The Emotional Toll of the Climate Crisis

Rochester Business Journal by Abigail McHugh-Grifa

I distinctly remember the moment when I realized I was afraid of our gas stove. I was heating up leftovers for lunch and smelled a hint of gas. I already knew that I disliked cooking with gas and wanted to replace it with an induction range, but I had never experienced that aversion as visceral fear before. My fear was not irrational, because in that moment I recognized the multiple risks I was exposing myself to by burning fossil fuels in my home, namely (1) the possibility of an explosion, (2) the negative health consequences of poor indoor air quality, and (3) the wide range of terrifying impacts that result from climate change. When you think about it in those terms, it’s actually kind of crazy that any of us are willing to continue using fossil fuels, if we can avoid it. I went shopping for a new induction range the very next day.

Fear is one of many emotions that using fossil fuels and thinking about climate change can provoke. It’s probably safe to say that I’m more attuned to climate issues than most people, since it’s what I do professionally, but I’m certainly not alone in experiencing a mix of fear, anxiety, grief, anger, hope, frustration, helplessness, excitement, confusion, and optimism when reflecting on the climate crisis. This complexity of emotions makes sense, since the issue is mind-bogglingly complex. By openly acknowledging this emotional rollercoaster, we can normalize our experience and begin to channel that energy effectively, instead of letting it overwhelm us or get us down.

But perhaps you don’t have such complex feelings about climate change? Maybe you have very straightforward opinions and ideas about it, either as someone who thinks it’s a serious problem or someone who isn’t particularly concerned about it. In either case, I would respectfully suggest that you are not seeing the full picture and could benefit from some additional learning. 

I say this because, having spent the past ten years absorbing as much information about climate change as I possibly could, I have come to the conclusion that most people are woefully undereducated about climate, and no one can possibly know everything there is to know about the threats and opportunities that climate change presents. In fact, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. Even the world’s top climate scientists can’t predict exactly how climate change will impact every community in the world and how different climate solutions will impact every population and ecosystem. Though some energy sources are clearly better than others, there is no perfect energy source, so every strategy we might implement has pros and cons, supporters and detractors. There’s also a lot of misinformation out there, so it’s often hard to know what to believe.  

Given this degree of complexity, it’s no wonder people feel confused, frustrated, and helpless, but from my perspective, this complexity is what makes climate change a fascinating and exciting opportunity. Because (1) anyone’s failure to transition to clean energy hurts everyone, and (2) no individual person, organization, or government can possibly address this crisis by themselves, climate change will force us to listen to each other’s needs and challenges, learn how to work together effectively, and fundamentally rethink our relationships with each other and the planet. To put it bluntly, we’ll either create a better future together, or we’ll all suffer terribly. I personally vote for creating a better future. 

Some days I feel more optimistic about our chances of success than others. When I focus my attention on the network of concerned citizens and community leaders who are already working together to implement climate solutions, I feel quite hopeful for our future. When I focus my attention on the powerful stakeholders who are dragging their feet, spreading misinformation, and prioritizing their own short-term interests over the long-term interests of our community, I feel enraged. Both approaches are happening every day and are important to be aware of, so we can proactively encourage one and push back against the other. 

So how do I personally deal with the emotional toll of the climate crisis? That also depends on the day. There are many self-care and self-soothing strategies I use, some clearly healthier than others (e.g., yoga vs. cookies). Occasionally, it helps to have a good cry, but the most effective coping strategy I know of is to connect with other climate advocates who are doing their part to advance meaningful progress. Our local climate movement is made up of an incredibly diverse network of smart, committed people who bring a wide range of perspectives and expertise to the work. It’s truly a pleasure to be engaged in that community, so if you are seeking an outlet for your climate angst or enthusiasm, I invite you to get involved. 

It’s also helpful to be intentional and strategic about how you spend your “worry budget.” No one has the cognitive capacity to worry about all the things, so it’s important to differentiate between things that it’s okay to fail at (e.g., fashion, sports, having a tidy and beautiful house) and things that it’s really not okay to fail at (e.g., taking good care of each other and the planet). For me, choosing to focus on climate change (and related issues) makes it fairly easy to let go of other problems and concerns, because they seem rather inconsequential in comparison. Life is just too short to spend time stressing or beating yourself up over things that don’t really matter. 

A lot of people are dealing with mental health challenges these days, for a wide range of valid reasons. Climate change is one of those reasons, though it’s important to note that within the field of climate psychology, climate distress is not seen as a disorder, but rather an intelligent response to a real threat and a sign of our caring. In this regard, climate distress is something to celebrate, because it means we are paying attention and internally rebelling against systems that cause us harm. Effectively channeling that distress into productive activity can be a challenge, but fortunately there are a number of climate-aware therapists in our region who have been specifically trained to guide people through this process. To connect with one of those therapists, or to explore other relevant resources, check out the Climate-Aware Therapist Directory on the Climate Psychology Alliance website.   

Collectively, we are not okay. We are in deep trouble and it’s unlikely to get better any time soon (unless we quickly and generously invest significant resources in solutions). Acknowledging that is an important – though emotionally taxing – first step. Taking action to mitigate the problem and build resilience is the ideal way to cope with those emotions. Though hope and optimism can serve to keep us motivated, what we really need at this point is courage. I find that courage is best cultivated in community, so if you are feeling scared, angry, confused, or any of the other perfectly rational emotions that a person might feel when facing an existential threat, please talk openly and honestly about your experience, because other people are feeling it too and would benefit from knowing they aren’t alone.