climate change Archives

The Weight of the World on Your Shoulders: Climate Anxiety and How to Cope

What keeps you up at night? The stress of your workday, the effects of inflation on your wallet, the fight you had with your partner, or your kid’s problems at school? Or is it something even bigger than all of those things? Bigger – as in, as big as the whole Earth? Maybe, with all of the dire news about the climate that’s constantly popping up in your newsfeed, you’re feeling the weight of the world, and what humans are doing to it, on your shoulders, and it’s doing a number on you. If so, you’ve probably been hit with what’s known as climate anxiety – so, with all of the very real and very serious effects of climate change, how can we even start to wrap our heads around it, and cope with this anxiety?

What Is Climate Anxiety?

Simply put, climate anxiety, also known as solastalgia, eco-anxiety, environmental distress, or ecological grief, is distress or anxiety related to worries about the effects of climate change. Or, to put it less simply, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines it as“the chronic fear of environmental cataclysm that comes from observing the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change and the associated concern for one’s future and that of next generations.”

The APA does not consider climate anxiety a mental illness – not yet, anyway – but it is very real. And not only that, but it doesn’t even necessarily only affect those who have already come in direct contact with the effects of climate change (the mental health effects they have felt are also a whole other story). In other words, you don’t have to have lost your house to a supercharged hurricane or an intense wildfire to feel like the world is quite literally closing in on you.

In fact, the number of people that are experiencing climate anxiety is huge: a study by the APA suggests that more than two-thirds of Americans experience at least some form of it. And, unfortunately, it’s taking an even greater toll on our young people. A study published in The Lancet found that 84% of children and young adults ages 16 to 25 are at least moderately worried about climate change, and 59% are very or extremely worried. That makes sense, considering that they will most likely inherit some serious problems if we keep going down the path we’re on.

Are You Climate Anxious?

So does all of this sound familiar? Think you’re suffering from climate anxiety? You might be feeling things like:

Guilt or shame surrounding what you view as your effect on the environment
Intense worrying about how your actions will affect future generations
Anger that not more is being done
Grief, which you might experience in the classic stages: according to Phoenix Smith, an ecotherapist, “It can be denial at first, and then you may have some fear and anger and then sadness.”
Chronic stress, which can lead (especially in children) to depression and anxiety, or a feeling of suffocation
Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or even fatalism

Of course, some of these feelings can be related to other mental health issues, or to other stressors in your life, but if you feel like climate change and its effects are what’s giving you your special brand of anxiety, it’s time to find a way to cope. Unfortunately, we’re in this fight for our planet’s future for the long haul, but in the here and now, you can try to deal with your climate anxiety like other anxiety-related issues, by working on your resilience, recognizing your feelings, sitting with them, and hopefully, taking some action. After all, the source of this anxiety is pretty consequential for all of us, so the action you take to calm yourself can also make a difference for everyone.

How Can You Cope?

Yes, things seem bad, but now’s the time to take a deep breath and get ourselves together so we can work on this. Start with yourself, and try the following ways to cope:

Feel all the feels

Negative feelings are necessarily going to be a part of a crisis, whether you’ve experienced the crisis first-hand or are worried about one hitting you – and this is a crisis. So you’re going to have to allow yourself to feel all the feelings that come to you, so you can learn to deal with them. In fact, according to Oregon-based environmental psychologist Thomas Doherty, those negative emotions aren’t inherently bad, because “we should be able to feel all of our emotions” in a healthy way. And once you feel them, and recognize them, you can then talk through your feelings with other people, which can be immensely helpful.

Then give yourself a break from the feels

It’s good to get charged up about a good cause, but if you’re sinking into hopelessness, it’s ok to give yourself a break from your negative feelings. Doherty tells us to try and take a step back from those feelings of hopelessness, which can mean “pulling off of the media, going outside, doing stress reduction, all of these kinds of things.”

