Climate guilt (also referred to as environmental guilt, eco-anxiety, eco guilt, and green guilt) is defined as “the feeling that you should be doing more to help the environment and save the planet,” and it’s something we are collectively experiencing as a human race. It’s impossible to not see the dramatic effects climate change is making on the world, and every time I see another natural disaster or extreme weather event in the news feed, my guilt and anxiety worsen.
To put it simply, human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, are the main factor in global warming and climate change, and the growing concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere is what is warming the climate. Studies have shown that just 90 companies from around the world are responsible for roughly two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions. Of these companies, 83 produce coal, oil, and natural gas, and the others manufacture cement and building materials. Some of them are household names like Chevron and ExxonMobil, and some are international corporations. According to a climate change study conducted in 2018, since 1980, these 90 companies alone have contributed to roughly 43% of the atmospheric rise in CO2, 29–35% of the global mean surface temperature, and 11–14% of the global sea level. We also can’t forget the role plastics and other non-biodegradable waste plays in regard to climate change. In 2019, it was estimated by the CIEL (The Center for International Environmental Law) that the “production and incineration of plastic would add 850 million metric tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.” The main manufacturers of polymer, the main ingredient that goes into single-use plastics, are primarily produced by processing fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas, and one of the biggest producers of single-use plastic is again, ExxonMobil. I’ve only specified two of the many things currently affecting the rise in the Earth’s climate, but based on this information, much of the responsibility for climate change is primarily falling on big business and the government.
The fact of the matter is that the state of our planet won’t (and can’t) be resolved solely by the consumer, and it isn’t just our fault. So, why do we feel like it is completely our responsibility to fix it?
Much of this guilt, in my eyes, stems from the feeling of powerlessness. The feeling that there’s only so much we can do as the general public to stop the impending climate crisis that could greatly affect future generations. My guilt is also fueled by the “mess-ups” that happen, like forgetting my reusable shopping bags at home or the food in the fridge that I end up having to throw away. While yes, you should do the things that you can do, like remembering to use reusable shopping bags, composting at home, living as low waste as you can, etc, it’s also necessary (mostly for our mental health) to recognize that much of the destruction of the planet is being caused by large companies, not by us. This feeling of climate guilt and shame is a universal experience because, of course, we all want to protect our home, but it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that there’s only so much we can do about it. And, unfortunately, until there’s policy reform and serious actions are taken against these companies that are greatly polluting the planet, much of what’s happening may not stop. So we can do what we can, but the feeling of shame should be shifted from us to these big corporations and government.
Another issue of pinning climate change on the general public is that the vast majority of the population doesn’t have access to nor the ability to live a low-waste, green life. Sustainable alternatives, organic foods, and living carbon and waste-free are expensive and, in certain places, inaccessible. It’s an unfair expectation to think that we are all able to live completely sustainable lives. We have to look at the systems and companies that are primarily responsible for this disaster first before expecting everyone else to make changes they may not ever be able to make.
I do believe that feeling some guilt when it comes to global warming is necessary in order to spark change because if nobody felt guilty, no change would happen. However, we can manage our feelings of climate guilt so that it isn’t affecting us 24/7 and contributing to a poorer mental state. Some things to try could be:
- Unplugging from social media (and stop doom scrolling!).
- Check the news less often (but enough to stay informed).
- Focus on the things you ARE doing.
- Determine if there’s something specific that’s making you feel guilty. This could be a product you buy weekly or an action you do frequently. Once you determine what it is, try to phase it out of your life and routine.
While realizing that climate change isn’t completely our fault nor completely our responsibility to fix, you should still be trying to do everything you can to take steps toward living a greener life. This doesn’t have to be anything huge and should be tailored to fit your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Some options can include:
- Recycling and composting at home.
- Thrifting.
- Cutting down on plastic use (use reusable shopping bags and use Tupperware to store food instead of plastic bags).
- Meatless Mondays.
- Unplug electronics and turn off lights when you’re not using them.
- Bike or walk when possible.
- Visit Climate Hero to see your carbon footprint and learn how to reduce it.
And lastly, always talk with others about the importance of recognizing and taking action against climate change, put pressure on politicians to act, and speak up. Turning your climate guilt into actions that work for you will not only take some of your stress away, but will also contribute to a healthier planet.