Surge in Global "Climate Anxiety" Searches Raises Concerns
Google searches related to "climate anxiety" have surged globally, raising concerns about the mental health impact of climate change.
Data from Google Trends, shared exclusively with BBC 100 Women, indicates a staggering 4,590% increase in searches worldwide related to "climate anxiety" or "eco-anxiety" from 2018 to 2023.
In the first 10 months of 2023, searches in English on the topic were 27 times higher than the same period in 2017, with even more pronounced increases in other languages, such as Portuguese (73 times higher) and (simplified) Chinese (eight-and-a-half times higher).
This surge in online searches reflects a growing awareness of the emotional toll of climate change, with "What is eco anxiety?" and "How to deal with climate anxiety?" being the two most commonly Googled questions.
A 2023 study published in the academic journal Sustainability reveals a gender disparity in climate anxiety, with women reporting "greater levels of concern and negative emotions" about climate change compared to men. This aligns with earlier research, including a 2019 analysis of more than 44,000 respondents from the European Social Survey.
The mental health impacts of climate change gained recognition in 2022 when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported on the subject for the first time.
As the world grapples with the physical and mental effects of climate change, Google notes a global increase in searches about the future of the planet and the environment, indicating a growing desire for understanding and action.