Focus on what you want to do

Psychologists already have a good handle on how to deal with anxiety-based disorders, and they can apply a lot of what they know to climate anxiety, with the twist being that the actions you can take might be more concrete. Penn State psychology Professor Janet Swim, who has authored several publications about psychology and climate change, puts it this way: “Anxiety is something people feel more and more when they get closer to an anti-goal, meaning a negative result, like the destruction of the planet.” The anxiety you feel might begin to make you feel avoidant, or you might feel like simply shutting down and no longer engaging. To ease this feeling of anxiety, turn it around. “Instead of focusing on the fear, you should instead focus on what you want to do,” Swim suggests. “If you get closer and closer to a solution, you can feel more pride and there is hope.”

Join in

So it’s important to take a break from those feelings of hopelessness, talk about things, and also to do something. To get yourself ready to join in the fight, focus on more energizing and motivating emotions, like anger at injustice, which can spur you into action. Then, consider getting involved by:

Getting a group together and persistently writing to your representatives
Attending protests
Joining an urban cleanup
Advocating for more green spaces in your neighborhood

Make changes in your life

They might seem like little things that won’t do much, but making small changes to your lifestyle can help, especially if you encourage others to do the same -and making these changes could also help to relieve some of your feelings of helplessness. Some ideas include:

Signing up for a home energy visit, and performing your own energy audit of your home to see how you can make your home more efficient
Cutting down on carbon emissions by walking, driving, or taking public transport to work
Eating a plant-based diet
Buying used clothing
Focusing on reusing as opposed to relying on recycling (but continue to recycle what you can)

Look for positivity

You don’t have to turn a blind eye to climate change, and pretend that everything is hunky-dory, but you also don’t have to constantly wallow in negativity, which will end up taking a big toll on your mental health. Stay informed about what’s really going on (burying your head in the sand won’t help!), but don’t forget to seek out all the news, including the positive stuff! For example, Alaina Wood, a sustainability scientist, has taken to TikTok, delivering positive news about climate developments. Checking out accounts like hers can help with all those hopeless and fatalistic feelings. And the other good thing about finding positive stories: you might just get inspired and find new ways to act!

There’s no sense in sugar coating things: climate change is real, and poses a very real threat to us. And the anxiety surrounding this is very real, too, and can affect our lives and our mental health in some serious ways. But now is not the time to shut down, or retreat into our fears: it’s the time to act, both for our own well-being and that of our planet.

White House Prepares Infrastructure Bill With Expanded Child Tax Credit, Free Community College & More

The Biden administration has already won some victories in the battle to provide aid to the American people. For example, the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package that was passed in March has extended unemployment insurance, expanded the child tax credit, provided a new round of stimulus checks, and more. Now the Biden administration is pushing a $2.3 trillion infrastructure bill that will further help struggling Americans, as well as improve the country’s infrastructure.

Repair America

Part of Biden’s plan is focused on infrastructure spending, with a proposed $115 billion going toward repairing roads, bridges, waterways and railways across America. The bill would also set aside $100 billion for our country’s education infrastructure, including upgrading older schools, as well as building new ones. This spending would also go towards universal pre-K, free community college, and reduced tuition at historically African American colleges and universities.

Lower the Price of Medications

One of the largest issues for millions of Americans is the cost of medications. In fact, prescription drugs can be so expensive that many Americans are seeking medications from other countries. President Biden wants to change all of that: the White House plans to force pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices or pay a penalty.

Focus On Climate Change

Biden’s plan does not stop there. The president is also proposing spending billions on rebates and tax incentives to encourage Americans to purchase electric vehicles, and for transitioning school buses and transit vehicles from diesel to electric. The bill would also include $400 billion to combat climate change, including $60 billion related to green transit and $46 billion for climate-related research and development. Biden also hopes to install electric-vehicle charging stations across America.

Expand the Child Tax Credit

As part of the recently signed Covid relief bill, an increased child tax credit is in effect for just one year, but Biden hopes to expand the child tax credit for several years with his new proposal.

Help Low-Income Americans

The proposed bill will include $200 billion for housing infrastructure, including $100 billion to expand housing for low-income Americans.

