Study: Gen Z’s Climate Anxiety Is Rising, but Belief That Things Will Change Just Hit a New Low

A new study from Sacred Heart University and GreatBlue Research finds that while 69% of Gen Zers say they’re worried about climate change, confidence in taking action has dipped from 69% in 2025 to 61% this year. Just 21% of respondents say they feel hopeful, and more than half — 55.1% — report experiencing eco-anxiety.The study surveyed 1,500 Americans between 15 and 29 and describes the pattern as a “generational crisis of confidence.” Young people aren’t abandoning the