Coping with eco-anxiety: tips from a leader in sustainability
Seeing news or social media posts about climate disasters may cause feelings of eco-anxiety
The negative impact of climate change-related natural disasters might have a farther reach than one might think.
Seeing news or social media content about climate disasters may cause eco-anxiety – feeling worried about current and future harm to the environment because of human activity and climate change.
The L.A. wildfires, for example, a recent natural disaster that started on Jan. 7, emphasized the eco-anxiety Sarah Gallant was already feeling.
“I think that the fires definitely highlighted the eco-anxiety,” said Gallant, who is a board member of the Living Earth Council (LEC) based in Truro.
“However, not any more or any less than other natural disasters around the world that we’ve seen in the last few years, like hurricanes, flooding, fires, both close to home and in other continents, in other countries.”
Gallant said other members of the LEC experience eco-anxiety as well.
According to the federal government’s report Canada in a Changing Climate, past and future warming in Canada is, on average, about double the magnitude of global warming.
Human activities and natural variations in climate have contributed to warming in Canada, stated the report, and it is likely that more than half of the observed warming in the country is from the influence of human activities.
The report also concluded that a warmer climate will escalate some weather extremes in the future.
‘SHOCKING TO SEE’
Kate Pepler is a Halifax-based leader in sustainability and owner of The Tare Shop in Dartmouth, which was the first zero-waste store in Nova Scotia.
“Climate change isn’t this ambiguous thing that’s going to happen to us. It’s something that is already impacting millions around the world.”
“We need to stop acting like it’s a problem to fix in the future.”
Pepler didn’t know it at the time, but the leader in environmental sustainability has felt eco-anxiety since her university days, where she studied sustainability and environmental science and minored in marine biology.
She loved what she studied, but the subject matter could be heavy.
“It really felt like most of what we were learning was the way that humans are harming the planet or causing harm to the planet and there wasn’t much focus on the positives,” she said.
“I’d leave class so upset. There were often times I would cry at the end of the day, just at the state of the world.”
Later on, she realized what she was feeling was eco-anxiety.
After graduating, created a website called Our Positive Planet, which was dedicated to sharing uplifting environmental success stories to inspire action.
Through the site, though it no longer exists, she learned about the zero waste movement which led her to open The Tare Shop.
“That’s what led to me to open up The Tare Shop, was seeking out those positive stories,” she continued.
“When I read about people doing inspiring things or creating change in their communities, that’s what inspires me.”
COPING WITH ECO-ANXIETY
Pepler has previously taught courses and done presentations about coping with eco-anxiety.
When asked for tips for coping, one of her main suggestions is to find community.
“You’re not alone in these feelings,” she said. “It’s a heavy time, it’s a hard time, but coming together with community, finding people that you can talk to, is really important.”
The day before chatting with the Truro News on Jan. 17, Pepler held a small online gathering with people in her community to talk about their eco-anxiety and how to take action.
While only a handful of people attended the meeting, she said the group has plans to meet again in the future.
“I think one of the only ways we’re going to solve all of the problems that we’re facing as a city, as a province, as a country, as a world, is by coming together in community and uplifting each other.” Taking action with small changes Subsequently, one of the other top things Pepler suggests to cope with eco-anxiety is taking action to make small, eco-friendly and sustainable changes.
“Small changes add up and also the small changes that you make in your life impact the people in your life, and then that creates a ripple effect,” she explained.
“Even if it seems small, just doing one small thing a day or a week adds up.”
Pepler noted the idea of creating an action plan that works with one’s lifestyle and location.
“Maybe if you live in a walkable part of the city, instead of hoping in the car as your first mode of transportation, try biking or walking or taking public transit,” she said.
“If you live near a place that supports package-free shopping, try to do a bulk shop, even if it’s just one shop of your four shops a month.”
Another recommendation is writing to elected officials and small businesses to advocate for change.
“You don’t have to be an expert to care about an issue, and you don’t have to know everything,” she added.
“You can just share that you worry about the state of the world, and if it’s an elected official, what are they going to do to protect the environment, to stand up for the environment? If it’s a business, maybe ask them … to consider more sustainable options.”
SEEK OUT THE POSITIVES
The sustainability leader also suggests seeking out positive stories online – there are lots of climate success news stories, as well social media accounts and newsletters that highlight success stories.
Or, said Pepler, you might also need to take a break from social media.
“Even if you just need to delete the app from your phone for a day or a week,” she said. “That often helps me when I’m noticing I’m just spending hours doom-scrolling.”