"I feel frustrated. The scientific evidence is overwhelming. We know what's going on, we know why it's happening, we know how serious things are going to get and still, after so many years, we are still doing practically nothing to stop it." This statement belongs to Alex Sen Gupta, a senior lecturer at the Climate Change Research Centre of the University of New South Wales. He wrote a letter about his climate change-related feelings as part of science communicator Joe Duggan's Is This How You Feel? initiative.

The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat. The global average temperature has risen by nearly 1.3°C since pre-industrial times, which correlates with a significant worsening of health conditions, from respiratory illnesses to the spread of vector-borne diseases. Mental health is no exception. Extreme weather events, for instance, contribute to increased rates of PTSD, depression,  and anxiety, as warned by agencies such as the World Health Organization and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Eco-anxiety adds to that equation.

Sen Gupta's frustration is one of the many forms eco-anxiety takes. Defined by the American Psychological Association as "chronic fear of environmental doom," an increasing number of people worldwide identify with this term, both in the face of the climate crisis and environmental problems such as species loss and pollution.

Welcome to the eco-anxiety era

Eco-anxiety encompasses a set of emotions that arise when a person becomes aware of the magnitude of the present and future impacts of the environmental and climate crisis. These feelings include sadness, distress, fear, helplessness, or anger, and may also translate into physical symptoms. Although ecoanxiety is not classified as a mental illness, leading climate psychology researcher Caroline Hickman has classified it on a scale ranging from mild to critical. From manageable feelings of distress and some upset to significantly affecting daily functioning: not being able to attend school or work, suicidal thoughts, or panic attacks.

Hickman also conducted an international survey on the subject published in The Lancet. Involving 10,000 people from 10 different countries between the ages of 6 and 25, the results showed that 75% of participants believe that “the future is scary” and 56% believe that "humanity is doomed". Nearly half of the respondents said that their feelings and thoughts about climate change negatively affect their daily lives, including their ability to concentrate and study, eat, rest, and enjoy their relationships.

Indeed, eco-anxiety affects people of all ages, but it is especially prevalent among younger populations, often referred to as the "climate generation". These young people have grown up witnessing the physical effects of climate change, such as forest fires, floods, and extreme temperatures. Additionally, their anxiety is fueled not only by the environmental crisis itself, but also by the perceived inaction of governments and older generations.

Transforming eco-anxiety into an ally

Psychological therapy can be of major support for dealing with climate anxiety, helping individuals to understand and normalize these emotions. However, Hickman cautions against pathologizing eco-anxiety and stresses that it is a healthy reaction to real-world problems. The climate crisis is not going to be fixed any time soon, so eco-anxiety is likely to persist, and attempts to eliminate it risk invalidating people's legitimate concerns. Instead, efforts should be directed at validating these emotions and overcoming those that directly threaten the person's health and everyday life.

One step further, instead of perceiving it as a hindrance, eco-anxiety can become a stimulus, argue researchers such as Britt Wray, author of Generation Dread. The challenge lies in channeling this anxiety into meaningful action rather than letting it lead to paralysis or despair. To this end, it is key to establish the responsibilities of the actors involved in the current crisis situation. As the Lancet survey states, concrete climate and environmental action by decision-makers can alleviate people's feelings of neglect, frustration, and anger. The citizens' role in this journey is to hold governments and companies accountable and engage in collective action.

In addition, it is critical to build support networks that offer emotional resilience. Safe spaces and community environments help transform feelings of helplessness and despair into motivation. In the words of Matteo Innocenti, psychiatrist and author of the book Ecoansia: "The existential threat posed by climate change is much deeper than the mere physical consequences. [...] In addition to technological progress, we need to advance community networks and promote the widespread dissemination of the necessary behavioral and emotional skills."

Eco-anxiety will become increasingly prevalent in society as awareness of present and future global climate and environmental threats grows. While these feelings can be distressing, they can also become a "practical anxiety," prompting people to seek answers to these acute concerns, if managed from a collective approach and with community support. The remedy to eco-anxiety is the same we need to ensure a safe and healthy future for the planet and all the living beings on it: by tackling the climate and environmental crisis.

This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano

Image: School Strike for Climate, Flickr

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