Eco-anxiety has been defined as "a chronic fear of environmental doom". 

Ecoanxiety is becoming increasingly prevalent today.  The Lancet, the world’s oldest medical journal, reports that

• 55% of people are very worried or extremely worried about climate change
• 84% were moderately worried

Rao and Powell, in research in the British Medical Journal, reported that 57% of young people are distressed about the climate crisis.

These are worrying figures and show an increase level of distress in people.

People with anxiety about the environment reported symptoms such as –

• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Feelings of powerlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Guilt

Today, we live in a world when we hear constantly about climate change and the effects of climate change, such as –

• Bushfires
• Increased temperatures
• Melting polar ice caps
• Extinction of many species
• Reduced biodiversity
• And more

It is no surprise at all that people are worried and feeling guilt at what is happening in the world around them. 

What is Eco anxiety

Eco anxiety is a chronic fear that we are facing an impending climate cataclysm. 

Let’s break down that definition a bit and see just what this means to people’s every day lives -

• Chronic – that means a long term fear that people are experiencing every day of their lives
• Impending – that means that we fear that the cataclysm is coming!
• Cataclysm – a violent and large scale event in the natural world

Looking at this, we can see just why people are experiencing Eco anxiety. They are living in daily fear of an impending, large scale, natural disaster.

Climate change is with us, but what can we do about it?

You may have thought, or heard, “What can one person do about climate change?”

One person can do a great deal.

If every ONE person worked towards changing the world, that would mean that we are all trying to change the world.  It is important that we all try our best to live in a more environmentally and sustainable way.

What can we do to save the planet and reduce ecoanxiety?

Raise Awareness

We can’t all raise environmental awareness of the scale of Greta Thunberg. Greta started the School Strike for Climate, encouraging thousands of children worldwide to strike to protect against climate change and to encourage governments to do something about it. 

We can’t all be like Greta, but we can take on some of her ideas –

• Join environmental groups
• Follow environmental groups on social media
• Post environmentally friendly and sustainable tips for others
• Become politically active

We can raise the awareness of those around us.

Reduce our Carbon Footprint

Greta didn’t start off as an activist. Her first step was to encourage her parents to change their lifestyle to reduce their carbon footprint. So, we can also try to reduce ours.

How?

• Instead of taking the car – walk, ride a bicycle, use public transport
• Reduce the temperature in your home by using heating controls
• Insulate your home, especially indoor hot water pipes. Insulate your loft.
• Draught proof your home. Use draught excluders.
• Use low energy lighting
• Switch lights off
• Unplug devices when not in use
• Get energy efficient appliances
• Use alternative methods of fuel, such as solar power, wind power
• Reduce your consumption generally
• Recycle
• If you do receive plastic bags, reuse them. For example, use them as a bin bag.
• Don’t use single use plastics
• Take your own bags, so you don’t need plastic bags
• Shop local
• Buy seasonal produce
• Adopting a vegan and vegetarian diet can reduce our carbon footprint
• Avoid fast fashion
• Buy vintage and second hand clothes
• Minimise the use of plastics and packaging
• Bulk buy footstuffs
• Buy products in reusable containers. For example, in some stores you can purchase products and take away in your own containers, rather than having plastic packaging.
• Use less water – running a tap is wasteful and a form of pollution
• Get a water butt to collect rainwater to water your plants
• Take a reusable cup to get your daily coffee

Think!

You may think this is a long list, but try changing your habits one at a time.

Think about the ways in which you can change your life and habits. The more we think about our environment and the world around us, the more notice we will take and the more effort we will make.

Raise Awareness

• Talk to people about why you are doing what you are doing.
• Talk to children and adults. Not everyone is aware of what is going on in the world and the simple ways in which they can make a difference.

By making an effort on a daily basis, no matter how large or small, we can have an effect on our environment and reduce feelings of ecoanxiety.

If you want to understand more,  take a look at our ecotherapy course

If you are interested in learning more about your environment and the world around you, why not have a look at our courses –.

• Environmental Studies
• Conservation and Environmental Management
• Environmental Courses

Environmental Psychology – Brand new eBook coming soon. Contact us if you would like to hear when it is available.