With most people well aware of the consequences of climate change, we all want to help protect our world for future generations. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you could be suffering from “eco-anxiety”.
While not yet a clinical diagnosis, this feeling of helplessness is on the increase, and experts say it is children and their parents who are feeling it most acutely.
2
The key to managing your eco-anxiety is to find small ways to feel like you’re helping. For example, energy use in homes makes up 14% of all UK emissions.
You can do your bit to monitor how much energy you’re using – and wasting – by asking your energy supplier to install a smart meter in your home. And a smart meter isn’t just great for you – they are also paving the way for a reliable, clean and affordable energy system that will help create a more sustainable future for everyone.
By using the information from smart meters, the smart energy system can work out how much electricity and gas the country needs – and when. By making better assessments of the nation’s energy needs, this smart energy system can reduce waste. This reduces our carbon footprint and helps battle climate change.
Other small steps you can take to tackle climate change include reducing the amount of water you use. Keep a mug next to the kettle to fill with water then pour into the kettle to boil, so you’re using the exact amount you need when making a cuppa. And use the old water from your fish tank to feed house plants.
Swot up on recycling, too. Did you know most lids on juice cartons need to be separated? Stick the rules on the fridge as a daily reminder.
From Attenborough to school projects, environmental news is all around us, so grab the opportunity to talk about worries with the family at dinnertime, rather than kids bottling them up.
2
Psychologist Caroline Hickman from the University of Bath and the Climate Psychology Alliance, says: “Every child I’ve spoken with is clear they are feeling anxious and that adults need to listen and have the courage and honesty to face the reality of the situation.”
Get them making posters to raise awareness, plant bee-friendly lavender in the garden or cycle to school instead of driving. “Try to relate it to their local environment as well as further afield.” says Caroline.
Getting involved in neighbourhood projects can have mental health benefits as well as being good for the planet – whether it’s litter picking or community gardening. One study found spending two hours a week in nature is linked to better health and wellbeing.
It may not be too late to avoid or limit some of the worst effects of climate change, and Caroline advises it’s important to reassure children and have fun. “The climate emergency is not something to take lightly, but equally we also need to remember to play and learn. Plus we should take time out, breathe and remind ourselves that whatever we’re feeling, it’s important to balance it with the here and now” she says.
