Environmental Mindfulness to Balance and Reduce the Anxiety about Climate change through Education

<< Background >>The EMBRACE project was initiated in response to the growing concern over climate anxiety among young people aged 16-29 in Lithuania, Italy, and Greece. Climate change, with its profound and unpredictable impacts, has left many young individuals feeling anxious, helpless, and uncertain about their future. Despite the severity of this issue, there was a significant gap in available data and resources for youth workers to effectively address these emotional challenges. Recognizing this, our consortium applied for the EMBRACE project to better understand the emotional responses of youth to climate change and to develop tools and competencies for youth workers. By equipping them with the necessary knowledge and innovative educational methods, we aimed to foster resilience and empower young people to become proactive agents of environmental change, thus addressing a critical need in modern youth education and mental health support.<< Objectives >>The primary objective of the EMBRACE project was to tackle the growing issue of climate anxiety among young people in Lithuania, Italy, and Greece by enhancing the capabilities of youth workers. We aimed to achieve this by first gaining a comprehensive understanding of the emotions, thoughts, and impacts associated with climate change among young individuals aged 16-29. With this knowledge, our goal was to develop and implement innovative educational tools, including a state-of-the-art report, digital map of climate action measures and 45 microteaching modules, to equip youth workers with the necessary skills and knowledge. These tools were designed to help youth workers effectively support and educate young people, enabling them to manage their climate-related anxieties and become empowered advocates for environmental change. Ultimately, the project sought to build a more resilient, informed, and proactive generation capable of addressing both the emotional and practical challenges posed by climate change.<< Implementation >>The EMBRACE project implemented a series of interconnected activities designed to address climate anxiety among youth. First, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the emotional responses to climate change among young people in Lithuania, Italy, and Greece, surveying over 300 participants to identify key feelings and concerns. Based on these findings, we developed a comprehensive digital map showcasing global, EU and national climate action strategies, policies, and best practices, providing a centralized resource for youth workers.Next, we created a microteaching course focused on environmental mindfulness, tailored to help youth workers address climate anxiety in their educational practices. These modules were used during national training events, where we upskilled local youth workers across partner countries and with additional training of young people. The project culminated in an international online conference, including youth workers, educators, scholars, young people and the general public from the EU and beyond, disseminating project results, and ensuring the sustainability and wider application of the EMBRACE materials beyond the project's conclusion.<< Results >>We conducted a comprehensive analysis of climate-related emotions among 300 young people across Lithuania, Italy, and Greece, resulting in a detailed state-of-the-art report available in 4 languages. This report informed the creation of the EMBRACE digital map, which centralized 45 key EU and national climate action strategies and best practices, which were later merged with other sources and now provides more than 300 global references. We also developed 45 microteaching modules on environmental mindfulness, designed to equip youth workers with the skills and knowledge needed to address climate anxiety effectively. These modules were utilized in 3 national training events, directly enhancing the competencies of 33 youth workers. Also, 65 young people additionally were engaged in training and hackathons locally. The project's final online conference extended the reach of these materials, engaging 827 participants, including youth workers, educators, scholars, young people and general public from EU and beyond, and ensuring the broader dissemination and future application of the EMBRACE tools. Overall, the project not only met but exceeded its goals, significantly contributing to the fight against climate anxiety among youth.