Climate Action
3 Words You Need to Know about Mental Health and Climate Change
July 7, 2025
Canadian Wildfires Rage On
Melting Glaciers Threaten Antarctic Wildlife
Air Quality Drops as Cars Swarm the Roads
Deep breath in, deep breath out.
Every day, headlines about climate change flood our screens—relentless, alarming, impossible to ignore. While the world keeps on spinning, countless minds are caught in a whirlwind of anxiety and despair, heightened by our collective failure to meet essential climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. The Agreement, an international treaty on climate change adopted in December 2015 during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) aimed to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to keep it to 1.5°C.
Most of us, whether we are aware of it or not, are being impacted by climate fears. Even young kids are struggling to adjust. The COVID-19 pandemic only intensified these challenges: lockdowns kept children indoors, increasing isolation and limiting exposure to nature—factors linked to declines in mental well-being and rising cases of nature deficit disorder.
Nature deficit disorder is a term coined by Richard Louv in 2005 to describe the negative consequences—such as increased stress, attention difficulties, and obesity—that can arise when people, especially children, spend too little time outdoors in natural environments. While not recognized as a formal medical diagnosis, the concept is supported by a growing body of research linking time in nature to improved mental and physical health. Leading institutions like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Cornell, are studying the effects of nature exposure and how access to green spaces and nature benefits our overall well-being.
This overlap between exposure to nature, pandemic stress and growing climate anxiety highlights just how closely our environment and mental health are connected. The psychological impacts, from the stress of isolation and uncertainty during the pandemic, to the worry and helplessness many feel about climate change are becoming increasingly significant —sometimes rivaling the physical effects.
While acute symptoms such as panic attacks and PTSD are the most visible manifestations of these mental health impacts, indirect effects like eco-anxiety and eco-paralysis are also emerging as major mental health challenges in the face of environmental change.
Our emotional responses to the state of the Earth are not just personal — they are planetary.
Glenn Albrecht, Earth Emotions (2019)
These emerging terms are classified as psychoterratic, (literally, “earth-related”) or ‘environmental emotions’, a concept coined by Glenn Albrecht in Earth Emotions, meaning how our perspective on the world around us impacts our states of discomfort or well-being. [1]
The Earth Can Heal Us
But what makes this all stand out is that possibility of well-being. So, let us focus on the philias instead of the phobias. From the life changing power of sunny morning walks, to the life affirming fresh ocean breeze effect, to the rainbow after a storm, there are plenty of ways the natural world sparks joy. Let’s take a look into the emerging world of climate psychology.
Positive environmental emotions – such as awe, gratitude, and connectedness with nature – are not only protective for our mental health, but they also foster care, responsibility, and pro-environmental behaviors. In times of ecological crisis, they remind us of what is worth protecting.
Dr. Matteo Innocenti, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, European Climate Pact Ambassador, President Italian Climate Change Anxiety Association, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
1. Endemophilia: The Love of the Local
Endemophilia is a word that sings of home—a deep, almost instinctive love for the places that are uniquely ours. Its roots are as layered as the landscapes it describes: from the English “endemic,” the French “endémique,” and the Greek “endemos” (native to the people) and “philia” (love of), it weaves together a tapestry of belonging. At its heart, endemophilia means “a dwelling of native love in the people”—a feeling that anchors us to the land beneath our feet.
You might think, “I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that.” But if you’ve ever missed your hometown, longed for the scent of freshly cut grass, or felt a pang seeing a photo of your childhood home, you’ve been touched by endemophilia. It’s that gentle ache of homesickness, the quiet pride in local traditions, the comfort of a landscape that feels like an old friend.
Imagine you’ve moved away from your hometown to a new city. One sunny afternoon, you’re walking through a city park when you catch the scent of pine needles, and suddenly you’re immersed in memories of the forests near your childhood home. You’re flooded with a deep sense of longing and affection for that specific place—the familiar trails, the local wildlife, the way the light filters through the trees. This emotional connection isn’t just about loving nature in general; it’s about loving your place, the unique environment that shaped your sense of belonging. That’s endemophilia.
