There is increased awareness of the disastrous effects of the environmental crisis on the planet and all who inhabit it. Much focus has been devoted to individual efforts such as recycling, buying local, eating less meat or cutting down completely. But despite these efforts, the planet keeps getting warmer, making some people weary of the environmental movement.
Many of us already know about and probably feel eco-anxiety, this feeling of concern about the rate of climate change. This neologism has gained considerable media interest in recent years. Now, the term eco-fatigue is creeping in, an attitude characterised by a form of discouragement, or even a indifference to environmental issues.
No more environmental messages
The Spanish author Jorge Riechmann first coined the phrase in 2015, describing it as "a weariness and disdain for environmental messages and the environmental movement". The avalanche of information from companies and institutions but also from activists themselves can amplify this feeling of weariness.
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On Twitter, the hashtag #ecofatigue is spreading, highlighting the exasperation Internet users are feeling. "As soon as you think you're doing something good like recycling, someone else will find you every reason to show you that it's not green," read one tweet.
Demonstrations
Environmental activists have in recent months taken drastic measures to raise awareness. Some have thrown food at works of art, others have obstructed traffic and airport runways all while calling on governments to take more action against the climate emergency.
While many people are sympathetic with the aims of the activists, not everyone agrees with their means.
For example, environmental demonstrations in Paris have led to exasperated drivers who sometimes push or threaten these demonstrators. Any sympathy the drivers may have for the cause evaporates when stuck in a traffic jam caused by activists. Angry Parisiens lament the uselessness of the activists's actions and its lack of consideration for citizens.
The 24-hour news cycle, often filled with contradictory messages about the environment, can also put mental health to the test.
To fight eco-fatigue, the best solution is to improve things at an individual level, and not take the full weight of the warming world on your shoulders.
