Climate Anxiety and Eco-Distress Among Young Adults in Delhi NCR: A Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective

Abstract

Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue—it’s a deeply personal one, especially for young adults. In India’s Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the daily reality of smog-filled skies, water shortages, and unpredictable weather has made environmental concerns impossible to ignore. This study delves into the emotional and psychological impact of climate change on young adults residing in Delhi NCR, using the cognitive-behavioral model to understand how these stressors are perceived causing different emotions and behaviors. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 24 young adults aged 18 to 25, we explored how climate anxiety and eco-distress play a role in their lives (if any), what makes their experiences unique, and how culture and community influence their coping strategies. Thematic analysis help define five broad themes:embodied environmental distress, future-oriented catastrophic thinking, collective helplessness and individual agency, cultural coping and spiritual reconciliation and behavioral oscillation between engagement and withdrawal. These findings not only reinforce the cognitive-behavioral framework but also highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive support and policy changes to help young people navigate the stress created by climate anxiety in Delhi NCR.