Climate Anxiety or Eco-Anxiety: Mental-Health Toll of Climate Change

The mental health effects of climate change has led to a new type of psychological condition, called climate anxiety. It stems from the irrevocable consequences of climate change and the feelings of powerlessness or extreme worry about planet's worsening state.

Types of Climate Anxiety:

Relatively less known, climate anxiety or eco-anxiety is growing on the face of overwhelming environmental issues and the uncertainty surrounding the future of the planet. This psychological aftermath of climate crisis varies from fear and a sense of limitation. 

The phenomenon affects the lives that are disrupted by catastrophic weather to the people who are anxious about future. Thus, its affects are widespread and increasingly compounding with the wider climate crisis, leading to the feelings of nervousness and anxiousness, where one finds himself on the edge about global warming.

How to cope with climate Anxiety or Eco-anxiety:

In such a situation, we may want to help but may not know where to start. However, any policy, measure, or program that may reduce greenhouse gases, builds resilience to climate change, supports and finances these goals, will serve as a reminder to this fact. 

We can initiate climate action at different scales, as the issue affects every area of human and economic development. Therefore, we must shun passivity and come to take an active part in climate action and advocacy to reduce the effects of climate anxiety or eco-anxiety. 

For this purpose, we must read to know on how to fix eco-anxiety, how to educate ourselves, build resilience, embrace optimism, engage with nature and disengage from the news and social media. We should follow the positive aspect of this anxiety, which can motivate one to avoid a catastrophic future.

Climate Action Scales:

Regarding the individual action, it is based on personal choices that everyone can make in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of their lifestyles and catalyze climate action. In addition to consumption behaviors changes, he can initiate climate action indirectly by cutting emissions through activities like influencing others, making professional choices, voting and protesting. 

These choices may  have a critical bearing on global efforts to address climate change.  It is, therefore, the need of the hour to take it into account at every level. By adapting a series of small steps may have a large impact on the changes:

Saving Energy:

Suppose, we consider our excessive use of electricity at home, as we normally turn on fans and lights or other appliances when not in use, and turn them off, we can save energy. We can also use less energy by reducing our heating and cooling use, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing our laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. 

Though seems pretty, it can help in a befitting way in a country like ours, where electricity supply is intermittent and a luxury. If we are mindful to this fact, which can be as simple as unplugging our charger when our phone or laptop is fully charged, because the plugged devices still consume phantom power, which not only add to our bills, but also the greenhouse gas emissions. We can also change our energy source if possible.

Minimizing the Use of Personal Car and Firewood:

We should also reduce unnecessarily trips we take in our cars or, if possible, we should walk, riding a bicycle or use public transportation instead. People in the northern areas mostly make excessive use of firewood. They can minimise the use of firewood. They should also reduce the use of wood stoves. We should also try to switch to an electric vehicle.

Ban on burning Leaves and Garbage:

Furthermore, we should ban the somewhat common practice of burning leaves and garbage along with other materials to help protect the environment in Pakistan. We should reduce the use of detrimental things and adapt to reusing, repairing, and recycling.

Plan Your Meal and Stop Food Waste:

Tossing away uneaten food not only exacerbates food insecurity, but also causes damage to nature.  Therefore, try to eat more vegetables and avoid throwing away food unnecessarily. 

Efficient Building Standards: 

Many of the world cities are committed to more efficient building standards. They are Committed to make new buildings net-zero carbon by 2030-32. We should follow the building efficiency accelerator to develop low-carbon building design recommendations. 

Internal Carbon Pricing:

In order to ensure long-term success, companies will need to be prepared and well-positioned to deal with the upcoming policies of setting a price on carbon in their investment decisions. Moreover, a coalition of companies and groups of farmers should adapt to climate-smart agriculture Practices.

Climate Advocacy:

We should publicly support actions that address climate change and prevent it from worsening. We should support sustainable use of resources, writing policies and holding leaders accountable for not doing enough. The activism comes by advocating for these solutions and ensuring that they are implemented in letter and spirit.