Sep 1, 2026 · 17 min · 8 segments
On People, Planet, Profit this week, we examine the growing problem of climate anxiety, particularly among young Malaysians worried about the future they will inherit. We speak to Dr Ooi Wee Liam…
Ooi Wee LiamGuest
Rich BradburyHost
This is the show where we explore developments and debate within the ESG space.
When we talk about climate change, we tend to focus on what we can see, whether it's rising temperatures, extreme weather, floods, haze, and the economic damage that follows.
But what about the impact that we can't quite as easily see? Climate anxiety describes the fear, the worry and the uncertainty people experience about climate change and what it could mean for their future.
And there are signs it's becoming increasingly significant here in Malaysia, particularly amongst younger people.
And a recent UNICEF survey found that more than 94% of young Malaysians surveyed are worried about climate change, raising an important question for the ESG conversation.
If climate change is creating psychological and social consequences, should addressing those consequences also form part of the S in ESG? And how much responsibility should fall on individuals to manage their anxiety compared with businesses, governments and institutions addressing the environmental problems driving it in the first place? So joining me to discuss this is Dr.
Oi Wee Liam, lecturer in environmental humanities and social science and researcher for the Monash Climate Communication Hub at Monash University of Malaysia.
So we hear a lot about the physical and the economic consequences of climate change, but less about the psychological consequences.
I guess in a nutshell then, what exactly is climate anxiety and how does it manifest itself?
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This is the show where we explore developments and debate within the ESG space.
When we talk about climate change, we tend to focus on what we can see, whether it's rising temperatures, extreme weather, floods, haze, and the economic damage that follows.
But what about the impact that we can't quite as easily see? Climate anxiety describes the fear, the worry and the uncertainty people experience about climate change and what it could mean for their future.
And there are signs it's becoming increasingly significant here in Malaysia, particularly amongst younger people.
And a recent UNICEF survey found that more than 94% of young Malaysians surveyed are worried about climate change, raising an important question for the ESG conversation.
If climate change is creating psychological and social consequences, should addressing those consequences also form part of the S in ESG? And how much responsibility should fall on individuals to manage their anxiety compared with businesses, governments and institutions addressing the environmental problems driving it in the first place? So joining me to discuss this is Dr.
Oi Wee Liam, lecturer in environmental humanities and social science and researcher for the Monash Climate Communication Hub at Monash University of Malaysia.
So we hear a lot about the physical and the economic consequences of climate change, but less about the psychological consequences.
I guess in a nutshell then, what exactly is climate anxiety and how does it manifest itself?
