The main objective of the EcoReactEU project was to train and equip youth workers in Europe to better identify signs of eco-anxiety in young people and provide them with appropriate support through educational initiatives. It also aimed to empower young people to transform their concerns about climate issues into collective, concrete and meaningful action. To achieve these objectives, EcoReactEU produced several deliverables designed to disseminate knowledge on eco-anxiety and provide practical tools for professionals and young people. The main achievements of the project were as follows: The creation of a European online educational resource platform dedicated to eco-anxiety, aimed at the educational community, the general public and policy makers. This platform includes a scientific overview of the eco-anxiety experienced by young people. The development of a MOOC for youth workers, enabling them to acquire knowledge about eco-anxiety and design educational activities that encourage young people to get involved and take action. The production of an evaluation report on the MOOC content, based on a six-month trial phase of the tools, including concrete recommendations for their implementation in the field.
This project addresses the need for eco-anxiety among young people. It emerged following an international survey in 2021 by The Lancet Planetary Health among over 10,000 young people in ten countries, the largest scientific study on climate anxiety to date. The results show that 45% of young people surveyed say eco-anxiety affects their daily lives. Despite increased recognition of this phenomenon, educational responses and existing resources to support young people remain largely insufficient. Youth workers in our networks also observe an increase in distress related to climate issues, without having appropriate tools to respond. In response, the EcoReactEU project developed activities and resources based on coping mechanisms already used by young people. These tools were co-developed with youth professionals from partner networks to better understand eco-anxiety and improve support practices. EcoReactEU is a multidisciplinary project aimed at strengthening the collective understanding of eco-anxiety among young people in Greece, Italy, France and the Netherlands, while offering concrete and appropriate educational responses.