Climate Science and Policy

The biophilia hypothesis suggests an eco-psychological evolutionary bond between humans and nature that has developed through time. The strength of this bond has a profound impact on human health and wellbeing and the longevity of earth stewardship. With the worsening climate crisis unfolding in unprecedented and often traumatic ways, climate anxiety is a common burden that many people are dealing with on a daily basis. Each person can benefit from a nurtured relationship with nature to maintain baseline mental health and create a strong foundation for climate action. This project aims to bridge the relation between mental health, climate change, and the disconnect from nature. This project combines a detailed literature review on ecopsychology and nature-based therapy with a partner component: an instructional handbook entitled, “Nature Rx: Nature Connection and Eco Therapeutic Practices for Health, Hope, & Earth Stewardship”. The handbook was written as an instructional guide to nature connection and eco therapeutic practices for those who are struggling with climate anxiety, and anyone who wishes to deepen their connection to nature. The strategies in the book will help restabilize and maintain solid mental health and wellbeing. The success and prosperity of the human species and all life support systems depends on if earth’s interconnected ecological systems are able to continue to support and provide for life as they have for millennia; thus, humanity must revitalize our connection to nature and continue to develop and evolve within the natural ecological system as the biophilia hypothesis informs we are meant to do.