Coping with climate anxiety ... and climate change itself

students choosing an environmental career.

Taking it personally

We relocated my son to his new home out of state. While my husband helped move in his furniture, I took his car for an oil change. I sat in the lobby where a large TV played to distract the captive patrons waiting for their autos to be serviced. The broadcaster mentioned record temperatures and trending global warming and tossed it to the anchor, who reported on flooding and linked the frequency to climate change.

“Enough already!” raged the older man sitting next to me, “Why do they continually report on climate change when there’s nothing that we can do about it? It’s depressing.”

“I know,” said the millennial across the aisle from him. “They didn’t mention the wildfires. In New Mexico, the National Park Service thought they were helping the environment by initiating a ‘controlled burn’ and instead ignited a huge forest fire! The so-called experts can’t even get it right.”

Since I’ve driven an electric car for many years, I’m a bit rusty on the fine art of oil change etiquette. I thought I might jump into the impromptu conversation but, once I had formulated my thoughts, the two were called to get their cars. Now with the benefit of hindsight, I’ll share what I coulda, shoulda, woulda said.

Hey Mister… I know it’s depressing. Many people feel a sense of fear, frustration, and hopelessness whenever they think about climate change. They even have a name for that feeling when it becomes overwhelming — climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety.

Climate anxiety is, understandably, more common among younger generations, and a natural response to a real and existential threat.

Is the best way to cope to assume that “there is nothing we can do” and hope that the media will report it less? The action of turning away and accepting that our world is doomed may sink us into despair.

Using denial may help with an ‘ignorance is bliss’ attitude, but the science makes that approach increasingly difficult to sustain.

Finally, at the risk of sounding judgy, previous generations caused a lot of this mess so it seems a bit selfish to ignore it and leave for the next generation to go it alone.

So, what can we do? First, go ahead and feel all of those uncomfortable feelings. Who wouldn’t stress and panic in the face of tornados, flooding, drought? It’s like a modern day ten plagues.

Then, find ways to turn fear and anxiety into agency, action and accountability.

Sure, there is plenty that is outside of individual control. But if motivated, everyone can take steps that can make a cumulative difference.

Then, after my exercise formulating an inspirational reply to the Boomer in the lobby, I hopped on plane to come home and probably generated more greenhouse gases that day than his family used in a month. My hypocrisy was humbling.

Assessing the local impact

After returning home to Hopewell Valley, it was time to take my own advice, starting with experiencing the feelings of climate anxiety. What provokes fear in our local ecosystem?

I remember feeling quite helpless in June, as our state was engulfed in a haze caused by Canadian wildfires. It hit almost all of my senses, from the surreal orange sky to the chemical smell burning in my eyes and nose. I worried about my family members with breathing issues. Video and pictures from my office at Baldpate Mountain offered very limited visibility.

Only a month later, a torrential downpour caused flooding that killed 6 in neighboring Bucks County, including a woman from Titusville.

A firsthand view of New Jersey’s sobering statistics can be unsettling. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are the highest in at least 800,000 years. Sea levels have risen in Atlantic City at more than double the global average.

According to the Rutgers 2022 State of The Climate report, “Warmer temperatures are producing more severe heat waves. Sea-level rise and heavy rains are causing more intense flooding. These and other climaterelated hazards are projected to escalate through the 21st century, and will fall heaviest on New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents.“ Local health, economic, and environmental outcomes are already being impacted.

Turning climate anxiety into action

The hazard levels indicated in the report could easily make you feel anxious about the future, but don’t lose hope. As individuals we can raise awareness and champion the change we want to see.

Put pressure on governments and corporations to prioritize green energy. Support the movements, nonprofits, and organizations on the frontline of the fight. And while it’s popular to distrust the government, recognize instead the elected officials who are making positive strides and encourage them to do more.

One area where New Jersey leads is public education. Science-based education and reliable data are vital to understanding and planning the best action to mitigate climate change. In addition, the youth of today will compose the workforce with the best prospect for a healthy future.

Therefore, it follows that educating our young people should be a top priority. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to mandate climate education.

New Jersey is consistently ranked in the top 2 states for K-12 public education. NJ climate standards will be an additional lauded benefit. The best schools will not limit climate education to science but must teach the impacts of climate change across all subjects. An interdisciplinary approach will maximize the number of

It’s great to raise awareness and promote the organizations lessening climate issues, but the next step is personal accountability. Assess your individual carbon footprint and consider the impact your behavior is having. In New Jersey, we bring reusable bags to our stores, and have already decreased the use of plastic straws. Are you reducing how much stuff you acquire and dispose of?

Consider your food choices. Food production and consumption accounts for over 25 per cent of global emissions. This means addressing what’s on our plate is an important way to lessen our carbon footprints. Can you eat less meat and reduce food waste? When you do have leftovers, can you compost rather than add to the landfill?

Consider an energy audit to make your home more efficient. Study the landscaping around your community and your home. Have you cut the number of invasive species? Are there native trees and plants with deep roots that absorb storm water and support local habitat?

Join the FoHVOS Community Conservation program for a free outdoor assessment to incorporate sustainable conservation practices while beautifying the landscape around your home. The program also provides an opportunity to purchase native plants at wholesale pricing.

Make incremental changes

Many people avoid making personal changes either because they don’t think they’re informed enough or they don’t realize that small actions add up to a big difference. To the first point, the fact that you are aware that carbon emissions are a huge problem and need to be reduced is already more than enough. As for the second point, be mindful about where you are on the climate anxiety scale.

Climate anxiety is a double-edged sword. Some people get paralyzed and do nothing. Others go overboard and feel guilty because they are not perfect. Push to get in the habit of both supporting others and doing more individually, but be kind to yourself and find a balance that works.