What is Eco-Anxiety and How do I Solve it?

The terms “eco-anxiety” or “climate anxiety” refer to the sensation of being overwhelmed, fearful, or anxious as a result of climate change.

People’s daily lives can be disrupted, in extreme cases, by the fear associated with the potential negative effects of climate change. Eco-anxiety can have a serious impact on people’s daily lives, just like any other anxiety disorder.

How Does Eco-Anxiety Affect People's Lives?

People reporting feelings of eco-anxiety can experience “anxiety and stress in their daily lives (moderate effects), with no association with depression. These associations suggest that eco-depression and eco-anxiety may contribute to, or at least co-occur with, poorer mental health.” [Stanley] They also report less engagement with the movement to address climate change.

Consequently, eco-anxiety or eco-concern can also have an impact on people’s personal and professional lives by limiting their ability to respond to climate change. As a result, the climate-related risks associated with insufficient action increase. Both are inextricably intertwined. According to a survey conducted by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in 2021, 85% of Irish people are concerned about climate change. [EPA]

In academic and medical studies, terms such as eco-anger, eco-guilt, climate-grief, eco-paralysis, and pre-traumatic stress are being used. According to Coffey et al. (2021), these conditions are becoming more prevalent. [Coffey]

There is also evidence that eco-anxious people experience cognitive and physical/behavioural impairments such as panic attacks, obsessive thinking, loss of appetite, and insomnia [Castelloe], [Dockett], [Hickman], [Nobel].

Why do people experience Eco-anxiety?

Climate change is regarded as extremely serious by 74% of EU [EU] and global [Pew] survey respondents. As a result, the topic and its implications for humanity have gained widespread attention.

When people consider climate change and, at the same time:

These factors contribute to a cognitive dissonance between the sensation of knowing or needing to do something and the failure to act on that innate knowledge.

How Do We Address Eco-anxiety?

The solution for eco-anxiety is to make a plan and take action.

It sounds simple, right? Well, before we decide that, let’s look at some common reasons [Markman] why we don’t take action.

1. Psychological distance: It’s difficult to relate when the problems are in the future and aren’t likely to affect us right now.
2. The issue is non-linear: it is difficult to extrapolate into the future and understand how today’s actions will play out in the future
3. Inadequate sense of urgency about the problem: People are less compelled to act because climate change is not visible in their daily lives.
4. It is difficult to change ingrained habits and conveniences, regardless of the long-term benefits.
5. People prioritise short-term benefits over long-term benefits. Making sacrifices now in order to plan for the future necessitates difficult trade-offs. We’re not very good at it!
6. Inability to find relatable, actionable information: Finding information that helps us act on our desire to change can be difficult.
7. Distrust of information due to discrediting and greenwashing sources: It is fair to say that outside of scientific and other quality peer-reviewed literature, there is a significant volume of discrediting, misleading and [what is known as] greenwashing as people, businesses and other entities attempt to protect their own interests over those of the broader population.
8. The scientific community’s negative narrative is causing personal anxiety and withdrawal. Some of the literature is pessimistic.

So, Let's Try Again: Make a Plan and Take Action

ELTC.earth empowers people to combat the effects of eco-anxiety and act on their desire to contribute to a better future for all.

How?

To begin, ELTC.earth is intended to enlighten and empower people by emphasising the potential for a better future and guiding them through pathways that will enable them to take actions to get there. We address the most common reasons why people do not act in the following ways:

1. Psychological distance: ELTC.earth draws parallels between your immediate actions and the long-term problems they help to solve.
2. Non-Linear problem: ELTC.earth attempts to demonstrate equivalency of actions and results, aligning your individual actions to broader actions and their positive impacts.
3. Sense of Immediacy: ELTC.earth motivates you to continue learning and acting on your chosen actions.
4. Changing Habits: ELTC.earth promotes personal accountability by allowing you to track your progress and encourage community sharing. Positive peer pressure is extremely effective!
5. Short-term versus long-term benefits: Once again, we assist you in relating today’s changes (or lack thereof) to longer-term wins, allowing you to close the gap on the future.
6. Relatable, actionable information: ELTC.earth is jam-packed with clear, actionable information that is relevant to you and your lifestyle. You decide which actions to take.
7. Information distrust: Be confident that all of the actions, resources, and opinions shared on ELTC.earth are supported by a library of data sourced from academic journals, scientific research, and proven facts – all of which have been peer reviewed and are indisputable.
8. Negative narrative. Because the statistics and facts point to dire consequences for our planet, science is bound to confronting truths. However, there is reason to be optimistic. ELTC.earth will concentrate on the advantages of your progress. We will highlight your victories, as well as the victories and advances made by others around the world, to ensure that everyone remains motivated by the possibility rather than paralysed by fear.

There is no need to feel eco-anxiety. The good news is we have the power to positively impact climate change and ensure the long term sustainability of our planet and the inhabitants on it. We have the technology to do it. We know the policies that need to be implemented. [Interface] We just need to act.