CLIMATE change is no longer a distant threat for young Malaysians but one that is already affecting their daily lives, with more than eight in 10 having experienced at least one climate-related disaster in the past year, according to a new national survey by Unicef.
The National Youth Climate Change Survey 2025 found that 83.2% of respondents aged 15 to 30 experienced at least one climate-related disaster between 2024 and 2025, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on young people's lives.
Released earlier this week, the report 'Nurture the Youth, Create the Change' is based on responses from 1,420 youths nationwide collected between June and October last year.
The survey also found that climate change is taking a significant emotional toll on young Malaysians.
Almost all respondents, at 93.4%, said climate change worries them, while 97.4% of those who had experienced a climate-related disaster reported feelings such as fear, grief, hopelessness, stress or exhaustion.
In the report, one 18-year-old female respondent from Selangor described how the increasing temperature affected her learning and physical wellbeing.
"The effects were quite severe on my mental and physical health because my school required us to wear full uniform during hot weather.
"My learning became unfocused, and I felt very tired even though I wasn’t doing anything," she said.
Unicef Malaysia representative Robert Gass says the findings show climate change is no longer a future concern for young people.
"The findings are clear: climate change is not a future threat for young people in Malaysia. It is already affecting their wellbeing, learning and safety, here and now."
Gass says protecting children and youths from climate risks must be part of Malaysia’s broader climate adaptation efforts.
“While Malaysia strengthens climate adaptation, children and young people must be protected from climate risks, supported by resilient services and included in decisions that will shape the world they inherit,” he says.
Beyond the immediate impacts of disasters, the survey also identified gaps in the support available to help young people and their families prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-related events.
More than half of respondents who had experienced a climate-related disaster reported lacking access to at least one preparedness or recovery service, including information and support before, during or after climate-related shocks.
The report also found that many young Malaysians want to play a role in tackling climate change, with 83.1% of respondents saying they would consider working in Malaysia’s green industry, driven by a desire to make a difference and by genuine personal interest.
In response to these findings, Unicef Malaysia made recommendations to strengthen health, wellbeing and safety systems to protect children and young people from climate-related risks and impacts, ensuring essential services, including education, social protection and emergency support, remain accessible during climate disruptions as well as giving children and young people a meaningful voice in climate planning and decision-making.
Meanwhile, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Ministry secretary-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin says the report findings are a valuable resource in ensuring the country’s adaptation policies are implemented inclusively and take into account the needs of children and young people.
“NRES believes that the youth are not mere beneficiaries of climate policies but strategic partners in shaping more effective solutions,” she says.
