The Climate-Well-Being Nexus: Integrating Global Evidence to Align Subjective Perceptions and Objective Realities in the Age of Climate Uncertainty

Abstract

Climate change is no longer an abstract dilemma but a lived reality, experienced not only through changing material conditions but also across the psychological landscapes of people worldwide. While extensive literature documents the physical consequences of rising sea levels, extreme temperatures and growing food insecurity, far less attention has been given to how these disruptions influence subjective well-being across regions. Drawing on a global dataset covering 32 countries from both the Global North and the Global South, this paper examines the intersection of environmental degradation with psychological resilience, emotional health and life satisfaction. Using data from the World Risk Report, the Gallup Global Emotions Report, and IPCC climate vulnerability assessments, the study identifies a strong negative relationship; populations exposed to high climate risk, on average, happiness scores 22 points lower than those living in more stable environments. Qualitative evidence deepens these findings, revealing widespread climate anxiety, displacement-induced trauma and the erosion of community ties. Pacific Island communities face existential threats of cultural loss due to rising sea levels, while farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa experience profound ecological grief as drought devastates livelihoods. To bridge the gap between objective climate impacts and subjective well-being, the paper argues for a transdisciplinary approach that integrates psychological resilience into adaptation planning. Accordingly, it proposes the Human Climate Resilience Matrix, a policy tool combining climate risk indicators with psychosocial measures, advocating adaptation strategies that are both emotionally intelligent and scientifically robust.