Imagine sitting on a park bench, and in just a few years, that spot could be buried under eight feet of landfill. Sounds uncomfortable, right? This is happening in one of the most expensive areas of coastline in the world, not because you need to be rich to live there, but because of rising sea levels. New York City has a $1.5 billion plan to renovate a park by removing everything—benches, basketball courts, trees—raising it eight feet with landfill, and then rebuilding it. This is to protect Manhattan from rising sea levels, storm surges, hurricanes, and extreme weather.
Thinking about the city being underwater and the uncertainty of the future makes me anxious. Like many people in Manhattan, I feel this anxiety. Now, the climate is another worry we have to deal with. It’s not just me; there’s even a term for this feeling. In 2017, the American Psychological Association introduced “eco-anxiety,” which means a constant fear of environmental disaster. At first, I thought it was a bit much, but then things changed. Australia started having severe bushfires. These fires are different now—they start earlier and are more intense, causing huge damage. This is because a warming climate makes weather events more extreme.
I can’t imagine how people in Australia feel—they must be experiencing direct eco-anxiety. There are evacuations, property loss, and terrible smoke. Meanwhile, in New York City, people also feel bad. People worldwide are anxious and want to talk to me about it as an Australian. They feel a kind of indirect eco-anxiety, worried about global events but unsure of what they can do from far away. It’s interesting that everyone wants to discuss the fires but not the park we’re in, showing how our brains work.
Our brains are designed to respond to direct threats rather than future problems. Evolution has made us focus on immediate concerns. But with climate change, we can’t ignore it. The plan to demolish and raise this park has faced opposition from residents who don’t see the problem. If we wait for climate change to become an immediate threat, we might be in trouble.
If you’re experiencing eco-anxiety, you might feel stuck in worry because you don’t know how to stop it. Psychologists suggest taking action, even if it’s small. You could donate to organizations making a difference, and I’ll link to some in Australia in the description. Other helpful actions include using a metal straw or a reusable cup to reduce plastic waste. While these actions won’t solve climate change, they can help you feel better and stay motivated.
Activism is another way to cope—maybe you could join a march. If your eco-anxiety is severe, it might be worth talking to a medical professional. Eco-therapy might become more common in the future. The important thing is that if you’re anxious about something—when it’s not overwhelming—it shows you care. Taking action is often the best way to cope.
It’s been a year since I started my Patreon, and it’s been an incredible journey. I appreciate everyone’s support so much. I’m working on a big project this year, which I’ll share more about soon. Thank you to my top patrons—there’s one left, and his name is Jason. I hope I pronounced that correctly! A link to my Patreon is in the description, along with the organizations in Australia if you’d like to support them. Thank you!
Research the concept of eco-anxiety and its impact on individuals and communities. Create a presentation to share with your classmates, highlighting real-world examples and possible coping strategies. This will help you understand the psychological effects of climate change and how people are addressing them.
Participate in a class debate on the effectiveness of current measures to combat climate change. You will be assigned a position to defend, either for or against specific actions like the park renovation in New York City. This will enhance your critical thinking and public speaking skills while deepening your understanding of environmental policies.
Write a short story imagining a day in the future where climate change has significantly altered your environment. Describe how daily life has changed and what measures people have taken to adapt. This activity will encourage you to think creatively about the potential impacts of climate change.
Engage in a week-long challenge to adopt eco-friendly habits, such as reducing plastic use, conserving water, or using public transportation. Document your experiences and reflect on how these changes affect your perspective on environmental issues. This hands-on activity will help you connect personal actions to broader environmental impacts.
Conduct an interview with an environmental expert or activist to learn about their work and perspectives on climate change. Prepare questions in advance and share your findings with the class. This will provide you with insights into real-world efforts to address environmental challenges and inspire you to take action.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content while maintaining the core message:
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If I were sitting on this park bench in just three years, I might be buried underneath eight feet of landfill, which seems uncomfortable. We are on what is about to become one of the most expensive miles of coastline in the world—not because you have to be wealthy to live in Manhattan, but due to rising sea levels. New York City has approved a $1.5 billion plan to renovate this park, which involves removing everything you see here—the benches, the basketball courts, the trees—raising it up eight feet, filling it with landfill, and then rebuilding the park. This is all to protect Manhattan from rising sea levels, storm surges, hurricanes, and extreme weather events.
