"I've definitely disengaged with environmental issues a lot over the last few months just because it's so stressful and overwhelming as well to think about. ... I don't see a future...Just being involved with the issue of climate has brought about periods of depression for me. And something else that's been hard to deal with is experiencing activist burnout and not being able to do anything. Which is really hard because that dissociates me from my identity because being an activist is where I feel like my place in the world is." (Kelly, 2017)

Understanding Eco-Anxiety

This is one of the millions of reactions of the people and their opinion on climate change and the psychological weight of the ecological crisis, this same feeling of being constantly uncomfortable at the back of your head and an uneasiness of dread when thinking about the future of our planet and eco-system is present in millions of human beings in varying degrees being showcased and represented as various psychological and physical symptoms. We are mostly aware of how anxiety comes along in various forms and degrees both short and long term consequences, ranging from mild to severe and from that a subset called Eco-anxiety has been emerging, a term that has gained traction in academic circles but has yet to be classified as a mental disorder within the broader category of anxiety. Delegates in this field would be familiar with this but to those who are not, it refers to a family of distinct, but related, ecological emotions.

Researchers are increasingly exploring the emotions we experience in response to ecological stress, such as climate change and global warming, and how these emotions can impact our physical, psychological, and moral well-being. However, much of the existing work on this topic has been hindered by a lack of a clear operational definition, insufficient recognition of the issue during our efforts to study it, and a general shortage of research on its relationship to other psychological effects of the ecological crisis. This crisis is largely driven by the general population's lack of understanding of the situation's severity, as well as powerful corporate organizations and government bodies failing to take meaningful action or preemptive measures unless a significant population's physical and mental health are at risk which by that point is often a point of no-return or difficulty in taking responsible action.

Citing other scholarly articles and papers, they define eco-anxiety as 'a chronic fear of environmental doom' (Clayton et al. 2017: 68) and 'the generalized sense that the ecological foundations of existence are in the process of collapse' (Albrecht 2012:250). These definitions link eco-anxiety with a rather general worry, fear, or anxiety. While researchers and scholars defend the point that this reaction is fundamentally not an anxiety disorder but rather an understandable reaction to the severity of the ecological crisis (Parker 2021: 121). But this is only speaking of the present, what of the near future where there is the possibility of it developing a full fledged sub-category of anxiety to which I argue a better way to describe and an operational definition should be : The generalized sense of physiological or psychological arousal experienced with effects of anxiety when exposed to media or discussions related to environmental crises which could potentially develop into clinically significant anxiety disorders during the present or future.

Various Perspectives of Research on Eco-Anxiety from around the World

One of the first national surveys related to these phenomena was the Climate Emotions Survey in Finland in summer 2019 by Sitra, over 2000 Finns were interviewed. The survey included many kinds of questions, which enables various analyses of the data, but academic research articles based on it are only forthcoming. A much longer list of various emotions was provided within the interviews than what is usually used: over 25 of them. In this survey, 25 percent of Finns reported feelings of anxiety in relation to climate change; of the youngest segment, 15- to 30-year-olds, was about 33 percent. Climate fear was recognized by 31 percent of Finns. Three other emotions merit special mention here: guilt, shame, and grief.

In the Finnish survey, 34 percent of the respondents reported climate grief and 24 percent reported climate guilt. Age was a strong factor in recognizing climate guilt: of the youngest segment, 31 percent reported guilt, but of the oldest segment (over 65 years), only 18 percent even acknowledged it. In the case of climate shame, this difference between age groups was even stronger: 26 percent among the youngest, 12 percent among the oldest. (Hyry, 2019)

Another study examining emotional reactions to climate change across France, Germany, Norway, and the UK and had similar reactions and symptoms to the before mentioned study but what was found existing was that each of the majority reactions found tied closely to the cultural values of the country demonstrating that emotions significantly shape public engagement and behavior toward climate action (Marczak et al. 2024)

In India, climate anxiety is moderate compared to global averages, with 37.6% expressing significant worry. This anxiety drives notable pro-environmental behaviors and a relatively high participation in climate activism (19.7%) compared to many countries. Factors such as cultural collectivism and exposure to impactful climate change media, especially television, play a significant role (Ogunbode et al. 2022).

Potential Solutions to Curb and Address Eco-Anxiety

If we were to ask now what could be the potential solutions to help curb such a prevalent problem, the following ways could be helpful:

Political and Media Representation: Majority of individuals of the general public explain that they do not emphasize on climate change due to political or media representation or its negative representation which leaves a bad taste in mouth/ or causes them discomfort. Thus more positive representation of climate change to motivate people should be addressed.

Volunteering: Individuals with eco-anxiety often express a strong desire to contribute more but face barriers such as lack of information, time, or awareness with a general consensus of not knowing the first step to partake in. Addressing these barriers through targeted outreach and providing the necessary information can enhance participation.

Clear and Concise Information: Multiple research advocates for making climate change information less overwhelming by offering clear and concise messaging. Overexposure to alarming media content can exacerbate anxiety, so reframing narratives to highlight successful mitigation efforts and tangible solutions can foster optimism and motivation.

Conclusions: Building Hope and Understanding

Eco-anxiety is a powerful reflection of humanity's deep connection to the environment, as well as our fear regarding its deterioration and the destruction it brings, both physically and mentally. While this can often be overwhelming, it also presents a significant opportunity to drive meaningful change. Through this we are able to foster resilience, promote constructive and clear communication about climate issues, and encourage active participation in environmental solutions. These current issues and findings provide a foundation for understanding eco-anxiety and its implications in today's world, to explore how eco-anxiety may develop and evolve over time into a threat that society struggles to fully recognize. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of individual actions in addressing the challenges facing our planet, Earth.

Authors: Prof. Garima Rajan, Faculty of Psychology, FLAME University, & Devaj Datta, Undergraduate Student, FLAME University.