What is climate anxiety and how can you cope with it?

Fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, dread and powerlessness are some
of the many emotions associated with what’s called climate
anxiety.


A global survey of 10,000 young people aged between 16–25 years,
found that 60% were very worried about climate change, and nearly
half said that their anxiety negatively effects their daily life.


Psychologists say these are rational responses to our changing
climate, experienced in many different ways around the world.


Graihagh Jackson asks how people can manage these difficult
emotions and whether climate anxiety itself can be motivational.


Graihagh chats to:


Svetlana Chigozie Onye who leads the Eco-anxiety in Africa
Project, which looks at the mental health impact of climate
change and solutions across Africa.


Dr Daniella Watson, Chartered Health Psychologist and a Research
Associate at the The Climate Cares Centre, Imperial College
London.


Got a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to:
TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721


Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Production Team: Diane Richardson,
Nik Sindle, Maria Ogundele Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Tom
Brignell Editor: Simon Watts Image Credit: Dried up dam. Mike
Hutchings, Reuters.