A look into climate psychology

By Kira Donegan

As the camera blinks to life in the Zoom meeting room, Barbara Easterlin, PhD, slowly comes into focus. Sitting “across” from the climate psychologist, you’ll notice a few odd things in the background of her home office. A large photograph of scenic nature blends in with calming art, and a window overlooks an expanse of green trees on the edge of Point Reyes National Seashore in California. The room is designed to relieve stress, guided by Easterlin’s background as a mindfulness-based psychotherapist and clinical neuropsychologist.

Climate psychology is a growing practice, as mounting headlines of environmental destruction and “dooming” climate change take a stark toll on morale. The impacts are worse in already vulnerable and underserved communities such as those with disabilities, the elderly, and young children. Major mental health challenges in the face of climate change, like climate anxiety and despair, have climbed. But a “doomed” perspective isn’t the only one.

Climate vs. environmental psychology

Climate psychology looks at how people’s awareness of the climate crisis impacts their mental health. This is an important distinction from environmental psychology. “[Environmental psychology is] an academic discipline… that looks at the relationship between humans and the built and natural environment,” said Easterlin. This environment can range from an office space to a park, whileunlike climate psychology which solely focuses on climate changethe changing climate.

Emotions and motivations

Motivational factors are a large driver in how we deal with events. When faced with unfamiliar science that challenges beliefs or previous ways of thinking, many turn to denial, said Professor Gale Sinatra, a professor of psychology and education at USC. However, motivation and emotion can also encourage learning about controversial scientific topics, like climate change.

There are a range of climate emotions: emotions in direct response to climate change. The Climate Mental Health Network’s Climate Emotions Wheel shows 30, all stemming from four main categories: anger, positivity, sadness, fear. Naming and identifying these emotions is a huge step in learning to manage, and even leverage them.

“Emotions are not dangerous things, they’re messengers essentially,” said Easterlin. Feeling these emotions helps us move through and know what actions to take, which means they can be powerful tools. Switching to a positive mindset has proven to be an effective strategy. 

What else can I do?

Understanding our emotions is the first step, acting in ways to support them is the next.

Connecting with nature has proven to boost mood and reduce anxiety. The emergence of psychoterratic (meaning “earth-related”) terms can help us intertwine nature and emotions. Sumbiophilia means “the love of living together”. It’s the appreciation we have for the life around us, that we are a part of. Endemophilia is the love of places unique to us. For example, the bittersweet memory of the park you played in as a child. Endemophilia is rooted in our connection to the land we walk on. Eutierria is a feeling of deep connection, wholeness, with the Earth. 

Another practice is mindfulness, through meditation. Easterlin’s work in mindfulness found that advanced Buddhist meditators reduced their stress, both in general and in response to recording their experience for the survey. Easterlin has noticed a difference in her own anxiety as a self-described student of Tibetan Buddhism.

Simply getting outside is one of the best ways to combat anxiety. “Breathe the air, look at the clouds,” said Easterlin. Reminding ourselves of the natural world is restorative. For those in urban areas, even finding a tree or patch of grass can help. Using the iNaturalist app for plant identification, Sinatra and her grad student encouraged kids in LA to get outside more. 

Therapy can help process these complicated emotions. Unlike anxiety or OCD, often spurred by ‘what-if’ scenarios, climate emotions are based on real events. Easterlin’s current focus is creating a curriculum for therapists, to help guide them through conversations on climate change. 

A popular solution found in therapeutic practices is positive climate action. Many of the clients that go to Easterlin are climate activists experiencing burnout. When we put all of our resources into a problem, we often forget to take care of ourselves. The overwhelming anxiety and burden leads to a sense of needing to escape the work. 

Climate anxiety is lessened when people take climate action, said Sinatra.The key is to find positive sources and outlets, moving from a fear-based to hope-based approach. “Helping people find their own individual sense of empowerment,” said Easterlin. A therapist’s job is to validate and direct them back to a positive community. “When people get in touch with that, they get fired up,”’ said Easterlin. But, this can’t be done unless people are comfortable with their negative emotions. 

Perhaps the most powerful thing each of us can do is tapping into our skills. “When people get in touch with that, they get fired up,” said Easterlin. “The story’s not over yet, what’s my part in the story?”