Coaching at the edge of the climate crisis: Ethical tensions in supporting sustainability professionals.

This article examines the unique challenges faced by sustainability professionals—such as imposter syndrome, career progression difficulties, eco-anxiety, internal greenwashing, and loneliness—and explores how coaching psychology, an evidence-based approach integrating psychological theory with coaching practice, can support these individuals in their roles. Based on interviews with 28 sustainability professionals primarily from the UK corporate sector, the study highlights a strong interest in group coaching and collective support mechanisms, which remain underutilized despite their potential to provide emotional regulation, goal-setting assistance, and a shared space to process the psychological burdens of climate work. The article also discusses ethical considerations in coaching sustainability professionals, including the distinction between coaching and clinical psychology, the risks and benefits of group versus individual coaching, and the challenge of addressing systemic issues through individual-focused interventions. It concludes that coaching, especially when delivered by practitioners engaged with sustainability issues, can be a valuable, though not exclusive, form of support for sustainability professionals navigating complex organizational and emotional landscapes related to climate and ecological emergencies.