Managing Climate Anxiety in a Changing World
Understanding and Coping with Climate Anxiety
In recent years, climate change has gone from being a distant warning to an ever-present reality. Record-breaking heat waves, wildfires, water shortages, and unpredictable weather are becoming the norm. For many, especially the younger generations, this new reality brings more than physical discomfort. A growing number of people are experiencing climate anxiety, a deep, persistent worry about our planet's future and future generations' wellbeing.
You may have felt it yourself as you hear about shrinking ice caps, vanishing species, or political inaction. Maybe it’s a tightness in your chest or a sense of helplessness when reconciling your values with everyday choices. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
What Is Climate Anxiety?
Climate anxiety, or eco-anxiety, is not a mental illness, but a natural and often healthy emotional response to climate change. It encompasses a wide range of feelings like sadness, grief, anger, guilt, fear, and even a sense of betrayal. While not new, it’s being felt more widely and more intensely by younger generations who are growing up in a time of environmental challenges.
For college students, climate anxiety can intersect with questions about the future. Students may worry about career paths, family planning, financial stability, and where to live. It may shape decisions about what to study or how to get involved. At times, the pressure to do something can feel as intense as the crisis itself.
Why It’s Okay to Feel This Way
The truth is, climate anxiety means you care. It means you’re engaged, empathetic, and paying attention. That said, chronic anxiety can take a toll on your mental health and quality of life. Left unaddressed, it can lead to burnout, apathy, or a sense of despair.
But it’s possible to hold concern and hope at the same time. Learning how to process climate-related emotions in a healthy way is an essential part of building personal and community resilience.
Using Nature to Cope
Ironically, the very thing we’re trying to protect is also one of our greatest tools for healing. Research consistently shows that spending time in green spaces reduces stress, lowers anxiety, and boosts overall well-being. In Utah, we’re incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by natural beauty. From the Wasatch Mountains to the red rock deserts and alpine lakes, nature is never far away. Here are just a few ideas to incorporate nature into your routine:
Take a daily brain break by walking through campus gardens or sitting under a tree with a journal.
Plan weekend hikes in places like Millcreek Canyon, City Creek, or the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
Visit Red Butte Garden—a peaceful, plant-filled retreat right next to campus, free with your student ID.
Try forest bathing—a slow, mindful walk in the woods where the goal is not exercise, but immersion.
Even brief exposure to the outdoors, as little as 10 to 20 minutes, can have noticeable effects on your mental health.
Local Resources for Students Coping with Climate Anxiety
You don’t have to navigate these feelings alone. If you're experiencing climate-related stress, there are people and organizations who can help:
Counseling:
University of Utah Counseling Center
Offers individual therapy, mindfulness groups, and workshops that address anxiety and emotional resilience.The Climate Psychology Alliance North America
Offers free resources, reading groups, and webinars for people looking to understand and cope with climate emotions.
Getting Involved:
Wasatch Community Gardens
A great way to engage in hands-on, healing work in the soil. Volunteer or take a workshop.Utah Clean Energy & HEAL Utah
Both nonprofits offer volunteer and advocacy opportunities that allow students to take climate action locally.
Turning Emotions Into Action
One of the most empowering ways to deal with climate anxiety is to get involved. Taking action can help transform feelings of helplessness into a sense of agency and purpose.
Join a student sustainability group like the U of U’s Sustainability Office or ASUU Sustainability Board.
Start conversations with friends, family, or professors about how climate change impacts your life and studies.
Write, draw, or speak about your experiences. Creative expression is a powerful way to process and connect.
Advocate for policy change at the local level by attending city council meetings or joining climate justice campaigns.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
"Feeling anxious about the climate crisis doesn’t mean something is wrong with you—it means you’re awake."
— Dr. Britt Wray, author of Generation Dread
"Caring deeply about the planet is a superpower. But we have to make sure we don’t burn ourselves out in the process."
— Caroline Hickman, Climate Psychologist, University of Bath
"The antidote to despair is action. But it’s okay if that action starts with taking a deep breath and going for a walk."
— Joanna Macy, environmental activist & author
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Are you a University of Utah student? We would love to hear from you! Linked below is a short 8-minute survey about climate anxiety. This survey is just for University of Utah students and will help us understand how the U can better support those facing climate stress.