Do you suffer from climate anxiety? you’re not alone. here’s some helpful tips to overcome it.

It’s natural for sustainability and social impact professionals to feel dejected, exhausted, and fed up. Like you’re not doing enough, or that you’re banging your head against a wall.

Change can be much slower than we would like, while the challenges may feel more complicated than the day before.

As individuals, we can know why and what we are doing, but we might forget to feel, share, or communicate our small victories.

Climate anxiety is real

Over two-thirds of young people experience climate-related anxiety according to Friends of the Earth, who released a recent campaign on the issue.

Although you’re not jumping off bridges into rubbish trucks (we hope ?), your mental wellbeing is vital so that you’re healthy and ready to contribute to the causes you believe in.

VIDEO : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBPCrMAJ0to&ab_channel=FriendsoftheEarth%28England%2CWales%26NorthernIreland%29

Finding nature’s pace

Given our location in the Highlands, we are often reminded that nature goes at its own pace and that it is never at one speed – or predictable.

We eagerly anticipate spring when we see the bluebell meadows, snowdrops, and daffodils poking out of the ground. But they may have to ride storms or wait out the snow before flourishing when the ideal conditions come together.

We don’t often see the results until they are poking out of the ground – even though the outcome of our actions are already being realised.

We’re all collectively in a season of potential. So make sure you take moments to reflect on all your small wins and embrace the feeling of hope.

Focus on the positive

We’d like to boost your endorphin levels with good news – the positive tipping points.

Positive tipping points refer to small systemic changes that have a ripple effect on the future of a system – in this case, our planet – for the better.

Renewable energy wins

In 2021, UK wind and solar energy became cost-competitive and, in certain cases, cheaper than energy generated by fossil fuels. Woooo!

Transport is changing

Nearly 80% of cars registered in Norway in 2022 were EVs, and there’s been a major shift towards electric vehicle use globally.

Electrified buses and two- and three- wheelers accounted for 44% and 42% of new purchases respectively. Plus, California became the first US state to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

We’re adopting plant-based diets

As more of us choose plant-based protein, we are freeing up 7%-15% of agricultural land that’s currently impacting natural biodiversity.

Plant-based alternatives are picking up momentum as innovators like Perfect Day and Steakholders hit the market with animal-free protein alternatives.

Plus there’s more green ammonia! We are shifting towards ammonia produced from renewable energy, which may reduce up to 90% of the farming sector’s footprint for corn and small grain crops.

Following current trends, it’s estimated that the use of green ammonia will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 90%.

Let’s tackle climate anxiety together!