Blistering heatwaves, school children on strike, a fast-melting Arctic, protests and blockades on the streets, Parliament declaring a 'climate emergency' - over the last 12 months the escalating climate crisis has been hard to ignore in public life.

And it is starting to have a major impact on the UK's mental health, according to a study released yesterday by Triodos Bank that suggests a third of the British public are suffering from 'eco anxiety', a condition used to describe extreme concern over climate change.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by Censuswide, found 34 per cent of people feel anxious about climate change, and 29 per cent of people said they feel 'overwhelmed' by the issue, rising to 40 per cent of those aged between 16 and 24.

Indeed, the research reveals a stark disparity between the attitudes of older and younger members of the public. Those aged 55 and over were more positive about the future, with 27 per cent believing humans will find a solution to climate breakdown, compared to just 20 per cent of those aged 35 to 44.

Caroline Hickman, a teaching fellow at the University of Bath who specialises in young people's relationships with nature and responses to the climate crisis, said the rise of 'eco anxiety' is in direct response to the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change.

"At a personal level many people are increasingly anxious not just for their own future; but also, for that of future generations; our children, and their children," she commented. "But this anxiety can also strengthen our resolve, be met with courage and imagination, and serve to inspire us to make the changes needed."

The survey also researched whether the rise in anxiety is prompting people to take more action to cut their emissions.

It found that a growing number of consumers could be willing to take steps to curb their greenhouse gas emissions. Only 18 per cent said they were not prepared to take any radical steps to avert extreme climate change, while 15 per cent would be prepared to give up flying and 10 per cent would choose not to have children to reduce their emissions.

Moreover, there was significant support for less drastic measures, with 57 per cent saying they would be willing to cut out single-use plastic from their life.