Increase Corporate Tax

illustration of a calculator on a piece of paper with money next to the paper. — *President Biden is hoping to increase the corporate tax by 7% in the infrastructure bill.*

President Biden is seeking to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. He also plans on increasing taxes on wealthy investors. Republicans are opposed to the tax increase: “The GOP won’t vote for these tax hikes. Why should they be the tax collectors for Biden’s spending spree?” said Brian Riedl, a former aide to Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

The infrastructure bill is still in the planning stages, and is not yet ready for debate in the House and Senate. President Biden met with bipartisan members of the House and Senate on Monday, April 12 to discuss the infrastructure plan. Republicans criticized the reliance of the bill on corporate tax increases, and Biden acknowledged it and said he would continue to work with Republicans to get their support. He even offered them the ability to offer their own proposals, stating, “I’m open to other ideas,” he said, “so long as they do not impose any tax increase on people making less than $400,000.” A senior Republican senator said he and his colleagues could support an infrastructure bill of around $800 billion that focuses on improvements to roads, bridges and broadband access that would be funded through user fees and tax incentives. Negotiations are set to continue in the meantime.

Summer Sustainability: How to help the planet, your health, and your wallet.

With the arrival of summer, temperatures are beginning to rise – and so is energy consumption. With concerns over climate change continuing to grow, now is a great time to focus on environmental conservation. You can start conserving natural resources at home by practicing responsible, sustainable energy consumption – and you’ll save some money on energy costs too!

The Truth About Climate Change

Many of us have been around long enough to remember “global warming,” but that term simply did not accurately reflect the reality of what is happening to our environment. What we now call climate change refers not only to changes in temperature, but also changes to things like rainfall and wind patterns, crop and flower blooming seasons, and more.

Experts agree that climate change is being caused by humans and the ways that we have been increasing levels of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, in the atmosphere. The two major sources of greenhouse gas emissions are the fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas that we use for electricity, heat, and transportation, and deforestation methods used to clear land for urbanization or farming.

arctic ice melting into the ocean. — *Arctic ice sheets melting is a result of climate change.*

The Threat

Experts say that climate change is the #1 threat to humans globally. When the weather is out of whack, the routines and the natural cycles of the planet are disrupted, with catastrophic effects. And we have already begun to see the effects of climates changing: we have seen arctic ice sheets melting, leading to rising ocean levels, which in turn causes disastrous flooding.

Many climate scientists and meteorologists use Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as an example of the types of climate-related emergencies we can expect to see in the future. 15 years later, New Orleans neighborhoods are still trying to recover from the tragedy. Just one hurricane can wreak havoc and lead to extreme homelessness, poverty, water contamination, and strain on local resources.

Climate change also exacerbates medical risks and the spread of infectious disease. The World Health Organization estimates that climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year by the year 2030 – just 10 years from now. With temperatures and rainfall rising, insect-borne diseases like dengue fever, zika, and lymes disease will flourish. Hotter temperatures will place people at a greater risk for medical emergencies related to heat stroke and cardiovascular and kidney disease. Air quality will decrease because of pollution, higher mold levels due to warmer and wetter seasons, and higher pollen levels due to longer pollinating seasons. All of this will put people at a risk for respiratory health issues, particularly the 300 million people who suffer from asthma globally.

What You Can Do

These threats are real, and the time for action is now. There are some changes you can make in your own home that can help slow the rate of climate change. These suggestions involve some changes to your lifestyle, but they will help the planet and save you money or improve your health.

Reduce your air conditioner usage this summer. Instead, rely on overhead or portable fans, or invest in insulating window curtains to help your house stay cooler for longer.
Hang your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer to save energy.
Hang your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer to save energy.
Unplug your phone and laptop charger when not in use, and consider switching to power strips for other appliances so you can turn them all off at night. The bonus is that these three steps will also cut down on your energy bills.
Walk or bike instead of driving. This is a great form of cardiovascular exercise, and reduces the use of fossil fuels.
Eat in-season, locally grown fruits and veggies. The environmental cost of growing and farming out-of-season produce is very high, and supporting local farms reduces transportation emissions. Or, start your own garden!
Reduce red meat consumption. The meat farming industry is a massive contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of perpetuating the farmed meat cycle, look for local, sustainable farms and butchers for high quality, low carbon footprint meats.
Reduce and reuse as much as possible! Fix your appliances, shop secondhand, and make small switches, like using rags made out of old t-shirts instead of paper towels or recycling candle wax. Factories create a lot of carbon dioxide when making new products – plus, think of all the money you’ll save by limiting your online shopping!

