Climate Change Anxiety And How To Combat It

Simply put, climate change is the change in temperatures on the earth. This often equates to ‘Human activities are causing world temperatures to rise, posing serious threats to people and nature’ (BBC 2026). Climate change can present in a plethora of ways, from warming oceans and melting polar ice caps resulting in rising sea levels. Did you also know that climate change or global warming doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be getting hotter weather, it can result in extreme weather fluctuations which could be heavy snow or other natural disasters.

Discussions surrounding climate change can be very present in everyday life and this can be overwhelming. At young Gloucestershire, we have seen a rise in the number of young people expressing distress due to their increasing anxiety around the climate crisis. With rising sea levels also comes a rise in the understandable fear and trepidation as to what the future might look like. Young people are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate anxiety and distress for many reasons and research shows that this problem is only increasing.

Anxiety surrounding climate change is understandable, valid and rational. At Young Gloucestershire, we understand that trying to alleviate some of these worries can be difficult but there are ways alleviate this. Some of our suggestions include:

Talk about it – When something’s worrying you, keeping it all bottled up can make things feel even heavier. Climate anxiety is real, and loads of young people are feeling the same way right now. Chatting to someone you trust whether that’s a friend, youth worker, teacher or family member can really help. Sometimes just saying things out loud makes the weight feel a little easier to carry, and you might even find that others share the same concerns too.

Edit your feed – What we see online can have a huge impact on how we feel, especially when it comes to climate change. Constant headlines about disasters and environmental damage can sometimes leave people feeling overwhelmed or hopeless. That’s why it’s important to balance your feed. Try following creators, organisations and pages that share positive stories about nature, communities taking action, and real progress being made around the world. Staying informed matters, but so does protecting your wellbeing. Positive and inspiring content can remind you that change is possible and might even encourage you to take your own small steps for the planet too.

Join local action – Why not get involved in local movements aimed at tackling the climate crisis. Not only will you be with like-minded people who share your concerns but doing something about it too! Whether it’s taking part in demonstrations, writing to your local MP or getting involved with green initiatives to help your local area putting your thoughts into action can often help. Internally, we are striving to combat this issue by holding an event to educate youth workers around climate anxiety to support their young people.

We have already explored the importance of nature for mental health awareness week. Many people take action with their mental health by going on walks or just being in nature. When the climate crisis is causing your anxiety being in nature, may not provide the same benefits. Similarly, poor environment geographically, can cause further decline in mental health, in terms of lack of access, hygiene or safety.  So, it becomes even more important, to talk about it and find alternatives to alleviate your anxiety and stress. Take action where you can, either personally or on a wider scale.

Globally, in 2015 ‘the 196 parties of the UNFCCC adopted the Paris Agreement’ (GOV, 2025), looking to minimise the negative effects of global warming by taking practical steps. But even on a smaller scale, just by taking public transport or not driving somewhere, recycling, turning off the heating when you don’t need it, supporting local and sustainable practices and conserving water, all makes a difference. But, most importantly, looking after your mental health and climate anxiety, can help you to take steps to support the action against climate change and help to make a difference, even if its just the little things.

– Ellie, Youth Worker