Thinking about this city being underwater and the uncertainty of the future stresses me out and makes me feel anxious. Like many in Manhattan, I experience anxiety. The climate is now another concern we have to face. It’s not just me; new terms have emerged to describe this anxiety we all feel. In 2017, the American Psychological Association introduced the term “eco-anxiety,” which refers to a chronic fear of environmental doom. Some of you might relate to that, but I initially found it a bit extreme. However, a few years later, everything changed: Australia started experiencing severe bushfires. These fires are different— the fire season has started earlier, and the fires are more intense, causing unimaginable damage. This is due to the effects of a warming climate on weather events, making them more extreme.
I can’t imagine how people in Australia are feeling—they must be dealing with a direct form of eco-anxiety. There are evacuations, property loss, and terrible toxic smoke. Meanwhile, here in New York City, people also feel terrible. People around the world are anxious and want to talk to me about it as an Australian. They experience a kind of indirect eco-anxiety, feeling anxious about global events but unsure of what they can do from afar. The fact that everyone wants to discuss the fires but not the park we’re in reveals something fascinating about how our brains work.
Our brains are wired to respond to direct threats rather than indirect future problems. Evolution has shaped them to focus on immediate concerns. However, with climate change, we don’t have the option to ignore it. The plan to demolish and raise this park has faced opposition from residents who don’t see the problem. If we wait for the threat of climate change to become immediate, we may find ourselves in a difficult situation.
Now, you might be wondering about the point of this video. For those of us experiencing eco-anxiety, we often get stuck in cycles of worry because we don’t know how to break out of them. Psychologists recommend taking action, however small. You might donate to organizations making a difference, and I’ll link to some in Australia in the description. Other helpful actions include using a metal straw or a reusable cup to reduce plastic waste. While these actions won’t solve climate change, they can help you feel a bit better and keep you motivated.
Activism is another recommended approach—perhaps you could join a march. If you’re feeling severe eco-anxiety, it might be worth consulting a medical professional. Maybe eco-therapy will become more common in the future. The important thing is that if you are anxious about something—when it’s not overwhelming—it shows that you care. Taking action is often the best way to cope.
I also want to mention that it’s been a year since I launched my Patreon, which has been an incredible journey. I appreciate everyone’s support so much. I’m working on a significant project this year, which I’ll share more about soon. Thank you to my top patrons—there’s one left, and his name is Jason. I hope I pronounced that correctly! A link to my Patreon is in the description, along with the organizations in Australia if you’d like to support them. Thank you!
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This version maintains the essence of the original message while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.
Eco-anxiety – A feeling of worry or fear about the potential impacts of climate change and environmental issues. – Many teenagers experience eco-anxiety when they think about the future of our planet.
Climate – The average weather conditions in a particular region over a long period of time. – The climate in the Arctic is cold and snowy, which affects the types of animals that can live there.
Change – The process through which something becomes different, often used in the context of environmental shifts. – Scientists study how climate change affects ecosystems around the world.
Anxiety – A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. – Students often feel anxiety about their exams, but learning relaxation techniques can help.
Environment – The natural world, including the land, air, water, plants, and animals that surround us. – Protecting the environment is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and human health.
Action – The process of doing something to achieve a goal, often used in the context of addressing environmental issues. – Taking action to reduce plastic waste can help protect marine life.
Weather – The short-term atmospheric conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and wind, in a specific area. – The weather today is sunny and warm, perfect for a walk in the park.
Psychology – The scientific study of the human mind and behavior. – Understanding psychology can help us learn how people are affected by environmental stressors.
Activism – The practice of taking direct action to support or oppose a social or political cause. – Environmental activism has led to significant policy changes to combat climate change.
Therapy – A treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder, often used to address mental health issues. – Some people find that therapy helps them cope with anxiety about environmental issues.
