Climate Café: A Study on Climate Emotions in European Youth

• In Event: Futures in Flux: How Young People Navigate an Uncertain World

Abstract

This study explores the emotional responses of young people at a climate café. The research is based on data collected during one of the activities of a youth exchange in which 27 participants from diverse European backgrounds reacted to and reflected on five rounds of videos related to the climate crisis. The qualitative analysis aims to identify patterns regarding (a) emerging emotions, (b) triggers and targets, and (c) their inclinations towards action or inaction. This study advances understanding of why climate-related emotions arise and how they shape young people’s decision-making and mental health, contributing to the taxonomy of climate emotions and offering recommendations for replicating different Climate Café formats, identifying their key outcomes, and supporting young people to navigate the psychological challenges of the climate emergency.

Author

• Carlos Collado, University College Dublin