Leslie Davenport is a climate psychology consultant. We spoke to her about the importance of climate psychology: what it is, how to approach it, and how it interlinks with ecological efforts.
Tell us a little about you and the work you do.
I work internationally as a climate psychology consultant, working at the intersection of climate, education, policy, media, mental health, and social justice. I’ve written five books for both children and adults including All the Feelings Under the Sun through the American Psychological Association, and Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change. My work takes me in a variety of directions – bringing staff support to climate organizations, journalists, and scientists, and helping design emotionally-intelligent climate curriculum for schools. I also train the mental health field working in working with climate-triggered distress as the program and faculty lead for the Climate Psychology Certification training at the California Institute of Integral Studies. There are more details on my website: www.lesliedavenport.com.
What is climate psychology and how is it relevant to ecological efforts?
Climate psychology is an emerging specialization within counseling fields designed to support individuals, communities, and organizations with the rise in climate-triggered distress. Helping with climate emotions supports people to engage in the systemic transformational efforts —ecological solutions–needed to respond to our warming world, especially long-term.
How widespread is the climate emotional distress, such as eco-anxiety and grief?
It’s increasing rapidly since emotional distress rises in tandem with climate impacts. Google reported a 4,590% jump in searches for “What is eco-anxiety?” and “How to deal with eco-anxiety” between 2018 – 2023. And a study in the journal “Lancet” in 2021 interviewed 10,000 youth in 10 countries between ages 16 – 25. Worldwide, 75% said the future is frightening, and more than half believe the things they value most will be destroyed.
Does taking ecological actions help with feelings of climate distress?
Yes, but only when paired with tools to also that support the normal psychological impacts of climate change. Without it, there are high levels of burnout. Fear, sadness, anger, frustration, guilt, overwhelm and others are all natural responses as we experience or learn about people, cultures and the environment being harmed by unhealthy and unjust systems. Feelings naturally get triggered when we are empathetic, caring, and paying attention to the devastation that is happening with climate change.
What are some approaches readers might use if they are experiencing eco-anxiety or grief?
We can’t “cure” climate-triggered emotional distress as long as impacts continue to rise from our warming world. But if we learn practices that calm our nervous systems and build resilience, we can be part of changing the broken systemic legacies from which painful eco-emotional conditions arise. We can move together through despair, dread, rage, and grief, and become better equipped to co-create new, life-supporting futures.
We are not meant to go through this alone. Connect with others where you can share your experiences. There are Climate Cafes nationwide, either free or low cost. These are welcoming, inclusive spaces often held at a workplace, campus, or community center where everyone is invited to join the conversation and share their feelings with an ecological orientation. Also, be sure you are using the tools for your own self-care that may not always get prioritized: take news breaks if you’re a doom scroller; call a friend; go for a hike; try yoga; listen to music. In the words of poet and activist Audre Lorde, remember that “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
