Which term best describes the psychological impact of climate change on individuals?

The term "solastalgia" specifically refers to the sense of distress and loss that individuals experience due to environmental changes, particularly those driven by climate change. It captures the emotional impact of witnessing one's local environment and familiar spaces deteriorate, leading to feelings of alienation and longing for the environment as it once was. This term emphasizes the psychological and emotional turmoil associated with the loss of place and identity linked to a changing climate.

While "environmental anxiety" also addresses feelings of concern and fear regarding environmental issues, solastalgia more precisely conveys the personal and existential distress tied to one’s immediate surroundings being negatively affected. The other concepts, such as ecological burden, which may refer to the overall psychological or physical weight of ecological problems, or climate denial, which pertains to rejecting climate change narratives, do not encapsulate the intimate, place-based emotional experience conveyed by solastalgia. Thus, solastalgia is the best term to describe the psychological impact of climate change on individuals because it specifically highlights the feelings of loss and grief related to changes in one’s environment.