Feeling overwhelmed by climate news? You’re not alone

After an exceptionally hot summer, it’s been difficult to ignore the changing weather around us.

Add to that a constant stream of headlines, statistics, predictions and reports about what might happen next, and it can all start to feel like a lot.

And climate isn’t the only thing competing for our attention. There’s the cost of living, work, family, world events and everything else happening in our everyday lives.

So if you sometimes feel worried about climate change, but also overwhelmed by the amount of information surrounding it, you’re certainly not alone.

When climate news feels like too much

You might have heard the term climate anxiety or eco-anxiety. It describes feelings such as worry, sadness, frustration or helplessness about changes to our climate and natural world.

Concern about what’s happening around us is understandable. But constantly reading worrying headlines can sometimes leave us feeling powerless rather than informed. You don't need to know everything about climate change. You don't need to follow every news story. And you don't have to change everything about your life.

Sometimes it helps to concentrate on what's happening closer to home.

Start with something you can do

One way to move past that feeling of helplessness is to focus on something positive and practical.

That could be spending time looking after a local green space, helping to monitor the health of the River Wey, sharing surplus food through the Community Fridge, borrowing something instead of buying it, making your home more comfortable and energy efficient or simply going along to a local event and meeting people.

None of these things on their own will solve climate change.

But they are things we can do. And when lots of people get involved, small changes become part of something much bigger.

Doing things together feels different

There's another benefit to getting involved locally: other people.

It’s easy for climate change to feel like an enormous global problem that's happening somewhere beyond our control. Getting involved in your own community brings things back to a much more human scale. You meet people. You learn something. You share skills. You see the difference a project is making. And hopefully you have some fun along the way.

At ZERO, we see this happening every week. People give a few hours to the Community Fridge, test the water in our rivers, grow food, mend things, share knowledge, borrow instead of buy or help someone make their home more energy efficient.

People don't have to agree about everything or know everything about climate change to get involved. They can simply start with something they care about.

It's OK to switch off too

Staying informed is important. Constantly consuming bad news isn't. If scrolling through climate stories is leaving you feeling overwhelmed, give yourself permission to switch off for a while.

Go outside. Spend some time in nature. Talk to someone. Do something practical. Concentrate on the people, places and things that matter to you. Then, when you're ready, perhaps choose one positive thing you can do. Climate change is a huge challenge, but none of us has to carry it individually.

Start small. Start with something you care about. Start locally.

And if you're looking for somewhere to begin, come and see what's happening at ZERO. You might be surprised by how many positive things are already happening right here in our community.

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What is climate anxiety?

Climate anxiety, sometimes called eco-anxiety, describes feelings of worry, sadness, frustration or helplessness about changes to our climate and natural world. It isn’t unusual to feel concerned, particularly when there is a lot of climate and extreme weather news around.

Why does climate news sometimes feel overwhelming?

Climate stories can involve frightening headlines, statistics and predictions about the future. Add these to everything else going on in everyday life, from work and family to financial pressures and world events, and it can simply feel like too much information to process.

Should I stop reading climate news?

You don’t have to follow every story to care about climate and nature. Staying informed can be useful, but if constantly checking the news or social media is making you feel overwhelmed, it’s OK to switch off for a while and focus on the things around you.

Can doing something positive really help?

Taking part in something practical can help turn a feeling of helplessness into a sense of purpose. It doesn’t need to be a huge lifestyle change. Doing one achievable thing, particularly alongside other people, is a good place to start.

What can I actually do locally?

Start with something you already care about. You could spend time in nature, help look after a local green space, volunteer, grow food, repair or borrow things, reduce food waste, learn more about your home’s energy use or get involved in looking after your local rivers.

Do I need to know lots about climate change to get involved?

Not at all. You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers. Local projects are a chance to meet people, learn new skills and contribute in a way that works for you.

What if I don’t have much time?

Getting involved doesn’t have to mean making a big commitment. Coming to an event, volunteering occasionally, supporting a local project or making one small change at home all count.

Where can I start?

Start small, start with something you care about and start locally. At ZERO there are lots of ways to get involved with community, nature, food, energy, repair and reuse. Find something that interests you and take it from there.