Endemophilia reminds us that the Earth is our home. Those trees stretching across the yard, the chirping birds that greet you in the morning. They’re our place, so let’s protect them.
2. Sumbiophilia: We’re All In This Together
The concept of biophilia—our innate love for life and living things—was first introduced by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in 1964, and later popularized by biologist E.O. Wilson in 1984.
Wilson described biophilia as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life,” suggesting that humans are naturally drawn to connect with the living world.
Building on this idea, philosopher Glenn A. Albrecht proposed a new term: sumbiophilia. This word comes from the Greek sumbios (living together) and philia (love), and it means “the love of living together.” Sumbiophilia captures not just our affection for nature, but our deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of all life—the way humans, animals, and ecosystems thrive in community. This love for living together is rooted in our ancestry and our highly social nature as humans.*
Sumbiophilia is a new word for a new world, describing the love and affinity for living together that is essential for the health of the biosphere and all its inhabitants.
Glenn A. Albrecht, Earth Emotions (2019)
This emotion explores the positive connection between humans and other animal species, and living in harmony with the natural world. [1] Even more, it helps us understand how life is connected within individual organisms, between different species, and throughout entire ecosystems.
For example, imagine taking a walk in your local park after a stressful day at work. As you listen to birdsong, feel the sun on your face, see the green of the trees and watch children play under them, you notice your mood starts to lift and your stress melting away. This simple experience is an example of biophilia in action—your natural, positive connection to other living things and the environment around you.
3. Eutierria: The Euphoria of the Earth
Eutierria is a term coined by philosopher Glenn Albrecht, combining the Greek prefix “eu-” (meaning “good”) and the Latin “terra” (meaning “earth”). This emotion describes a powerful sense of harmony, where the boundary between yourself and the natural world seems to disappear.
In a state of eutierria, you feel deeply connected to the Earth—part of a greater whole, rather than separate from it. It’s the uplifting sensation that comes from a truly symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, becoming one with the world around you.[1] It’s even been linked to the “oceanic feeling” described in spiritual and religious writings.
So, what does eutierria feel like? A bit like standing barefoot on a beach, listening to the waves crashing as the spray splashes your face, that salty taste in your mouth, and the cold water washing over your feet. Looking out to the horizon, the world stills for a moment as your senses blend into the world around you. You feel both grounded and expansive—utterly at peace, yet vibrantly alive. That is eutierria: a profound, joyful unity with the living Earth.
However, while this feeling helps us transcend individualistic ideals to connect with nature, there is also a distinctly unique quality to how each of us interacts with our senses. This paradox—of being one with the world while still experiencing it through our own individuality—is a key part of environmental psychology and philosophy.
Mind Over Matter
With all this in mind, it’s important to understand the power of self-efficacy—the belief in your own ability to succeed and make a difference in specific situations. Research shows that when people believe their actions can make a difference in addressing climate change (self-efficacy), and that those actions will actually help (response efficacy), they are more likely to stay motivated and committed to climate solutions.
Simply put, believing in your ability to make a difference—known as self-efficacy—can help turn eco-anxiety into positive, pro-environmental actions instead of negative emotions. In fact, studies have found that when teenagers feel confident in their ability to help the environment (green self-efficacy) and can imagine their future selves, they are more likely to take eco-friendly actions.
Language Matters
This all matters because information is power – and by understanding these terms and emotions, it can help mitigate fear mongering and hopelessness surrounding climate change.
Whatever the emotion, now more than ever we need to fight for the future of this natural utopia. And change is certainly underway. Check out our article The Eco-Anxiety Epidemic to see how Gen Z activists are evolving these emotions into solutions.
* Source: Dr. Matteo Innocenti, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, European Climate Pact Ambassador, President Italian Climate Change Anxiety Association, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Climate Change and Mental Health: Understanding the Impact on Well-Being; April 2, 2025
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