“We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator”, stated United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres at the COP27 climate change summit. That sounds terrifying, doesn’t it? The effects of climate change are becoming tangible for a growing number of people. There also appears to be a corresponding rise in the number of people experiencing climate change-related psychological distress. ‘Eco-anxiety’ or ‘climate anxiety’ includes feelings of worry, guilt, shame, hopelessness and despair. Is climate anxiety common or not? Is there an optimal level of anxiety that motivates people to engage in environment-friendly behaviour? And what if it becomes all-consuming?