What is Climate Anxiety?

 Since the beginning of climate environmentalism in the 1970s, people have been exposed to stories centering climate change through popular media with varying degrees of frequency. Researchers and medical professionals alike have seen exposure takes an increasing emotional toll. They’ve named this feeling climate anxiety.

Who is the most affected by Climate Anxiety?

Although climate change is not a new topic, it did not become a priority in the news nor in the political sphere until recently.

Reports have found that Millennials and Gen Zs are overwhelmingly afflicted with climate anxiety. Both these generations are the first in history to be repeatedly exposed to grim media coverage about the future of our planet from an early age. According to recent surveys Gen Z suffers most from climate anxiety since their childhoods were flooded with worse bad news than Millennials.

How are people affected by Climate Anxiety?

Frequently, people doubt whether planning into the far future is worth it since climate change feels like such an impossible hurdle. As you’ve probably heard, the running joke is that there is no future to grow up into, so might as well do as you like. Climate anxiety can be crushing as it makes people feel small, hopeless, and alone. The most common conundrum Millennials are facing is whether to have kids, a part of life that no one who wants to take part in should feel depressed about.

It isn’t all bad.

Climate anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it comes from a place of moral outrage and a deep caring for the environment. Activists argue that it can be a driver for good. You can harness your anger, your outrage, your sadness towards action. The last thing you should lose is hope.

If you’re like me, protesting can be a great outlet for some of that pent up frustration.

How can we deal with Climate Anxiety?

A recommended method of dealing with anxiety is to take a moment to reconnect with nature. Perhaps ironically, people have reported feeling better about their climate anxiety after spending some time in proximity to nature. Go for a hike, sit by a tree, or just breathe in some fresh air. The key part of this exercise is to create a moment of connection with the natural world without technology present to distract you. A moment of stillness away from the chaos of everyday life can help bring peace into your life, at least for a moment.

Another popular approach is to get involved with the environmentalist movement. Pushing anxious energy into action is a great way to deal with feelings of powerlessness.

What can you do to help?

There are many wonderful ways of making a difference. At SFU, you can get involved with Embark Sustainability. Embark has a Food Rescue program, Community Kitchens, and Learning Gardens. You can also donate to non-profits such as GreenPeace, 350, Global Fishing Watch, or the Outlaw Ocean Project all of which are working towards defending our planet in different ways.

Although it might sound easier said than done, climate anxiety does not have to bog you down. Just know that any form of climate action is positive action.

By Paula Osborne-Lopez