Climate anxiety and climate change: what is happening to us?

It is not clear whether it was environmental anxiety that motivated the brave fifteen-year-old Greta Thunberg, who went on strike at school in August 2018 to protest non-compliance with the Paris Climate Agreement. maybe yes or maybe not, but this serious and disturbing phenomenon certainly affects us all, regardless of our age or the role we play in the world.

There is a difference between those who are aware of the climate crisis and want to do something about the planet, and those who are aware of the problem (even if they sometimes deny it) but do not want to take any action, often even supporting a capitalist system that enriches only a few at the expense of the health of our planet.

The ecology of anxiety is a reality that has been documented by multiple scientific studies and is not new. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was established back in 1988, 36 years ago, to investigate the causes and impacts of climate change at both a scientific and practical level.

So far, not enough has been done because the climate situation has only worsened. By eco-anxiety we mean a deep feeling of discomfort, fear and guilt associated with thoughts of possible catastrophes caused by global warming and its environmental consequences.

Many people have already experienced feelings of solastalgia, and many suffer from eco-anxiety due to the loss of their homes and favorite places due to human activity. In Europe, we can see an increase in extreme climate events, such as dry and unbearable heat and rising average temperatures, which led to the drying up of the largest natural lake on the island of Pergusa.

While in the past we felt safe watching similar events in other parts of the world, today these problems are closer than ever and still little is being done, especially within the European Union, which often supports the big oil producers. Despite the clear message from nature to stop using fossil fuels and reduce environmental damage, the situation is not changing.

Studies show that US universities receive subsidies from oil companies to ensure that scientific research is less critical of fossil fuels and contributes to less radical visions. Sadly, many climate change organizations are often seen as extreme and one cannot help but notice how activists like Extinction Rebellion are subjected to violence during their protests or even arrest by the police.

In this situation, it is necessary to reflect on our own conscience: can our anger over small problems replace our civic responsibility and respect for our planet?

Today, as in the past, it is necessary for all, as citizens of the Earth, to act decisively. Demonstrations and climate activism are not just a passing trend, but an investment in the future. We must stand up for our rights, which we leave to politicians, because active citizenship and collective responsibility are key to our long-term survival on this blue planet. (Co2AI)