It’s a new year—new goals, new challenges, and a fresh wave of climate-related worries. In New Zealand, a country so connected to its land, the effects of climate change continue to pile on. Across just 2024 we saw the extremes; limited rainfall threatening our farms and hydro power, flipping to flooding that disrupted cities and ecosystems. It’s no wonder many of us feel overwhelmed and powerless.
Understanding Climate Distress
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when facing the realities of our climate crisis, especially as the clock ticks forward. Many people experience fear, guilt, grief, or even anger about the future. While these emotions can fuel action, they can also leave us feeling stuck or hopeless. During our 2024 POW Summer Camp, PhD student, Jodie Jarvis, took us through some of the ways to navigate this climate anxiety and turn it into action, we’ve summarised these strategies below.
Strategies to Manage Climate Anxiety
Engage with Purposeful Action
- Take Small Steps: Join local initiatives, focus on just a few issues, and/or adopt sustainable habits like reducing waste or using public transport. Taking action creates a sense of control and counters feelings of helplessness.
- Balance Work and Rest: Step back from constant news updates when needed, and recharge with activities that bring you joy, such as hobbies, nature walks, or time with loved ones. Rest and healthy routines prevent burnout and renew your energy for long-term engagement.
Strengthen Your Support Network
- Build and Lean on Community: Share your concerns with friends or groups who share your values. Working together amplifies impact, fosters connection, and provides emotional support. Community also reminds you that you’re not facing these challenges alone.
Shift Your Perspective
- Focus on Solutions and Celebrate Wins: Reframe negative thoughts by focusing on progress and acknowledging even minor successes. This builds momentum and maintains motivation, showing that positive change is possible.
- Stay Hopeful: Remind yourself of humanity’s capacity to adapt and innovate. Hope shifts fear into actionable energy. Even small, consistent actions pave the way for meaningful change.
Care for Your Emotional Well-being
- Acknowledge and Accept Feelings: It’s okay to feel grief, guilt, or frustration. Recognize these emotions without judgment, as processing them helps to reduce their intensity over time.
- Restore Energy: Recharge through mindfulness, time in nature, or engaging in calming activities like gardening or meditation. Restorative practices replenish mental and emotional reserves, making you more resilient.
Moving Forward
Climate anxiety is a natural response to the challenges we face, but it doesn’t have to immobilise us. By staying healthy and engaged, even small actions can contribute to a sustainable future.
New Zealand’s ongoing climate efforts exemplify the power of advocacy and collective action. In 2023, the country achieved a record 88% renewable electricity generation—the highest since 1981—and is set to expand its renewable energy capacity in 2025. Initiatives to protect native ecosystems and reduce emissions continue to drive tangible change, showing what’s possible when determination meets opportunity. (MBIE, Energy in New Zealand 2024)
As we move further into 2025, don’t forget to take small steps, get out into the mountains and experience the beauty we’re working to protect.