Progress Over the Last Decade

Calming your Eco-Anxiety

Coming into January 2020, it’s very easy to lose hope for the future due to increasing environmental concerns (most notably highlighted by the Australian Bushfires). Moreover, January is viewed as the most depressing month of the year. However, we cannot overlook the progress which has been made over the past decade - we are slowly moving forward everyday. This article will look into these advancements in order to hopefully calm the worst of your Eco-Anxiety.

WHAT IS ECO-ANXIETY?

Eco-Anxiety is typically spotted by increasing worry regarding environmental issues or natural disasters. Although, a certain level of concern is normal and perhaps encouraged, if this becomes overwhelming it can become an issue for your mental well-being and may lead into a spiral of depression if you feel that these problems are impossible to tackle. This will be discussed more in a future article, however there are some ways to deal with this anxiety:

• Make small changes to your lifestyle which align with your values - for example, installing solar panels or making an effort to shop sustainably.

• Focus on changing systems rather than criticising yourself - for example, creating petitions, striking or contacting your local political representative.

• Protect and nurture local green spaces - for example, volunteering to maintain your local park where you can see your impact.

• Don’t feel ashamed - instead of putting yourself or others down, focus your attention on the positives and how to further improve.

Above all, talking about the changes either you personally or humanity as a whole have made, can help. When we are constantly barraged by the news of all the negatives, our efforts seem futile. However, if we can change our perspective then we will be able to see the positives around us. No matter how small, all progress is a step in the right direction.

PROGRESS OVER THE LAST DECADE

"I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is." Greta Thunberg, 2019

Amidst all the scary news regarding Climate Change, the smaller positive news may miss the radar. Although we need a dose of bad news in order to prevent complacency (as Thunberg illustrates in the quote above), we also deserve to see the good news in order to prevent apathy. While the house may be on fire, this doesn’t mean we should forget the existence of firefighters. These firefighters can be seen in a number of ways, such as on the website The Daily Climate which has links to multiple articles containing good news. In the past decade, for example, the percentage of energy generated from renewable sources has increased from 18.5% to 25% in the UK! Here are some more examples of lesser known environmental triumphs:

• Around 300,000 people took up Veganism in 2019 in the UK, with many other adopting flexitarian diets.

• McDonald’s abandoned Styrofoam cups in 2012

• Coca-Cola launched its 100% plant-based plastic bottle in 2015

• Within the EU, 340% more products now sport an Ecolabel

• The EU banned bee-harming pesticides

• Rwanda implemented a complete ban on plastic bags

• The UK reduced national consumption of plastic bags by 85%

• The Ocean Cleanup launched its first system in September 2018

• From 2005 to 2017, total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions fell by 14%

• Multiple summits were held by many World Leaders, directly to discuss Climate Change

• The Endangered Species Act has enabled sea turtles to make a comeback

• South Korea was able to recycle 95% of food waste in 2019

• Peru committed to ending deforestation from palm oil manufacturers

• Humpback whales have come back from the brink of extinction

More than all these small battles won however, the trend across the past decade gives a very hopeful view forward for the larger war. The growing environmentalism and concern surrounding Climate Change means that more people are becoming aware of their actions. Having opinions about sustainability is no longer just for geographers or activists, it is becoming widespread. For example, a quarter of Britons state that the environment is one of the top three most important issues facing the country. Moreover, across the EU, the number of Green MEPs increased by 40%.

Rise in public concern is perhaps one of the most important successes of the green movement of the last decade. As more people become aware of the impact of their actions, there will be more progress towards changing bad habits and creating new ones. Moreover, one person cannot take responsibility alone. Creating a community will also prevent the worst of Eco-Anxiety as we will stop trying to blame and will start looking for solutions to the issue.

As the world moves, so will we.