Climate Anxiety, Meaning, Causes, Impacts, Vulnerable Groups

Climate change is no longer only an environmental issue. Increasing heatwaves, floods, droughts, cyclones and wildfires are also affecting people’s mental health. As a result, Climate Anxiety, also known as Eco-Anxiety, is emerging as a major public health concern across the world.

Climate Anxiety Meaning 

• Climate Anxiety or Eco Anxiety refers to the fear, worry and stress caused by climate change and environmental degradation.  
• It arises when people become concerned about issues such as rising temperatures, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, pollution and the future of the planet.
• The American Psychological Association (APA) defined the term “eco-anxiety” in 2017 as “a chronic fear of environmental doom,” noting that climate change impacts on quality of life may lead to loss of personal and professional identity, loss of social support structures, loss of a sense of control and autonomy, and other mental health impacts such as feelings of helplessness, fear, and fatalism
• Although climate anxiety is not officially recognised as a mental disorder, mental health experts consider it a genuine psychological response to environmental threats.

Why is Climate Anxiety Increasing?

• Extreme Weather Events: Frequent floods, heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and cyclones create fear, uncertainty and psychological stress.
• Environmental Degradation: Deforestation, pollution, habitat destruction and species extinction make people anxious about the future of nature and human well-being.
• Fear of the Future: Concerns about food security, water scarcity, sea-level rise and climate-induced displacement increase feelings of insecurity.
• Media Exposure and Doomscrolling: Continuous exposure to alarming climate news and social media content can increase fear and hopelessness.
• Slow Climate Action: Many people, especially youth, feel frustrated by the slow pace of climate action by governments and businesses.
• Intergenerational Concerns: Young people worry that they will inherit a more dangerous and unstable world because of present-day environmental degradation.

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Climate Anxiety Vulnerable Groups

• Children and young people are among the most affected by climate-related anxiety. According to a 2021 UNICEF report, around one billion children are at extremely high risk from the impacts of climate change, making them highly vulnerable to both physical and psychological stress.
• A global survey in 2021 found that nearly 75% of people aged 16–25 felt the future of the planet was “frightening” due to climate change, while almost half reported that these negative emotions affected their daily life and functioning.
• Studies show that women are more likely than men to experience climate anxiety, while Indigenous groups and other marginalized communities often face greater emotional and psychological stress due to their closer dependence on natural ecosystems and higher exposure to climate impacts.

Climate Anxiety in India

India is vulnerable to climate-related psychological distress due to its dependence on climate-sensitive sectors, frequent exposure to extreme weather events, and limited mental health infrastructure. 

• In drought-prone states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, repeated droughts have intensified farmer distress and suicides.
• Rapid urban expansion in peri-urban areas such as Gurugram and Bengaluru, combined with weak infrastructure, further adds to environmental stress.
• The impact is more severe among lower-income and rural populations due to financial insecurity, while children, women, and the elderly remain especially vulnerable due to disrupted education, caregiving burdens, and health-related challenges.