Environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht coined the term “solastalgia” to describe the distress experienced by communities witnessing environmental degradation in their own homes. In the early 2000s, while living in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, Albrecht, then an associate professor of environmental studies at the University of Newcastle, was contacted by local residents facing the encroachment of opencut coalmines into their region. Their reactions went beyond the typical “not in my backyard” opposition to development, reflecting a profound sense of loss and despair tied to the transformation of their familiar landscape.

Albrecht sought a word that would capture this unique psychological and emotional experience—one rooted not in physical displacement but in the erosion of the environment that defines people’s sense of place and wellbeing. Finding none that adequately expressed these feelings, he created “solastalgia,” a neologism blending “solace,” “desolation,” “nostalgia,” and the Greek suffix “algia,” meaning pain or sorrow. The term specifically refers to the distress caused by environmental changes affecting one’s home.

Since its introduction in 2003, solastalgia has gained traction across various domains. It has been cited in legal proceedings, academic research, public policy discussions, and cultural expressions. Notably, the Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins has incorporated the concept into her music, bringing wider attention to the emotional dimensions of environmental loss.

Albrecht’s work highlights how environmental degradation, such as the expansion of coal mining in rural communities, can have deep psychological impacts on residents, extending beyond economic or physical concerns. The concept of solastalgia frames this experience as a legitimate form of suffering, emphasizing the intimate relationship between people and their environments and drawing attention to the mental health consequences of ecological change.