New studies have looked into what contributes to and alleviates feelings of despair related to climate struggles, aiming to help individuals overcome these feelings and stay motivated in the fight against climate change.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, the climate movement faces a new hurdle: ‘climate burnout’.
The alarming rise of despair and fatigue among those dedicated to environmental causes—termed ‘climate burnout’—threatens the essential dedication to climate action.
Recent research from Flinders University examined the factors that either worsen or lessen despair-driven climate burnout, with the goal of finding ways for individuals to rise above despair and retain their motivation in the climate fight.
“Our study highlights the critical issue of climate burnout, where those engaged in climate justice become significantly drained and detached due to feelings of hopelessness regarding the crisis,” explains Dr. Lucy Bird, the lead author from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.
“We discovered that experiencing feelings of despair and exhaustion significantly increases the likelihood of burnout related to climate change.
“However, our results also indicate that when individuals focus on practical actions, like reducing car usage and minimizing waste, along with working together to push organizations for change, their feelings of detachment notably decrease.
“By emphasizing actionable measures and nurturing a sense of community and shared mission, individuals can effectively tackle burnout and continue making valuable strides in addressing one of humanity’s greatest challenges,” she adds.
The research involved two studies with over 1,200 participants to determine the connection between climate crisis despair and burnout.
It also investigated whether envisioning a positive future where climate issues have been resolved (utopian thinking) or considering necessary steps to combat climate change (pragmatic thinking) could help in reducing climate burnout.
Interestingly, some findings indicate that merely imagining a climate utopia can lessen the desire to withdraw from the climate movement.
“Given the pressing need to tackle the climate crisis, it is crucial to shield individuals from despair-related burnout and prevent them from stepping back from the climate movement,” Dr. Bird states.
“This strategy is in line with the evolving methods in the climate advocacy sector, which prioritize actionable solutions over paralyzing feelings of despair.
“As communities worldwide work towards effective climate policies and initiatives, it’s vital to cultivate an atmosphere that promotes ongoing involvement and mutual encouragement.”
She emphasizes the need for future research to explore various strategies to alleviate feelings of exhaustion and fatigue surrounding climate change, noting that engaging in pragmatic or utopian thinking may not always suffice to reduce these feelings.
Dr. Bird encapsulates her research by referencing street artist Banksy’s mural near Hyde Park in London, which supported Extinction Rebellion protests in 2019: “From this moment despair ends and tactics begin.”
