Ecophobia

Ecophobia is the feeling of powerlessness to prevent cataclysmic environmental change, it is part of climate anxiety. The term was coined by environmental educator David Sobel in 1996, he described it as "[I]nstead of developing a sense of agency … [some feel] a helpless sense of dread about the future.”. A study with 10-12 year olds found 82% of the children expressed fear, sadness, and anger about environmental problems.

The neologism was used by David Sobel, Simon Estok, and Roger Scruton.

Further reading

• Sobel, David (2013). Beyond ecophobia : reclaiming the heart in nature education. Great Barrington, MA: Orion Society. ISBN 978-1-935713-04-3. OCLC 858126725.
• Estok, Simon (2018). The ecophobia hypothesis. New York London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-38493-3. OCLC 1042329729.