By Alliance Interns Cate Rosa from Boston University ’26, Zoe Grell from University of Colorado Boulder ’24 and Noelia Almanzar from Rutgers University ‘26
Each of us have been struck by the shared feeling of overwhelm expressed by our friends when discussing the climate emergency. With World Environment Day coming and this collective, deep anxiety weighing heavily, we want address these feelings of hopelessness. A major study in The Lancet underscored the mental health burden: 84% of young people felt moderately to extremely concerned about the climate crisis and 46% felt it negatively affected their daily lives.
Hopelessness and eco-anxiety can be a collective cloud, darkening spirits and raining on motivation, but there are tools we can utilize to combat these feelings and tackle the climate crisis head on. We sat down to share the ways we each cope and left feeling empowered and refreshed with the weight of individual burdens being lifted off our shoulders. Together we discovered the importance of connection and community, celebrating successes, and taking small actions that relieve us of everyday pressures and combine to make a positive change.
What Connecting with Nature and Celebrating Successes Does for Me
Noelia: I often find myself stuck in an endless loop listening to the news that screams “We’re doomed!” or “There’s no coming back!” I have to remind myself that the hyper-negativity from media is often a trick to go viral (even though we should still remain cautious). Taking a step back from media and screens and reconnecting with nature is a great way to cure my eco-anxiety.
When I feel overwhelmed, I go outside and feel the sun on my skin. I close my eyes and “photosynthesize” as I like to say. What if it’s rainy? I listen to the rain fall — its pitter-patter on the ground and the grass and on the tin buckets I have stashed in the corner of my backyard.
Rain or shine, I like to watch the earth move. You will always find movement outside and I’m not talking about the busy cars and people. Watching the little worms wiggle or the squirrels play tag reminds me that life will always go on and nature will always take care of itself if we let it be.
Grounding myself in nature not only provides relief from eco-anxiety but also helps me build a deeper connection to the world we are all striving to protect. When I immerse myself in natural environments, my mind can rest from the daily anthropogenic struggles. Nature’s rhythmic patterns calm my anxious thoughts. I encourage you to feel the grass between your toes and return to nature when feelings of anxiousness overcome you.
To further encourage happy thoughts regarding the state of the world, I try to stand back and look at what’s right in front of me. I get a a unique comfort from following the successes around me, such as my university’s Sustainability Rodeo where we discuss our green achievements or even seeing how gorgeous my hometown community garden appears. By recognizing and celebrating the collective efforts within my community, I can find reassurance knowing that positive change is happening no matter the scale, step by step.
Getting Involved and Taking Small Lifestyle Choices That Add Up
Cate: Getting involved with groups, whether it’s joining an environmental organization to volunteer or a school club, has been immensely helpful for me. Being part of a community with like-minded individuals who share my concerns about the environment is refreshing and relieving. It’s comforting to know that there are others who care deeply and are actively working to create change. This shared responsibility lightens the burden and makes me feel less alone in my feelings of overwhelm.
I’m a part of BU’s Climate Café, a club that hosts regular meetings with coffee and tea, providing a space for students to share their thoughts and feelings about the climate crisis. These gatherings are incredibly inspiring — hearing what others are doing to combat eco-anxiety and motivate themselves to take action rejuvenates my own sense of purpose. Knowing that I’m not alone in my concerns and seeing the various ways others are making a difference helps me stay hopeful and motivated.
I also find it incredibly empowering to do whatever I can in my personal life to lead a more sustainable life. Personal actions, though sometimes criticized as being merely performative, play a crucial role in driving systemic change. In my Sustainable Development course at BU, we read an article titled “Performative Environmentalism Adds Up,” which discusses the sociology of influence. The article examines how social change is built on the foundation of individual practices. While each individual’s actions may seem insignificant alone, collectively, they matter greatly. Shifting consumer culture and social norms can help curb emissions and make impactful political action more likely.
Small personal actions also contribute to a sense of accomplishment. Celebrating these small successes can reinforce positive behaviors and encourage continued efforts. I remind myself that I can only be responsible for my actions and what I encourage others to do. By focusing on what I can control, I contribute to the larger movement toward systemic change and ease my feelings of dismay. Whether it’s choosing to walk, using recycled bags, or eating plant-based meals, I don’t discredit these actions, and I certainly am not going to abandon these habits simply because the real change needs to come at the systemic level.
Do What You Can to Take Action
Zoe: Naysayers might claim that individual actions are insignificant on their own, but together our actions create a ripple effect with far-reaching impacts. As individuals, we are strongly influenced by the behavior of those around us. When we incorporate sustainable behaviors into our daily lives, we inspire others to follow suit. These individual actions can snowball into collective change. As Annie Lowrey notes, “Shifting morals and norms would help curb emissions, and would make drastic political action more likely. What communities do, laws reflect—this is another reason to act on climate change, and urgently.”
So, start small and make a day of it! Invite your friends over for a beach clean-up or organize a community trash pick-up along a river or trail. Remember, no act is too small when it comes to protecting our planet. Connecting with nature can also be a useful way to transform your eco-anxiety into constructive action. Immerse yourself in the natural environment, feel the grass beneath your feet, and let nature’s sounds calm your anxious thoughts. This deep connection to the natural world can give us a sense of purpose and motivation.
Participating in community environmental efforts, such as local sustainability programs or volunteer organizations, can also help us to reduce feelings of helplessness. Being part of a like-minded community and sharing the responsibility for effecting change can be the catalyst for inspiration and empowerment.
Finally, do not underestimate the impact of advocating for policy changes. While individual efforts are crucial, institutional change is necessary to address the climate catastrophe on a global scale. Stay informed about environmental policies and initiatives, and speak up by contacting your representatives and pressing for stronger climate action.
We’re a Powerful Force
We hope our three different ways of coping with what can feel a crushing sense of eco-anxiety can be helpful for you. We’re all in this together, and together we are a powerful force.
When we connect with nature, celebrate the little wins, take those small sustainable actions in our daily lives and get involved in community efforts, it lifts that heavy cloud. We start to feel empowered, motivated, and like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s a renewal of purpose and hope for ourselves, our communities, and our planet.
So don’t let the naysayers get you down. Your personal choices do make a difference and have a larger ripple effect. Your voice will be heard, and can be amplified when we combine all our individual efforts. Together we can create a tidal wave of positive change.
We’ve got this. One reusable bag, one park cleanup, one sustainably-sourced meal at a time. It’s a journey we make together towards a better future for this planet we all call home. Who’s with us?