Climate Change, Pollution, and Mental Health

On March 22, 2023, AIR hosted a discussion on how climate change and pollution impact mental health.

The effects of climate change are becoming more pronounced as natural disasters and extreme weather force families out of their communities, drive hunger and disease. Recent research indicates that the effects of climate change and pollution go much deeper than their physical manifestations, particularly in how they affect young people and their mental health. Increasing levels of anxiety and depression have been noted among youth who voice their fears about how climate change and pollution may impact their future.

How climate change and pollution impact mental health in general is an emerging field of study and the theme of this where AIR and external experts presented findings on the relationship between climate change and mental health, with a focus on their work in India, Mexico, and Kenya. A youth representative working in the field of environmental sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean Region offered additional insights.