What is Eco-Emotion?

By Scott Blyth, Contributor

Eco-emotion is a term for the psychological stress related to climate change. It arises from external stimulation - namely, our relationship with the natural world. This stress is not considered a pathology or a diagnosis. Here is how it is explained: fears about climate change are a normal response to these abnormal conditions.

Two major examples of eco-emotion are:

  1. Eco-grief: a sadness and feeling of loss related to environmental destruction or climate change. Eco-grief can be divided into four categories:

    1. Grief from acute disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding

    2. Grief from slow onset change, like the loss of the polar icecaps. There is no one major break event; this can lead to a generalized sense of stress, sadness, and anxiety

    3. Vicarious grief, caused by seeing others suffering or hearing news of disaster

    4) Anticipatory grief, caused by thinking about what’s to come

2) Eco-anxiety: anxiety that may be related to both the present (e.g. endangered species) and the future (e.g. “what if mass extinction occurs?”). It is a chronic fear related to environmental doom. According to a 2020 survey by the American Psychological Association, “upwards of 2/3 of all adults had experienced eco-anxiety.”

Eco-emotion is very common: 73% of 8-16 year olds are worried about the state of the planet. (Of note, 41% do not trust adults to tackle challenges presented by climate change.) 60% of 16-25 year olds are very worried about climate change. Only 30% of that group felt governments are taking environmental concerns seriously. Some other emotions that you might experience connected to climate change are worry, anger, frustration, depression, helplessness, empathy, betrayal, sadness….

Most of the time, the eco-emotion that we might experience is mild, and can actually be looked at as a good thing. This is because emotion is often what leads people to act. It is possible that feelings of ecological anxiety and grief, although uncomfortable, are in fact the crucible through which humanity must pass to harness the energy and conviction needed for the life-saving changes now required!

However, it is important to remember that climate change disproportionately affects certain communities. For example, Indigenous peoples, by degradation of their traditional territories; seniors; the disabled; and those living in poverty. For some people, especially within these groups, the emotional experience of climate change might be more extreme, and can lead to negative consequences.

Some results of eco-emotion may include:

  1. Solastalgia: an overwhelming, hopeless sense that things have suddenly and permanently changed

  2. Denialism: at first, there was a denial of the existence of climate change, but now many people argue that climate change exists, but it is not human caused

  3. Eco-paralysis: being overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation, and so unable to take any action

  4. Eco-nihilism: the view that it is impossible to do anything about climate change, so we must simply continue business as usual

  5. Blind hope: believing technology will save us

  6. Eco-guilt: the belief that one’s own actions are creating the problem

So, how can we cope? As mentioned, turning emotion into action, and also maintaining connection to your community, are vital. You can incorporate ritual and practise, focus on what you can control, find solace in natural places, read. One also needs to take care of their body — eat well, get regular exercise, practice mindfulness. Also, remember it’s okay to seek clinical support.

Though it feels easier, we can’t ignore the issue of climate change. Let’s be clear, there will be catastrophic health risks for a child born today if an adequate response to climate change does not occur. These include increasing rates of food insecurity and undernutrition, of diarrheal and infectious diseases, of complications from air pollution, and increased morbidity and mortality from exposure to extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes. So, with all of this in mind, don’t let your genuine feelings about climate change slow you down - use them to ‘drive’ you into taking action! Every little step, or big step, helps!