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This is the guardian, a cold rent for humanity. Emissions of greenhouse gases need to peak within the next three years if we're to stave off the worst effects of climate change. Nearly half of humanity is already at risk from floods, droughts, extreme storms and wild fires. But activists and scientists will tell you that climate doomism is just as dangerous as climate denial. How can we process the way that we feel about the greatest threat humanity has ever faced? Can we turn feelings of climate doom into something positive?

The impacts of the climate crisis are undeniably here. Heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and flooding are causing devastation around the world. And yet, we still aren’t seeing the drastic action that’s required to avert climate disaster. As things get worse, it’s easy to give up hope – but ‘climate doomism’ is just as dangerous as climate denial. Anand Jagatia speaks to psychotherapist Caroline Hickman about her research on climate anxiety, and how we can turn feelings of doom into positive action. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod