Eco-anxiety takes the stand as youth sue Canada over climate inaction

Vancouver, October 31 — In a groundbreaking Canadian lawsuit, 15 young people aged 17 to 25 are suing the federal government over alleged climate change policy failures. The plaintiffs are seeking the court to impose legally binding greenhouse gas emissions targets. If successful, this case would be unprecedented in Canada and part of a global movement of environmental activists utilizing the courts to demand stronger climate protections.

During opening testimony this week, child and adolescent psychiatrist Elizabeth Pinsky revealed that young Canadians, including those impacted by wildfires, have already been suffering from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She introduced the term “eco-anxiety,” describing it as a psychological harm characterized by anger and a sense of betrayal.

Albert Lalonde, a plaintiff from Montreal, testified that the choking air from wildfires caused him to retreat indoors more often, leading to feelings of betrayal towards the government.

Leandrea Reeves, another plaintiff, expressed a broader sense of loss and disadvantage due to climate-linked extreme weather events hindering her outdoor experiences. Saskatchewan resident Lauren Wright, who survived 2015 wildfires, testified about the restrictions on her outdoor activities and work as a farmer caused by heat-related illnesses.

A 2022 Canadian health ministry report confirmed that climate change disproportionately and inequitably impacts the mental health of specific groups, including youth. Pinsky emphasized that climate change is fueling a general sense of apprehension about the future among young Canadians, with 40% unsure about wanting children due to global warming.

While the plaintiffs argue that successive Canadian governments have failed to safeguard their rights to life and security by failing to act on climate change, the government counters that even if a court order bound Ottawa to specific emissions targets, it would still not protect Canadians from climate change's harms.