“It’s okay to feel overwhelmed by the climate crisis. But action is the antidote to despair.”

What is Eco-Anxiety?

You’ve probably felt it before: scrolling through yet another post about devastating floods, rising temperatures, or the loss of biodiversity. A quiet, sinking feeling in your chest. Maybe fear, maybe helplessness. That emotional storm has a name—eco-anxiety.

Eco-anxiety is the chronic fear of environmental doom, particularly caused by witnessing the ongoing effects of climate change. And it’s especially common among young people who care deeply about the future of our planet but feel powerless to change its trajectory.

In Bangladesh, where climate change isn’t a distant concept but a daily reality—rising sea levels, floods, cyclones—this anxiety runs deep. But instead of letting it consume us, we at Serene Planet believe it’s time to channel that energy into something powerful: purposeful action.

Why Youth Are Most Affected

Let’s be real—today’s youth didn’t create this crisis, but we’re inheriting it.

A global study by The Lancet showed that 59% of young people feel extremely or very worried about climate change. In Bangladesh, this percentage could be even higher, given our country’s vulnerability to climate disasters. Many youth activists we work with in Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, and Manikganj describe feeling frustrated, sad, and even guilty about their carbon footprints, even when they have limited options for change.

But this guilt is not ours to carry alone.

What we can do is transform eco-anxiety into eco-agency—by acting, organizing, and innovating.

The Truth About Eco-Anxiety: It’s Not a Weakness

First things first: feeling anxious about the state of the planet doesn’t make you fragile—it makes you human. It means you care. It means you’re paying attention.

But here’s where things shift: eco-anxiety becomes empowering when paired with collective action.

At Serene Planet, we’ve seen this transformation in dozens of youth leaders who’ve turned their fears into fuel for change—planting trees, organizing climate education workshops, pushing for greener urban policies, and raising awareness in their own communities.

6 Practical Ways Youth Can Take Action Against Eco-Anxiety

Ready to move from feeling powerless to feeling purposeful? Here are six steps to turn eco-anxiety into action:

1. 🌱 Start Small, Start Local

You don’t have to change the entire world in one day. Start with what’s around you.

• Plant a tree in your school or neighborhood.

• Organize a cleanup day with your friends or class.

• Reduce single-use plastic at home or on campus.

In Rajshahi and Dhaka, our youth teams have built rooftop gardens, reducing heat, improving air quality, and providing sustainable vegetables to low-income families. Small acts, big impact.

2. 📚 Educate Yourself and Others

Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools against fear. Understanding the climate crisis—its causes, effects, and solutions—can reduce helplessness.

• Attend climate webinars or read youth-friendly reports.

• Share simplified content on your social media.

• Host a workshop or school discussion with support from organizations like Serene Planet.

In Chittagong Hill Tracts, our team is creating climate education modules in local dialects so that indigenous youth can engage with sustainability in culturally relevant ways.

3. 🧠 Take Care of Your Mental Health

It’s okay to take breaks. Climate activism is a marathon, not a sprint.

Try this:

• Disconnect from the news cycle when it becomes overwhelming.

• Practice mindfulness, journaling, or nature walks.

• Talk to friends, counselors, or trusted mentors.

At Serene Planet, we encourage peer mental health circles for volunteers where they can vent, reflect, and recharge. You can do the same with your friends or schoolmates.

4. 🤝 Find or Build a Community

Isolation fuels eco-anxiety. Connection cures it.

Join youth climate groups—locally or globally. If there aren’t any near you, start your own eco-club! You don’t need permission to begin.

5. 📢 Use Your Voice

Whether you’re a poet, TikToker, writer, or debater—your voice matters.

• Create content that highlights climate challenges and solutions.

• Advocate for green policies at school, college, or even with local government.

• Use art, storytelling, or music to connect with others emotionally.

6. 🌍 Be Part of Something Bigger

Climate justice is a collective movement. Join global efforts like:

• Fridays for Future

• UN Youth Climate Movement

• Local NGO campaigns and policy forums

Or, become a volunteer at Serene Planet and get involved in tree planting, eco-education, food justice, and urban resilience.

When you’re part of something bigger, your anxiety becomes a tool for connection, not isolation.

Real Stories from Serene Planet Youth

Let’s hear it from our teams on the frontlines:

🌿 “Eco-anxiety was real for me. I used to lie awake at night thinking about floods and my village getting submerged. Now, I’m leading a plastic-free school campaign in Chapainawabganj. It helps.”
— Tamanna, 19, Local Team Volunteer

📚 “I felt hopeless watching the news, but then I joined Serene Planet’s tree-planting drive. Digging into the soil was like digging into healing. I felt grounded again.”
— Jahidul, 22, Dhaka Team

🎨 “My art is my protest. I paint stories of climate hope and share them online. I get messages from people who say it makes them feel less alone.”
— Rina, 18, Youth Artist from Rajshahi

You’re Not Alone—and You’re Not Powerless

The climate crisis is massive, but so is youth potential.

You are not powerless. Every small action, every tweet, every tree planted, every community session, every recycled notebook—they all matter. They are acts of resistance, healing, and hope.

Eco-anxiety is a signal, not a sentence. It means you care. And with care comes the power to transform the world around you.

🌱 Take the First Step Today

Here’s how you can start right now:

✅ Share this blog post with 2 friends
✅ Follow an environmental organization on Instagram
✅ Switch off unnecessary lights and fans at home
✅ Reuse something instead of throwing it away
✅ Reach out to join Serene Planet’s local team!