The developmental roots of environmental stewardship: Childhood and the climate change crisis

• Published in: Current opinion in psychology Vol. 42; pp. 19 - 24
• Main Author: Hahn, Erin R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Children and youth; Climate Change; Climate change mitigation; Environmental psychology; Humans; Morals; Nature; Nature; Climate change; Children and youth; Environmental psychology; Climate change mitigation
• ISSN: 2352-250X; 2352-2518; 2352-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.01.006

Childhood presents heightened vulnerabilities and unique opportunities in the context of climate change. Even very young children view the environment as a moral concern. Furthermore, early life experiences can lay the groundwork for a lifetime of environmental stewardship. Exposure to nature and parental eco-friendly behaviors are each predictive of children's commitment to environmental engagement later in life. However, these early inclinations give way to decreasing environmental concern in adolescence. Research is beginning to shift from a framework that emphasizes children's status as victims of the climate change crisis to one that instead underscores their role as agents of change. •Developmental research is essential to effectively address climate change.•Early experiences in nature prime environmental stewardship later in life.•From a young age, children view the environment as a moral concern.•Parents and peers strongly influence children’s environmental views.•Children are not just victims of the climate crisis, they are also change agents.