As AI data centers proliferate and raise new environmental concerns, climate change remains a constant—and often stressful—presence in the minds of students. New research from Quinnipiac University finds that while undergraduates are generally well informed about the issue, that awareness is often accompanied by heightened stress and emotional burden.
The study surveyed 305 students and analyzed the correlation between their level of climate knowledge and stress. More than 95 percent of respondents agreed that climate change is real, and 89 percent said they trust data from climate scientists.
Students who reported higher levels of stress over climate change were significantly more likely to think about how it could affect their future—but their sense of when that might happen varied. About 33 percent said they are already being affected, while 5 percent expected impacts during college, 24 percent within five years of graduating and 32 percent within 10 years. Just 5 percent said they do not expect to be affected.
Sarah Lawson, associate professor of biology and director of environmental science and studies at Quinnipiac, said students who reported higher levels of climate-related stress were more likely to say it influenced their daily decisions and career paths. Many students said they got their information about climate change from social media, she added, with classroom learning playing a secondary role.
“I do think that they’re taking to heart what we’re teaching them about climate change,” said Lawson, who co-authored the report. “But we also need to consider the mental health aspect. I don’t think [institutions] are doing a great job right now, because we didn’t previously understand the link between climate knowledge and stress.”
Student stress: Other research points to similar conclusions. A 2023 report from the Pew Research Center found that roughly 63 percent of Americans said harm from climate change will increase in their lifetime, and 23 percent expected they would need to make major sacrifices as a result.
Young people, in particular, may experience heightened levels of climate-related stress. A slightly older study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, surveyed 10,000 people ages 16 to 25 across 10 countries, including 1,000 in the U.S. Among all respondents, 84 percent said they were at least moderately worried about climate change, and more than 45 percent said those feelings negatively affected their daily lives.
Alina Filandro, a molecular biology major and recent graduate of Quinnipiac, said what stood out most to her was the variation in stress levels based on political views. Respondents who identified as Independents reported the lowest levels of stress, followed by Republicans and then Democrats.
“It might contribute to how they perceive it as an actual issue, which could stem from past experiences or where they’re getting their information, like social media,” said Filandro, a co-author on the report. “Not being exposed to courses that highlight how significant climate change is can definitely impact that.”
Abby Eydman, also a molecular biology major and recent graduate, said the six-percentage-point gap between the number of respondents who believe climate change is real and those who trust climate scientists likely reflects misinformation young people encounter online.
“It’s not surprising—[but] it’s unfortunate and almost saddening that we’re losing trust in science and the integrity of data,” said Eydman, who also co-authored the report. “It doesn’t surprise me given the political climate we’ve been in over the last decade.”
Lawson agreed but noted that trust in climate scientists remains relatively high over all.
“There is that disconnect between the fact that students know it’s an issue but not necessarily where that information is coming from, which we need to address as faculty members,” Lawson said.
Making proactive changes: The report found that students identified severe anxiety and depression as the most likely issues communities will face over the next 10 years as a result of climate change. At the same time, students reporting higher levels of stress were more likely to change their daily habits or even their career paths.
Filandro said those shifts aren’t necessarily negative; she described them as “proactive.”
Lawson agreed, noting that climate awareness can give students a sense of power and purpose.
“It gives students agency to decide the future—it gives them something to be passionate about,” Lawson said. “Climate change is going to touch all fields. It’s already influencing human health and the environment, and we’ll likely see it shape areas like AI data centers. This will be part of our daily lives, and it makes sense that students are thinking about it in their career paths.”
James Soda, associate professor of mathematics and data science at Quinnipiac, said the relationship between stress and action is complex.
“I don’t know if I would say there’s a clear dichotomy between feeling stressed and being compelled to act versus feeling empowered to act,” said Soda, who co-authored the report. “Climate change is a real threat to humanity and the planet, so that stress is a natural response—and it’s pushing students to make decisions about their futures.”
Mental health support: The report highlights the importance of integrating mental health awareness into climate education, pointing to an opportunity for colleges and universities to better support students navigating climate-related stress.
Lawson said she encourages students to focus on positive developments in climate work, pointing to efforts to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—the world’s largest accumulation of ocean plastic—and the Vatican’s progress toward roughly 90 percent renewable energy.
“There are big wins, and the technology is out there,” Lawson said. “That means our students could be the ones making those advances—developing new technologies, shaping policy and generating the data to support solutions—all driven, in part, by that stress.”
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