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The experts say that in the next 20 years, the earth is likely to reach or surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming over pre-industrial levels. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said, “time is running out. Irreversible climate tipping points lie alarmingly close.”

“Climate grief often involves thinking about how once things change, they can’t go back to the way they were,” saysAmy Morin, LCSWand psychotherapist. “Many changes to the planet can’t be undone and people may feel sad about how these changes are impacting the environment right now as well as future generations.”

If you’re feeling anxious about the effects of climate change, you might be experiencing what’s being described as “eco-anxiety” or “climate grief”—terms used to describe feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, and sorrow in relation to climate destruction.

What Does Climate Grief Look Like?

At the center of climate grief is typically a profound sadness about thechanges to the climate, together with a sense of inevitability.

Many people may also feel guilty about the impact of their own behavior on the planet, or feel that no matter how hard they try to care for the planet, they can’t make other people do their part. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions might exacerbate those feelings, Morin says.

“When people stayed home during the pandemic, some places saw positive changes to the environment,” she explains. “This may have triggered sadness and anxiety about how we’re treating the planet and how things are likely to revert once most people go back to business as usual.”

Amy Morin, LCSWMany changes to the planet can’t be undone and people may feel sad about how these changes are impacting the environment right now as well as future generations.

Amy Morin, LCSW

Many changes to the planet can’t be undone and people may feel sad about how these changes are impacting the environment right now as well as future generations.

Matt Lundquist, LCSW, MSEd, founder and clinical director of Tribeca Therapy, has noticed an increasing number of clients expressing concerns about climate change.

Why People Struggle to Stay Motivated in the Fight Against Climate Change

Tips for Dealing with Climate Grief

First of all, Lundquist serves up a reality check: climate change is real, it’s impacting our lives, and its effects will increase for us and future generations. “There’s also the political reality—the global will to make the changes needed to fix this as yet eludes us and there is a reflection of problematic values, which is great cause for concern,” he says.

Open Up and Seek Support

Comfort can be taken from sharing this type of anxiety, whether on a one-to-one basis with a therapist, or as part of an in-person oronline support group. While this won’t take the issue away, it may help to know that others have the same feelings of sadness and loss.

While Lundquist says therapy is an important place to talk about these concerns, he also believes that it’s best not to relate to climate anxiety as a clinical pathology or disorder. “It’s a sensible response to the state of the planet,” he says. “And so my intervention, as it were, is a political one: inasmuch as we can cure climate anxiety we need to change our political resolve and that means electoral and policy advocacy.”

Focus on Things You Can Control

Julian Lagoy, MD, a psychiatrist withMindpath Health, encourages his patients to try to only worry about things they can fully control. “We can do a small part to prevent climate change, but on the whole this is something so big it is ultimately out of our control as individuals,” he says.

Julian Lagoy, MDWe can do a small part to prevent climate change, but on the whole this is something so big it is ultimately out of our control as individuals.

Julian Lagoy, MD

We can do a small part to prevent climate change, but on the whole this is something so big it is ultimately out of our control as individuals.

Honor Your Sensitivity Toward the Planet

Panu Pihkala, a postdoctoral researcher in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Helsinki, is the leading Finnish expert in interdisciplinary research about eco-anxiety. He suggests trying to appreciate and respect your eco-anxiety instead of fighting against it.

“Successfully retaining your sensitivity to the world’s pain is something to be proud of,” he says. “It means that you can also experience more joy, because you haven’t become numb.”

Collective Action Could Relieve Climate Anxiety

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.United Nations.Remarks to Pre-COP 26.American Psychological Association.Majority of US adults believe climate change Is most important issue today.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.United Nations.Remarks to Pre-COP 26.American Psychological Association.Majority of US adults believe climate change Is most important issue today.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.United Nations.Remarks to Pre-COP 26.American Psychological Association.Majority of US adults believe climate change Is most important issue today.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.

United Nations.Remarks to Pre-COP 26.

American Psychological Association.Majority of US adults believe climate change Is most important issue today.

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