Sustainability practitioners overwhelmed by emotional toll of climate crisis

Sustainability practitioners are grappling with high levels of emotional overwhelm and burnout, according to new research conducted by Oxford Brookes Business School in partnership with the Climate Change Coaches, a company that helps people take action on climate change by providing coaching and training.

Titled ‘Holding Back Climate Progress: Sustainability’s Critical Skills Gap’, the research report reveals that sustainability practitioners often experience significant emotional strain in roles that can be isolating and uniquely challenging, and that support training is often limited.

The research highlights the crucial importance for organisations to prioritise the development of soft skills such as staff engagement and greater collaboration to help individuals cope and better enable organisations to achieve a green transition.

The study involved a survey and interviews with 159 sustainability professionals from diverse organisational levels and regions, with nearly half representing companies with established climate targets.

Key findings include:
- 62% of respondents reported experiencing burnout related to their green transition responsibilities in the past year.
- 69% of respondents reported difficulty staying motivated due to the scale of the green transition challenge. 
- Only 53% of respondents felt they received enough well-being support as a green transition worker.
- 60% of respondents indicated a low priority is given to soft skills training for the green transition.

The report defines the green transition as involving activities that reduce climate and environmental impacts to achieve a low-emission society while maintaining biodiversity. 

This transition is becoming increasingly embedded in core business operations through legislation, as well as consumer and civic interest, according to the study.

"These findings are a wake-up call,” said Dr Karen Cripps, Senior Lecturer in Responsible Management and Leadership at Oxford Brookes Business School who conducted the research. 

“Sustainability practitioners are not only tackling complex technical challenges but are also managing profound emotional burdens. There's a clear disconnect between the need for emotional resilience and the support provided by organisations.”

The study recognises the green transition as a ‘people-change challenge’ and recommends training in specialised coaching skills as a solution that can enable sustainability practitioners to collaborate effectively, inspire teams, navigate complexity, balance competing interests, and maintain personal resilience.

“This report from such a highly-regarded academic institution is an important validation of the work we do,” said Charly Cox, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Oxford-based Climate Change Coaches. 

“As pioneers in climate change coaching, we understand the significance of supporting individuals in this emotionally-charged field to develop essential soft skills and facilitate their implementation of the green transition.”

Cox co-authored the first book on the subject entitled ‘Climate Change Coaching: The Power of Connection to Create Climate Action’, published by Open University Press.

“Recognising and responding to climate anxiety, alongside inspiring climate action, is the new leadership challenge,” added Zoe Greenwood, Development Director and Co-Founder of the Climate Change Coaches. 

“This important research shows that organisations need to prioritise supporting these skills to empower effective climate action and address the emotional challenges faced by people working in this field."

Download the full report here.