How to deal with climate anxiety

The term ‘climate anxiety’ has its roots in the early 2000s when psychologists and environmental scholars began discussing emotional responses to climate change, using terms like eco-grief, ecological anxiety, and environmental distress.

 

Glenn Albrecht’s concept of ‘solastalgia’ (2005) is often seen as a precursor to climate anxiety. ‘Solastalgia’ is defined as the distress caused by environmental change near one’s home. The term ‘climate anxiety’ became popularised after 2018, after it was boosted by Greta Thunberg’s activism, the subsequent global youth climate movement, and the media that followed.

 

 

What is climate anxiety?

 

Climate anxiety refers to the distress or fear caused by the awareness of climate change and its impacts. As young people are left to deal with the effects of climate change created by previous generations, and take on the burden of saving our planet, it’s no wonder that climate anxiety is a growing phenomenon within this age group.

 

A 2023 study by Student Minds and the UPP Foundation, titled ‘Climate Change and Student Mental Health’, found that 90% of students said that climate change negatively affects their mental wellbeing. And 71% reported being quite or very concerned about climate change, while 68% were quite or very concerned about the impact on them personally.

 

But it’s not just young people who are affected by climate anxiety. A 2023 study of 2,000 UK adults, by the Institute of Sustainability & Environmental Professionals, found that one in six were suffering from eco-anxiety and 51% “feel a sense of grief about what is happening to nature and the planet”.

 

So, what can we do to address climate anxiety?

 

 

How to deal with climate anxiety

 

Recognising that you experience climate anxiety and that your worries are valid is the first step to dealing with it. Here are six practical ways to help you manage your climate anxiety and make a positive difference.

 

 

Limit your news consumption

 

The news is laden with devastating stories about climate change or natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, and floods. If this type of news heightens your anxiety, it’s important to limit your consumption and to avoid ‘doom-scrolling’ through social media.

 

Set time limits, or even block certain websites or social media platforms, on your phone through Apps such as Freedom, AppBlock, or StayFree.

 

 

Seek out positive news

 

Not all news is negative. But most mainstream media will highlight negative stories over positive ones. If you’re looking to get your news fix but want to focus on positive stories, take a look at Positive.News, which has sections on society, science, lifestyle, and the environment. 

 

 

Spend time in nature

 

Connecting and spending time in nature has proven mental health benefits. Nature can be green spaces such as parks, woodlands, or forests, or blue spaces such as canals, rivers, and beaches.

 

Research by the Mental Health Foundation found that 44% of people said being close to nature makes them less anxious or worried and 70% of UK adults said it improves their mood.

 

A study by the University of Glasgow found that children who spent about 60 minutes daily in nature had a 50% lower risk of developing mental-health problems.

 

If you work remotely, consider moving some of your meetings (that don’t require a screen) to a ‘walk and talk’ outdoors. This will give you some much-needed time away from your screen, some exercise and fresh air.

 

If you’re organising a team away day, consider including some nature facilitation on the agenda. This is the practice of guiding groups in nature to not only deepen their connection to the environment but to each other. It can be hugely beneficial to boosting mental wellbeing.

 

 

Join a local campaigning group

 

A positive way to channel your climate anxiety is to join a local campaigning group as you’ll feel good about making a difference within your immediate community – and every small act helps towards the greater cause.

 

Friends of the Earth has local Climate Action Groups or you can sign up as a volunteer with Greenpeace and team up with people in your area to make a difference.

 

 

Engage your MP

 

When a constituent contacts their MP, as an elected member of Parliament, they must represent their concerns and help on matters of which the government is responsible.

 

There are a number of environmental issues the government needs to be held account to, such as their policies to decarbonise the UK economy to meet net zero by 2050.

 

You can keep up the pressure by emailing your MP or meeting them in person at a surgery to ask them what action they are taking to ensure the government meets their objectives.

 

As well as nationwide initiatives, you can also engage your MP in more local issues, such as creating more green space within your area. The RSPB has some helpful resources and tips on how to meet with your MP to talk about the things you care about.

 

 

Buy pre-loved where possible

 

Fast fashion is a huge environmental concern. An estimated 350,000 tonnes of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year, which has a value of around £140M. According to Clothes Aid, 60% of UK households say they have unwanted textiles and clothing in their homes, yet 41% of people are unaware of recycling facilities for textiles.

 

Try to limit buying new clothing and shop for pre-loved instead, via Apps such as eBay, Depop, or Vinted, or in charity shops or car boot sales. Buying pre-loved doesn’t just apply to clothing but to textiles, crockery and furniture. Consider upcycling furniture to give it a new lease of life and prevent it ending up in landfill.