COP28: Employee wellbeing increasingly impacted by eco-anxiety

A “landmark” deal to transition away from fossil fuels may have been announced at COP28 in Dubai, UAE, but the news may come too late to ease the concerns of global employees.

According to new research from thinktank The Conference Board, four in 10 employees (43%) are experiencing ‘eco-anxiety’ - a sense of distress related to climate and ecological change – often or almost always.

A further 43% of workers said they have feelings of eco-anxiety “some of the time.”

Such concerns will have a negative impact on employee mental health and wider wellbeing, which in turn can lead to lower productivity and increased costs for employers.

Over half (56%) of employees surveyed cited a “sense of powerlessness” over their eco-anxiety, while around one third (36%) said they experience “difficult emotions” such as despair, anger and guilt.

Of more concern to HR leaders is that 22% of respondents said these anxieties make them “demotivated at work”, while others said they have a “lack of focus in my work” (17%) and feel “isolated from my colleagues” (15%).

Employers need to take affirmative action on climate anxieties

Beyond simply being aware of and acknowledging their concerns on environmental issues, workers expected their organizations and leaders to take action on the issue.

The research found 60% of workers want employers to do more to support eco-anxious employees.

This could take the form of “stretching pro-environment targets for the organization” (53%), “lobbying government to do more” or “encouraging workers to take collective pro-environment action” (38%).

Commenting on the findings, The Conference Board stated that while employees are taking individual action to assuage eco-anxiety, this is “undoubtedly a shared responsibility between employers and their people.”

Executives responsible for talent recruitment and retention, engagement and productivity, and corporate sustainability are among those who need to pay attention.”Executives responsible for talent recruitment and retention, engagement and productivity, and corporate sustainability are among those who need to pay attention.”

The report also said that managers and team leaders need to be on board with this, as positive interventions to address eco-anxiety and climate change “could particularly attract and motivate women and Gen Z workers.”

Commenting on the report's findings, Alison Maitland, senior fellow at The Conference Board told UNLEASH that some employees may be tempted to "downplay" employee concerns, but warned that failing to acknowledge eco-anxieties can "negatively affect employee productivity, motivation and wellbeing."

"Leaders across the business can effectively address their teams' eco-anxiety by empowering workers to voice their concerns, validating them, and integrating effective climate action into the overall business strategy," Maitland said.

"By showing leadership and taking collective, large-scale action, for example to cut emissions, consumption and waste, HR and other leaders will give employees a sense of agency and purpose that is likely to alleviate their fears.”