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By Stephen Marcella Climate change, driven by decades of fossil fuel emissions, is not only transforming our environment — it is taking a serious toll on our mental health. While we often focus on the property damage and bodily harm or mortality from extreme weather, the psychological consequences are just as real and deserve far greater attention. The acute, catastrophic events linked to climate change are among the most traumatic, especially for children and young adults. Research shows that exposure to disasters early in life can have lasting mental health effects. Friends in Kerrville, Texas, learned this firsthand last July 4th when flooding along the Guadalupe River turned their family celebration into a nightmare. From their home on a bluff, they watched cars and homes wash away. Later, they witnessed first responders carry deceased victims across their property. They and their children will never forget the last Independence Day. The slower, cumulative effects of climate change weigh heavily too. Those of us old enough to remember the climate of decades past can sense that the world is not the same. The familiar rhythm of the seasons has shifted. Lakes where we once skated no longer freeze. Gardeners now find their planting zones have changed. Even our cherished national parks — like Glacier National Park, where glaciers have visibly receded — bear witness to what we’ve lost. The emotional impact of these changes is well documented. A 2021 global survey of 10,000 young people found that over half of U.S. respondents felt anxious or afraid when thinking about climate change. Perhaps more troubling, most did not believe their government was taking the crisis seriously —or acting in line with climate science. These feelings of fear, frustration, and betrayal are rational responses to a world in which the threats are clear but leadership is lacking. Ironically, even oil executives now acknowledge that global warming is real —something ExxonMobil’s own scientists accurately projected decades ago but kept hidden. Yet political leaders still equivocate, delay, or deny the evidence. Worse, they spread misinformation that clean energy such as solar and wind power will increase costs when it has actually been shown to be less costly than natural gas. New Jersey cannot afford such complacency. As a coastal state, we are already on the front lines of rising seas, stronger storms, and growing public anxiety. Each flood, wildfire, and heatwave brings not just property loss, but collective trauma. Our young people are watching — and losing faith that adults are willing to act in time to protect their future. The next Governor of New Jersey must confront this crisis head-on. We need bold, sustained investment in clean, renewable energy — offshore wind, solar, and electrified transportation to reduce emissions and strengthen our economy. We need to protect coastal communities from sea-level rise and flooding, and ensure environmental justice for neighborhoods disproportionately affected by pollution. And we must also recognize and address the mental health toll that climate change is already taking, particularly among our youth. The science is clear. The evidence surrounds us. What’s missing is the political courage to act on the scale this crisis demands. The next administration cannot afford to backslide or hedge when so much is at stake. New Jersey has often been a leader in innovation and resilience. We must now choose to lead again — by proving that a clean energy future is not only possible, but essential for our physical and mental well-being. The time to act is now. Calling your elected representative in the state Assembly or Senate is the most effective way to influence policy. To find your state Assemblymember and Senator to voice your position, go to the New Jersey Legislature website’s Legislative Roster.
