Records of extreme heat, cascading natural disasters, and an uncertain future shaped by climate change โ each news story can leave us feeling a tightening in our chest, a sense of helplessness with nowhere to turn. Today, a condition known as “climate anxiety” โ characterized by profound psychological distress over the trajectory of climate change โ is spreading globally, particularly among younger generations.
This article examines the underlying causes of climate anxiety and explores how these emotions can be channeled into meaningful action on climate change. From personal self-care practices to community-based approaches that connect people and engage society, we offer practical guidance on transforming anxiety into what we might call “energy for change.”
What Is “Climate Anxiety”?
“Climate anxiety” refers to a psychological state marked by intense worry and fear in response to the threats posed by climate change. Uncertainty about the future, a pervasive sense of helplessness in the face of environmental deterioration, and other related stressors contribute to this condition โ one that is increasingly affecting the mental well-being of people worldwide, especially younger generations.
A survey of 10,000 young people (ages 16โ25) across ten countries (The Lancet Planetary Health) found that 59% of respondents reported being “very or extremely worried” about climate change, and more than 45% said that climate-related anxiety was negatively affecting their daily lives.
While “climate anxiety” is not yet an officially recognized medical diagnosis, it represents a genuine concern with the potential to undermine psychological well-being if left unaddressed. It is important for each individual to find approaches that are suited to their own circumstances.
The Root Causes of Climate Anxiety
Climate anxiety is not simply a matter of being overly sensitive. The social environment in which we live โ the information we encounter each day, the position we occupy within society โ plays a significant role. Below, we highlight three of the primary contributing factors.
- Firsthand Experience with Climate Change and a Shifting Information Landscapeย
Record-breaking heat waves and severe flood damage have become increasingly commonplace, allowing many of us to witness the effects of climate change directly. Compounding these lived experiences, the widespread adoption of social media means that news of devastating disasters from around the world now reaches us in real time. Even when processed unconsciously, this steady accumulation of distressing information is recognized as a contributing factor to chronic stress and anxiety.
- Uncertainty About the Futureย
What distinguishes climate anxiety from ordinary personal stress is the sense that it cannot be resolved through individual effort alone, and that there is no clear endpoint in sight. At the core of this anxiety lies a feeling of having no control over one’s own safety and well-being, as well as a profound uncertainty about whether life as we know it can be sustained in the face of ongoing environmental crises.
- Distrust of Adults and Governmentsย
For young people in particular, a significant driver of climate anxiety is the perception that governments and older generations are not doing enough. As climate change intensifies while substantive policy responses remain insufficient, many โ especially young people โ are left feeling that their futures are being disregarded. This sense of disappointment and isolation is not mere discontent; it is an entirely understandable response from those who must live with the consequences (The Lancet Planetary Health).
Approaches to Managing Climate Anxiety
Responses to climate anxiety can be organized at three levels: individual, educational, and social/community-based. Below, we outline concrete approaches at each level.
Individual Level โ Articulate Your Emotions and Find Your Space
The first and most important step is to resist the urge to carry vague climate-related anxieties silently and alone. Writing down your feelings or sharing them with someone you trust are both well-established strategies for reducing psychological burden.
Around the world, spaces dedicated to sharing and processing climate anxiety are growing. For example,ย “Force of Nature“โ a nonprofit organization with young members in more than 50 countries โ operates “Climate cafรฉs” as community spaces where people can speak openly about climate change. The organization’s website offers free resources, including a guide to hosting your own Climate cafรฉs.
Educational Level โ Pairing Emotional Support with Knowledge
Within educational settings, it is equally important that climate instruction is accompanied by appropriate emotional support, and that young people are empowered with a genuine sense that they can contribute to meaningful change.
“Learning for a Sustainable Future” a Canadian educational nonprofit, provides guidance for educators on how to address the negative emotions children may experience when learning about climate change โ including how to facilitate safe discussions in the classroom and how to approach these conversations with appropriate sensitivity (Climate Emotions in K-12 Education). Meanwhile,ย “Climate Fresk” developed in France, is a card-based workshop grounded in research by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) that helps participants understand the mechanisms driving climate change. The workshop incorporates a process in which participants share their reflections as a group and consider what actions they might take next.
Social and Community Level โ Collective Action to Prevent Isolation
When climate anxiety is carried alone, it can deepen feelings of isolation. Engaging in dialogue with a diverse range of people and taking part in tangible action are effective ways to ease this burden.
Across Europe,ย Climate Citizens’ Assembliesย bring together randomly selected members of the public to hear from experts, deliberate on climate policy, and present formal recommendations to governments. In Japan, the city of Sapporo pioneered this format nationally in 2020, and some of the outcomes of those citizen deliberations were subsequently reflected in the city’s planning processes (Climate Assembly Sapporo 2020). The experience of having participated meaningfully in policy decision-making can itself become a source of hope and agency for the future.
From Anxiety to Action
Depending on how we approach it, climate anxiety has the potential to become a source of energy โ motivating us to protect the environment and engage with society. There is no need to view the anxiety itself as something to be ashamed of. In fact, it is a sign that you are taking the future of our planet seriously.
What matters most is not carrying that feeling alone. Sharing it with those around you, and connecting it to small, concrete steps you can take yourself, makes all the difference. Placing too much pressure on yourself to “solve everything perfectly” can paradoxically make it harder to act at all. Instead, approaching things with the mindset of “I’ll simply take one step I can manage today” may be enough to lighten the weight of that anxiety โ even just a little.
Neuromagic’s SusSol (Sustainability Solutions Group) leverages extensive expertise in digital design, strategy, and sustainability to help companies integrate sustainability into their core business strategy. Through consulting, research, and workshops, we support materiality assessments, KPI setting, brand enhancement, and disclosure. We also offer CSRD consulting led by Neuromagic Tokyo and Amsterdam, helping Japanese companies’ subsidiaries in the EU achieve regulatory compliance and alignment.
