Climate anxiety: 21 resources to energise you into action

Fears about the climate crisis getting the better of you? We asked Greenpeace staff what helps them navigate their worries about the environmental emergency. Here’s what they recommended.

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A confession: climate anxiety or its sister, climate doom, hits me roughly once a fortnight. It starts with a jittery sense that knots my stomach. Then it winds upwards, wrapping my heart tight, curdling my throat and setting my mind racing. After enough times, knotty sensations and thinking wear you down, no matter what sets it off. I can chalk up this year’s anguish to working in environmental campaigning. But fear and frustration about the climate crisis were visitors before then – and not only for me.

Most of us feel some worry about the climate crisis. 84% of young people worldwide say they feel worried about climate change. The 2021 census reports that 75% of adults in Britain are worried about the impact of climate change.

It’s not surprising that we’re feeling distressed. The climate crisis poses a huge threat to life and those with power seem slow to act. For people facing the impacts already, the climate crisis is here and now. Fear, sadness and anger are natural emotional responses. But they can make you feel isolated and powerless. Climate anxiety may overwhelm us and stop us from doing something that can help: taking action together.

Releasing the grip of climate anxiety isn’t always easy. Finding what works for you might take some trial and error. To get us going, I asked Greenpeace staff for tips and resources for managing climate anxiety.

Places to talk with others

If you want to talk openly about climate change, then consider signing up for a climate cafe. They’re a real or virtual space to talk about the crisis over a cup of tea.

Laura in Greenpeace’s outreach team joined one recently:

“I went to one run by a group in Edinburgh recently, which also included people from outside the UK. I found it helpful to be with other people who care about the same issues, and make a deliberate choice to talk about emotions, not just action.”
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Climate cafes remind us that we’re not alone, and they’re getting more popular. Find one through:

If you’re aged 16-23, you could check The Resilience Project. They run peer-support circles to build resilience into youth climate action.

Upcoming eco-crisis listening circle events

Faced by the climate and ecological crisis, it's normal to feel all sorts of emotions, including eco-anxiety. Sharing our thoughts and feelings can be a great way to build resilience. A listening circle creates a safe confidential space for us to speak and be listened to. Greenpeace is hosting a series of online listening circles for Greenpeace volunteers and supporters – on 23rd January and 22nd February. These are free events online with limited capacity. Sign up to secure your space.

Join a listening circle event

Books and media to revive your hope

There’s loads of information out there on turning climate anxiety into action. Some suggestions include:

Eilidh in Greenpeace’s supporter care team recommends Not Too Late, which shares resources for hope and action:

“This project focuses on inspiring people to take action. I've found that, in the face of the climate emergency, taking action and connecting to the rest of the movement can transform feelings of helplessness into hopefulness. It's not too late for meaningful change.”
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Getting specialist advice and support

Several people recommended the Climate Psychology Alliance. Their website packs in lots of resources on mental health and the climate crisis. If you want to talk to a trained specialist, they also offer individual therapy sessions.

For more general mental health advice, try charities like:

Remember, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can contact Samaritans or call 999 in an emergency.

Take some time out for joy

To close, Emily in Greenpeace’s campaigns team offered two tips that help her while campaigning:

“1: Switch off and spend time in nature. Get into the woods or to the ocean or onto a mountain if you can. Feel your feet on the ground, experience what’s around you with all your senses; be present.
 
2: Find some joy – friends, dancing, music, laughter. It can seem like a big, bad, serious world sometimes, but giving time to the relationships and things that make us happy will make us stronger, more resilient activists.”
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What's next?

Two children crouch down on a giant floor map showing air pollution hotspots in London

Education resources for young people

Check out our free educational resources for schools, youth groups, parents, carers and young people themselves. They’ll help young people explore the challenges our planet faces and be inspired to take action to become part of the solution!

A crowd of protesters stands in a city street holding banners and placards, including one saying 'Fossil free revolution'. At the front, a person wearing a Greenpeace jacket raises a fist to rally the crowd.

Take action

All the bad news about the environment can be overwhelming. But if we work together, we can take on the world’s worst polluters and solve its biggest problems. This page is full of practical things you can do to help protect the environment, all designed by Greenpeace’s world-class campaign teams for maximum impact.