The link between climate change, movement and mental health  

This May the UK comes together for Mental Health Awareness Week, a national campaign led by the Mental Health Foundation since 2001. Globally, May is a month for mental health education and empowerment. 

May reminds us of the importance of looking after our mental health, sharing resources and support, as well as challenging stigma around mental health and open conversations. 

It’s also a time to recognise that mental health doesn’t exist in isolation, it is impacted by geopolitics, by society, by culture, and by one of the biggest challenges we face as humanity, climate change. 

Climate change and mental health 

The climate crisis can have a profound impact on our mental health. The terms eco-anxiety and climate anxiety exist because they are real, they affect many people. 

A report from the UK Health Security Agency showed that climate change is already affecting mental wellbeing across the UK. Extreme weather events such as flooding and heatwaves can increase stress, trauma, and anxiety, particularly for vulnerable communities.

There’s also evidence of rising anxiety, particularly amongst children and young people, who will be the ones having to bear the burden and responsibility of the climate crisis.

The uncertainty which pervades the future creates additional heaviness. 

The role of movement 

This is where sport and movement plays a powerful role, as physical activity is one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support mental health. 

Exercising has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety and stress, help boost confidence, improve sleep, and strengthen community. 

There is a reason why people move to clear their head, such is the power of sport. 

Research has found that people who exercise regularly report 12–23% lower levels of mental health problems compared to those who are inactive.

Exercising in nature also has profoundly positive effects on our mental health, with some doctors around the world now suggesting social prescriptions which include spending time outdoors, such is the benefit. 

At a time when many people feel overwhelmed, whether by daily pressures or global issues like climate change, exercise can provide both relief and resilience.

Interconnected 

Climate change is already disrupting the sports industry. 

Extreme heat, flooding, and poor air quality are affecting training, competitions, and access to facilities around the world. Each year the top sport competitions like World Championships and World Cups report record temperatures as athletes struggle with intense heat. 

Trails, mountains, ski slopes, glaciers, peaks, summits, tarmac, waterways are all impacted by climate change. The Winter Olympics and Paralympics showed us this impact - this year we saw Paralympians skiing on fake snow surrounded by grass. 

At the same time, sport has a unique role in responding to the climate crisis because it is so visible and widely enjoyed. 

The impact of rising temperatures on these competitions make headlines and this can raise awareness about environmental issues, help encourage sustainable behaviours and unite communities. 

As experts have noted, sport can make climate change feel real and relatable in a way that abstract data often cannot.

Looking to the future 

Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us both of the importance of mental health and the fact that it does not exist on its own, but is part of a wider ecosystem, of which exercise and the climate crisis play an important role. 

Much like mental health, the climate crisis affects everyone, and movement has a valuable role in providing relief as well as community. 

It’s also important for platforms, organisations and policy to reflect this interconnectedness.

At Climategames we understand the power of movement and the importance of tackling the climate crisis. 

We hope that we can bring more people together to join the dots between health, the planet, and exercise.