This piece, co-authored with colleagues from a multi-country working group, names what we believe should be the priority actions for the next decade as climate change reshapes mental health worldwide. The full peer-reviewed paper is available via Environment International; what follows is a brief reading guide for practitioners and funders.
Why a priority list now
The evidence base linking climate change to mental health outcomes — direct effects of disasters, indirect effects of displacement and food insecurity, and pervasive effects of ecological grief and uncertainty — has matured to the point where inaction is itself a policy choice. Our group's intent was to translate that evidence into a small set of actionable priorities that could anchor government, multilateral, and philanthropic decision-making.
What we proposed
- 01Integrate mental health into national climate adaptation plans, with named line items rather than aspirational language.
- 02Invest in community-led psychosocial infrastructure, especially in regions facing high climate exposure and limited specialist capacity.
- 03Center young people, Indigenous communities, and frontline workers in the design of programs and the governance of funding.
- 04Build the workforce — including peer support and non-specialist roles — at a pace that matches the scale of need.
- 05Fund longitudinal research that follows cohorts through climate-related events, rather than relying solely on cross-sectional snapshots.
Inaction is itself a policy choice — and one whose costs will be borne disproportionately by the youngest among us.
The full paper goes into much more depth on each of these, including governance recommendations and a proposed measurement frame. For inquiries about the original text, related briefings, or to discuss applying these priorities in your own context, please reach out.
For inquiries about the full text, related briefings, or to discuss applying this work in your own context, please reach out via the contact page.