Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS)
13-item climate distress check, about 4 minutes
Worried about climate change? The CCAS measures how much climate-related distress affects your thoughts, emotions, and daily functioning. 13 items, ~4 minutes.
What is climate anxiety?
Climate anxiety (sometimes called eco-anxiety) is the distress people feel when they think about climate change and its effects. It is not a mental disorder — it is a rational response to a real threat. But when that distress becomes overwhelming, it can interfere with sleep, concentration, relationships, and daily life.
The CCAS was developed by Clayton and Karazsia in 2020 to measure exactly this: not whether you care about the environment, but whether thoughts about climate change are causing you psychological harm.
What does it measure?
The 13 items break into two areas:
- Cognitive-emotional impairment (items 1-8): How climate change affects your thinking and feelings — trouble concentrating, nightmares, crying, rumination.
- Functional impairment (items 9-13): How climate distress interferes with your life — having fun with family/friends, balancing sustainability with family needs, getting work done.
Scoring
Each item is rated 1-5 (Never to Almost always). Total score ranges from 13 to 65.
- 13-20: Low climate anxiety
- 21-25: Mild
- 26-32: Moderate
- 33-65: High
About this scale
Clayton & Karazsia (2020) developed the CCAS across three studies. It is since been validated in multiple languages and cultures. Internal consistency is strong (α=0.92-0.95).
This is a research tool, not a diagnosis. If climate distress is weighing on you, talking to a professional can help.
Scoring Guide
Total score 13-65. 13-20 low, 21-25 mild, 26-32 moderate, 33-65 high climate anxiety. α=0.92-0.95. Cutoff ≥21 for mild-moderate, ≥23 for moderate-severe (Cosh et al., 2024).Result Interpretation
After completing the 13 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.