Unfortunately, because climate change is a multifaceted issue, there’s no one solution for slowing down its effects. But by participating in efforts to save our planet, you are modeling the importance of environmental sustainability to your family, friends, and community. This environmental stewardship is critical as we head towards the breaking point for our planet’s future. All of these changes, though small, are a step forward on the path to a healthy, thriving planet for years to come.

What Could Climate Change Do to Commercial Insurance?

Climate change has been a hot button issue for a while now, and the debate is only getting worse. While NASA scientists are still working on the culprit, recent disasters have been a direct influence on a rise in insurance rates.

activists raising a sign for climate change — *Both climate change and insurance are difficult topics to discuss. We need concrete facts to move forward.*

Basically, our weather seems to only get hotter each year, causing more intense storms, and while the rates slowly climb, people can only pay for so much. With insurance needed more than ever, we are left to wonder how it will play out.

Global Warming

Scientists create future climate models to predict the weather. Research like this can help save lives by warning people before storms even form. With these studies, scientists find that greenhouse gases are the most rational culprit for the storms we’ve seen.

With more gas in our atmosphere, scientists predict that the planet’s overall temperature will rise. Everything besides the greenhouse gas evidence is just conjecture. However, future predictions lean towards stronger winds, bigger storms, and increases in droughts. Areas like the continental US are already feeling the effects.

While the temperature is what we have evidence for, storms are the main issue here. Global warming will decrease the temperature difference between the poles and the equator, causing a decrease in storm formation. These findings are from research at both Columbia University and NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. At first, this seems like good news.

view of hurricane forming from space — *Hotter temperatures mean more intense storms and more intense storms mean more damage.*

However, with the temperature changes come more water vapor. As our atmosphere becomes more humid, the number of powerful storms rises. This means we may see less rainfall, and when it does come, it’ll be more on par with catastrophic weather patterns.

Hotter temperatures will also increase hurricane ranges as the weather creates an easier travel route for the storms. More places inland and higher from the equator are affected by the terrible storms, and they won’t be ready for them like currently affected zones.

One other effect of the temperature rising is coastal flooding. Melting ice caps and glaciers can cause a rise in sea-level, terrorizing a coastal populace. While it is still a theory under inspection, the research is strong enough for insurance companies to start looking into risk management.

Our Insurance Costs

Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP and Aspen Re recently published a white paper detailing current issues for the insurance industry involving climate change. They’ve found that 2017 was the most expensive year for insurance companies involving catastrophic weather. Loss estimates, they claim, totaled $140 billion that year.

Overall temperature increases for the future, even of just 1℃ could rocket these loss estimates even higher. Their 3.7℃ prediction as the extreme would see totals climbing to $551 trillion.

Rostin Behnam, sitting on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, plans on forming a panel of experts to address these issues. However, studies for how these issues affect our financial sector have been put on the backburner as our current administration ignores the scientific empirical evidence.

What Can We Do?

Like most overhead issues, we must keep them at hand. For these rising insurance costs, California already feels the damages from its recent terrible wildfires, and Texas with the flooding issues affecting the Houston area. These are only small disasters compared to America at large and even the globe. Really, the only thing at a personal level someone can do for global warming is turning to a vegan diet or recycling.

save our planet sign held by an activist — *Activism is a great way to spread awareness, but make sure you’re educated with the latest information.*

We need to understand how the market affects our policies. As catastrophic storms increase, so do damages to people’s homes as well as medical expenses. Our government handles most widespread insurance policy changes.

So, the only task we can do as citizens is to pay attention to whom we are electing, and make sure that our representatives understand the current insurance crisis. You can call or email your representative so that they know this is an issue for their constituents.

Bottom line: We may have skyrocketing insurance claims and the companies may not have the capital to pay it off. We must keep up to date with current insurance laws and work with the companies to write better legislation.

Tag: climate change