Eco-anxiety: Understanding its impact on Winnipeg’s children & youth

by Abrielle Pedrina

	Roundtable participants discussed eco‑anxiety, climate emotions, and pathways to collective well‑being.

For Winnipeg’s youth, the smoke drifting in from wildfires no longer feels distant at all as it’s leaving many of them questioning their safety and future in our changing climate.

A report supported by the Glocal Foundation of Canada, Understanding Eco-Anxiety in Winnipeg’s Children and Youth led by Mhaolene Leana B. Palevino, Youth Engagement Committee Head of Caring for our Environment – Manitoba (CEM), opens a window into how eco-anxiety appears from classrooms to playgrounds and homes alike.

Generally conceptualized as a form of acute or chronic psychological distress arising from environmental changes, eco-anxiety brings with it a range of emotional responses: fear, helplessness, anxiety, and more. The report, which included a roundtable discussion with CEM Youth volunteers Christopher Clacio, Patricia Mhae Quilon, and Abrielle Pedrina, brought together 16 experts from various fields: early childhood and public school educators, mental health professionals, climate action groups, and community members. Overall, this discussion highlighted how eco-anxiety extends across all these disciplines.

Younger children often express their concerns through play, art, and behavioural changes rather than verbally, as they simply lack the vocabulary to describe eco-anxiety. Yet these children remain highly sensitive to transformations in their environment.

Christy Kreiner, a pedagogical leader in a Reggio-inspired childcare centre, shared a striking example: a child expressing sadness and confusion about unpredictable weather patterns, no longer knowing if a day would be warm or cold. Meanwhile, Pat Furman, an executive director of a childcare centre, noted that during wildfire events, children frequently express their fears through drawings and storytelling.

Older children and youth are more articulate in their ways of expressing grief, uncertainty and worries environmentally about the future. Cameron from Youth Climate Lab mentioned many older children expressing grief over the potential of losing their planned futures.

Despite the fear and uncertainty caused by climate change, hope is not lost. Experts emphasized the importance of hope-based and children’s-rights-focused approaches that encourage young people to imagine a better future rather than feel powerless. By nurturing their strong connection and care for the environment, youth would be able to transform eco-anxiety into motivation for change.

Kakeka from Climate Action Manitoba shared experiences supporting communities during climate evacuations, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed support for children and families. Reflecting on teachings about the land and sky, she noted that even early exposure to environmental care can shape children’s future understanding of climate issues.

Education research and policies play an important role in finding effective ways to teach children how to reduce the negative impacts of climate change. Eco-anxiety education and an engaging curriculum revolving around land-based learning, interconnectedness, and opening honest conversations would help greatly. Gardening initiatives and intergenerational learning would foster hope without burden, along with a sense of agency and empowerment.

The report also highlights practical resources designed to help families and educators support children experiencing eco‑anxiety, ensuring Winnipeg’s youngest generations don’t face a changing climate alone. It is now available through CEM’s website: https://ceminc.org/resources/

Abrielle Pedrina is a member of the Youth Engagement Committee of Caring for our Environment – Manitoba (CEM), Inc.