Transformer l’écoanxiété en engagement : rôle des émotions et perspectives pour un avenir durable
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18192/clg-cgl.v10i1.7427Keywords:
eco-anxiety, resilience, neurosciences, art, climate changeAbstract
The links between climate change, emotional regulation, and mental health are now an emerging field of research in neuroscience. The environmental challenges associated with the ecological crisis are unprecedented and particularly affect adolescents and young adults: more than 70% of Canadians in this age group report feeling eco-anxiety, a combination of fear and distress about environmental degradation. Although this reaction is natural and adaptive, its persistence can contribute to the onset of mental disorders, making it a major public health issue. Analysis of the literature highlights the neurobiological and psychological foundations of emotions, the importance of regulating them, and the role of neuroplasticity, which can be reinforced by meditation, contact with nature, or sensory experiences. Art, particularly when it mobilizes visual, auditory, and multisensory stimuli, appears to be a key lever for transformation, especially through projects rooted in the local area that nurture a connection to living things and emotional resonance. The perception and impact of eco-anxiety also vary according to cultural and generational contexts. Indigenous peoples, who have a deep connection to nature, are strongly affected by it, while older people, who are often more experienced in emotional management, sometimes express feelings of guilt towards future generations. All of these facts call for decolonized, intergenerational approaches that are co-constructed with communities, combining neuroscience and artistic practices, immersive experiences, and hopeful narratives in order to transform climate distress into constructive engagement.
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