1. Open the Dialogue
Creating space for discussion is a crucial first step. When significant environmental events occur, start by acknowledging them in your classroom. A simple question like “Has anyone been following the recent flooding in California?” can open meaningful conversations and allow students to share their experiences and concerns. Following up with “Does anyone have friends or family affected?” can also help bring the conversation to a personal level. Although jumping into the course content may seem the most efficient, dedicating time before or after class for meaningful discussions proves invaluable to student development. In non-synchronous courses, this conversation could be done over a discussion board or other class communication tool.
2. Validate Emotional Responses
The American Psychological Association recognized the term Climate Anxiety in 2017 as a chronic fear of environmental doom. This phenomenon, also known as eco-anxiety or ecological grief, is increasingly common among young people. As educators, we must acknowledge climate anxiety as a legitimate concern that can significantly impact academic performance. Creating safe spaces for students to express their feelings is essential, allowing them to voice their concerns while helping them maintain a sense of hope and agency in addressing environmental challenges. Validating students’ climate related feelings is a crucial first step in supporting their overall emotional well-being.
3. Foster Supportive Learning Environments
Particularly in online settings, creating supportive structures is essential for student engagement and well-being. Dedicated discussion forums can provide spaces for sharing climate concerns and solutions, while regular well-being check-ins through anonymous surveys can help monitor student mental health. Virtual office hours specifically devoted to climate-related discussions can offer personal support, and virtual guest presentations from climate solution organizations can inspire hope and action. Digital collaboration tools can be effectively employed to facilitate student-led environmental initiatives, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
4. Encourage Nature Connection
5. Integrate Climate Topics Thoughtfully
Climate education can be meaningfully incorporated across various subjects by altering even just one assignment or activity in the course. When presenting information, it’s crucial to maintain a balance between sharing evidence-based facts and avoiding alarmist scenarios. Assignments should be designed to connect students with real-world climate solutions, while project-based learning opportunities can focus on local initiatives to help students feel more empowered to make a difference in their communities.2
Examples include:
- Health professions: using a case example of asthma exacerbation after wildfire
- Economics: analyzing direct costs of climate change in a specific industry
- History: researching historical climate events or analyzing environmental risks across different geographic locations
- English: reading about and discussing the socioeconomic disparities in climate impact
- Statistics/Math: examining health data related to environmental changes
- Science: relating the science of ozone and carbon dioxide to its impact on climate
6. Facilitate Action
Enabling students to channel their concerns into meaningful action is beneficial for both their emotional well-being and the development of practical skills. Educators can coordinate small class responses to recent climate disasters, providing opportunities for students to make a tangible difference. Even simply sending positive messages to an affected family member of a classmate can bring value. Sharing opportunities for local and national involvement helps students find ways to contribute beyond the classroom. Working with students to develop climate preparedness strategies for their institutions gives them practical experience in climate adaptation planning. Finally, connecting students with environmental organizations and initiatives can help them build networks and find long-term ways to stay involved in climate solutions. Examples of these organizations include:
In implementing these strategies, educators can help students process their climate concerns while developing the knowledge and skills needed to address environmental challenges. This approach not only supports student well-being but can also empower students (and faculty) to become part of the solution.
References
- Caroline Hickman, Elizabeth Marks, Panu Pihkala, Susan Clayton, R Eric Lewandowski, Elouise E Mayall, Britt Wray, Catriona Mellor, Lise van Susteren, Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey, The Lancet Planetary Health, Volume 5, Issue 12, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3.
- Climate Across the Curriculum Toolkit, Environmental Center, University of Colorado Boulder. https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/get-involved/climate-across-curriculum-toolkit, accessed 1 November 2025.
- Howard Frumkin, Gregory N. Bratman, Sara Jo Breslow, Bobby Cochran, Peter H. Kahn Jr, Joshua J. Lawler, Phillip S. Levin, Pooja S. Tandon, Usha Varanasi, Kathleen L. Wolf, and Spencer A. Wood, Nature Contact and Human Health: A Research Agenda, Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 125, Issue 7, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1663
Janet Kennedy is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Education at Western New England University in Springfield, MA. She trained as an MD in the field of psychiatry and practiced in a variety of settings for many years while also teaching medical students and residents. She now teaches full time in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and has a research focus on student wellness and mental health, as well as distance education best practices.
