Emotional Needs in the Face of Climate Change and Barriers for Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Dutch Young Adults: A Qualitative Exploration

Highlights: Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue? This work addresses the growing mental health burden associated with climate change among young adults, a group increasingly recognized as vulnerable to climate-related distress. By simultaneously examining both climate-related emotional responses and the emotional and psychological needs of young adults, the study provides insights for designing interventions that support mental wellbeing, foster resilience, and promote adaptive coping in the context of climate change. Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health? The study provides empirical, context-specific insights into climate-related emotions and emotional needs related to climate change, among Dutch young adults, which can inform more locally informed approaches to prevention, communication, and support programmes. Understanding barriers to pro-environmental behaviour informs public health interventions that can reduce climate-related health risks, promote sustainable behaviours, and support the mental wellbeing of young adults experiencing eco-anxiety or feelings of helplessness. Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health? The study shows that climate change can elicit stress, anxiety, powerlessness, and hopelessness among young adults, underscoring the need for a comprehensive, multi-level public health response that simultaneously addresses emotional needs, structural barriers, and opportunities for meaningful engagement. Lowering barriers to pro-environmental behaviour and fostering supportive environments that enable sustainable action among young adults may enhance wellbeing and strengthen their sense of agency. Effective public health policy should address knowledge gaps, motivational factors, social norms, structural barriers, and institutional responsibilities to foster sustained engagement and wellbeing. Rapid climate change and its anticipated impacts trigger significant worry and distress among vulnerable groups, including young adults. Little is known about how Dutch young adults experience and cope with climate change within their specific social and environmental context. This study examines Dutch young people’s emotional responses to climate change, their perceived emotional and psychological needs arising from these experiences, and the barriers they encounter in engaging in pro-environmental behaviour, with the aim of informing public health strategies to better support and empower this vulnerable group. Data were drawn from a large online survey among a representative sample of 1006 Dutch young adults (16–35 years; 51% women). The questionnaire included fixed-answer sections assessing emotional responses to climate change, as well as two open-ended questions exploring participants’ perceptions of their emotional and psychological needs related to climate change and the barriers they perceive to pro-environmental behaviour. Descriptive statistics were used for the fixed-response items, and thematic analysis was applied to the open-ended responses. Many Dutch young adults reported worry and sadness about climate change and its impacts, with approximately one third experiencing feelings of powerlessness. A large percentage of respondents attributed responsibility to large companies, and nearly half indicated that they still had hope for the future. One third (31%) felt that nothing could make them feel better about climate change, and another third (36%) reported to experience no climate-related emotions. Key emotional needs included more action at personal, community, and governmental levels, and more motivating positive news. Almost half (46%) of young adults said they already lived sustainably, while perceived barriers to pro-environmental behaviour were mainly financial (21%), knowledge-related (8%), and time-related (7%). This exploratory study highlights key practical and emotional barriers to pro-environmental behaviour reported by Dutch young adults 16–35, who expressed diverse emotional needs while coping with climate change. The findings underscore the need for a multi-level public health response to climate-related emotions, that simultaneously addresses emotional needs, structural barriers, and opportunities for meaningful engagement. Lowering barriers to pro-environmental behaviour and fostering supportive environments that enable sustainable action among young adults may enhance wellbeing and strengthen their sense of agency. Public health supports this by reducing barriers to pro-environmental behaviour in young adults, through targeted support, clear information, and enabling social and structural conditions that promote wellbeing and sustained engagement.