climate grief
Last updatedDefinition
Climate grief refers to the grief stemming from loss or anticipated losses of ecosystems, species, and landscapes across the globe, due to the effects of environmental destruction and climate change. According to Nature Climate Change, this type of grief can manifest in several ways: 1. Grief associated with physical ecological losses and attendant forms of life and culture; 2. Grief related to disruptions to environmental knowledge systems and resulting in feelings of loss of identity; 3. Grief associated with anticipated future losses of place, land, species, and culture.
Anyone can experience climate grief, though some experts say Indigenous peoples may experience it more acutely. Climate grief and the related concept of eco-anxiety are still developing fields of study, though fields like ecopsychology have emerged to help people deal with the possible mental health impacts of climate change. When reporting on climate change, accurately identifying even small signs of progress toward mitigating its effects can ensure that your coverage does not unnecessarily stoke climate anxiety or grief.
Additional resources
- Is climate grief something new? (American Psychological Association)
- Climate grief: The growing emotional toll of climate change (NBC News)
Summary
Climate grief refers to the grief stemming from loss or anticipated losses of ecosystems, species, and landscapes across the globe, due to the effects of environmental destruction and climate change. Anyone can experience climate grief, though some experts say Indigenous peoples may experience it more acutely. When reporting on climate change, accurately identifying even small signs of progress can ensure that your coverage does not unnecessarily stoke climate anxiety or grief.