The study, published in The Journal of Climate Change and Health, reveals alarmingly high levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness among adolescents in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
In southern Madagascar, where droughts and sandstorms have become the norm, young people are living through a daily struggle for survival. The study surveyed 83 adolescents and held focus groups with 48 participants across six rural villages in March 2024. The findings paint a stark picture: 90% of households had run out of food in the past year, and 69% of adolescents had gone an entire day without eating.
Many participants expressed deep distress over their families’ struggles, with some witnessing community members starve to death. One adolescent shared, “so many died … there were many elders, but they died because of the malnutrition.” Another simply stated, “There is no water and when sunlight is burning, we are suffering.”
The research also highlights the ripple effects of climate change on education and community stability. With crops failing and water sources drying up, many adolescents are forced to leave their homes to survive, while those who remain face hunger, interrupted education, and a profound sense of despair.