How Climate Anxiety Is Reshaping Life Decisions

The saying that the future is in our own hands is ever so true, and climate change and concerns for the environment is a thing. The concept of Eco and Climate Anxiety is so real. On this, the entire world was brought into a war with Iran from the 28th of February 2026, where uncertainty is reigning over access to fuel (particularly diesel for agricultural purposes). Not only does this "fuel (and possibly energy) crisis" change people's behaviours and actions; it is also impacting peoples deep psyches and their mental health. WiFiTalents reports that 60% of adults in the US confess to having a little to some level of eco anxiety.

Accessibility of the Strait of Hormuz (the shipment of essential resources in and out) is uncertain, hence it is anxiety inducing when it comes to fuel in particular; even if you do not own or drive a car. The impacts of what is going on right now in the Strait of Hormuz (as at the time of writing) are profound in the following areas of life for people as follows (examples provided):

Career

Service station workers are feeling the impact of higher fuel prices due to fuel shortages that is impacting stock availability, and potentially the working hours of frontline staff, as well as their safety. There was a 37% spike in fuel thefts (that is, drivers filling up the tank and driving off without paying) in South Australia, and with another fuel operator in Sydney, Australia losing $10K in fuel revenue due to theft. Therefore it is costing more people money in order to drive to work, as well as costing time for those drivers who have no choice but to take public transport to work instead. Many others are part of necessary work from home mandates. And for those of us fortunate to be starting new jobs soon; how we will get to our work induction and training sessions if the fuel (and possibly energy supplies) runs out? Additionally, there are shifts towards businesses adopting sustainability and corporate social responsibility over profits. Burnout from working in climate related professions is also real. If given the choice, people are also choosing to leave morally misaligned jobs for a smaller salary to work for a company that is socially responsible and ethical. Furthermore, there is an uptick for competition when it comes to looking for a job, as people either need to return to the workforce or take up another job to be able to pay for fuel to get around, already making a saturated job market more so.

Relationships

Anxiety and stress from higher fuel prices eats into romantic trips away, and there is less money left to invest in a successful relationship. Due to the current fuel crisis, my boyfriend and I are delaying road trips as a sacrifice for farmers and people living in rural areas who really need fuel to function. And so that the prices of our groceries at the supermarket do not rise too sharply, thanks to diesel shortages in particular. Climate change is causing people to not have children, due to minimising their carbon footprint on the planet, and that can affect the psyche of married couples who really have a burning desire to start a family. There is also a trend to move away from areas that attract floods and bush fires. More evidence that climate and eco anxiety is real, and the current war in Iran that purported the current fuel crisis is only exacerbating this. According to WifiTalents, up to 39% of people are hesitant in having children due to climate anxiety and climate concerns.

Finances

Higher fuel prices adds to existing inflationary pressures, which motivates central banks to raise interest rates. This causes a rise in housing costs among both home owners and renters alike.

The current war in Iran is only going to add to the prolonged cost of living crisis due to higher prices for all goods and services, as transportation is needed to deliver such goods and services to our home via online purchases. If you choose to buy anything from your groceries to a brand new dress on the high street instead; the costs of transportation due to fuel supply concerns is passed onto the consumer. Manufacturers can be inclined to wear part of the higher costs of doing business, but not all of them. Services will not be immune either.

Health

Climate anxiety can still be linked to health challenges. With the continued example of the fuel crisis caused by inaccessibilities through the Strait of Hormuz; supply issues can affect the quality of healthy food and fertiliser, which could lead to malnutrition and the need for expensive protein supplements. Not everyone can afford nutritional supplements to fill the void. In a supply chain crisis, junk food is plentiful. Of course, there are concerns with meat causing carbon emissions. Mould from a quality water bottle (doing the right thing for yourself and for your environment) can cause anxiety and other mental health problems. Regular cleaning is the solution, yet when we are only human and we get busy. This is where self compassion is essential. Higher fuel prices also affects transportation to and from the gym, doctors/hospital appointments, as well as access to support workers and medication to name.

Furthermore, climate anxiety also means that people need to consider moving away from high flood and fire areas. Others may want to be within closer walking distance to their workplace, if work from home options are not available. Or be close by to public transport due to high fuel prices caused by the recent war in Iran.

Travel anxiety is also real, as a result of the fuel crisis that has come about from this recent war. As at the time of writing, Qantas is offering $99 one way fares from Sydney to Melbourne (in Australia) for travel up to March 2027 for certain dates only. Airlines want to maximise their revenue despite higher operating costs due to fuel prices, among higher levels of uncertainty when it comes to international travel as a result. The problem is when booking ahead, what if you cannot travel if airlines have to cancel their flights due to further fuel shortages, or goodness forbid we run out of fuel? Cheap fares are (personally) not worth this high level of uncertainty that can turn into eco anxiety or intensified eco anxiety for some. For instance, my family doctor could not fly to his home country of Iran to visit an ill mother in hospital at the start of this war, while electronic and snail mail communications were completely cut off.

However, it is not all doom and gloom, despite climate and eco anxiety not being a truly positive thing.

The current fuel crisis (combined with an already prolonged cost of living crisis) feels like we are all being set up to fail, and that failure feeling has intense ramifications on an individuals mental health, and also on the individual and collective psyches.

Those sentiments make sense, according to TIME magazine, where 75% of young people in particular say that that the future is frightening due to climate anxiety.

These can be helpful times, where we are all invited to be even more mindful of our spending; and if capacity allows, to tighten the belt financially speaking even more, to save for more climate uncertainty, and to really focus upon and question our needs. What can we really do without, without making it a sacrifice or missing out?

Could you afford a more ethical career, despite the pay cut?

How else can you be romantic or see your friends and family, without having to drive a long distance? A picnic in a local park may be more feasible than a road trip right now. Uncertainty about how many days of fuel is left in reserve would cause concern among any human being who cares about themselves, as well as others. We are all connected, irrespective as to where in the world each one of us is living right now. Are you ok with bringing a child into this world? If not, why not? Whatever the outcome is, is more than ok. It is what it is.

This period of time might inspire you to grow your own herbs, fruits or vegetables, without relying on fuel price inflation, while maintaining your own food security, and ultimately your health and nutrition. You might be inspired to workout at home, with your own privacy and schedule without feeling like you are quarantined. Make your own coffee instead of travelling to a local cafe without feeling like you are cutting back some more. You might find some more zen in using candles at home, which could be extra handy if the power shuts down either briefly, or for an indeterminable period of time. Not to scare you, but rather to prepare you for supercharged eco anxiety related times.

There are solutions to every single challenge, and in concluding, once again the quality of the questions you ask yourself helps determine the quality of your life. Cutting back to build a buffer of savings, and/or to pay off some debt for tough times is never a bad thing. Asking yourself how you can reduce your eco anxiety, or to keep away from eco anxiety in maintaining your poise and security in insecure times when it comes to the supply of resources - natural or otherwise is helpful. What a time to be alive.

In concluding, I shall leave you with a song that has a humanitarian aspect, initially sung at the United Nations World Humanitarian Day at the general assembly hall in New York. The song is all about having no regrets, and living with purpose while maintaining our humanity with ecology in mind. I Was Here by Beyonce. I lived, I learned. This song has achieved a staggering 46,000 plus comments on YouTube. Enough said: