropriate'.
Leading educational and developmental psychologist Clare Rowe, who authored the research, has now written to the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc., and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, urging them to back a series of measures to combat the growing threat to children's mental health.
In a statement released on Friday, Ms Rowe said the psychological profession must confront the potential harm that can unintentionally be caused by 'well-intentioned, but cognitively unsuitable, climate education'.
'Clinicians are seeing a surge of Childhood Climate Anxiety in young children who do not have the neurological capacity to process existential threats as presented in the National Curriculum. Adults have a duty to protect, not burden, the developing minds of children,' Ms Rowe said.
Ms Rowe's letter to the peak bodies highlights the research, published by the Institute of Public Affairs, showing that 'current climate education practices are contributing to clinically significant distress'.
'Drawing on developmental neuroscience and psychological theory, the research finds that even if well intentioned, climate education is often misaligned with children's cognitive and emotional capacity,' the letter states.
Among the key findings highlighted are that children aged 5 to 12 'do not yet possess the abstract reasoning skills required to process existential threats … from climate change without undue emotional burden'.
That alarmist messaging can 'foster anxiety, helplessness, and diminished agency' in young children, which 'increases the risk of early-onset anxiety disorders'
And that trusted adults, such as teachers and clinicians, may unintentionally exacerbate this anxiety by reinforcing narratives 'without offering developmentally appropriate coping strategies'.
'As psychologists, our primary ethical duty is to safeguard the psychological wellbeing of all clients, including children, based on sound developmental science,' Ms Rowe said.
The leading developmental and educational psychologist urged the three peak bodies to back a moratorium on climate change education in early and middle childhood settings 'until curricula are developmentally appropriate and psychologically safe'.
The letter also calls on the peak bodies to review their climate related advocacy and professional development offerings to ensure it distinguishes between the mental health impact on adults verses those on children.
And that they acknowledge the harm to mental health that can be unintentionally caused by 'fear-based education in primary schools'.
'What Australian parents need immediately is a commitment from our most senior clinicians to recognise the damage the National Curriculum is doing to our children's mental health.'
'Reforming climate education is essential to ensuring that children develop a lifelong commitment to environmental responsibility without experiencing unnecessary psychological distress,' Ms Rowe said in a statement.
