Building a practice of hope in a hopeless world
The climate movement is growing. More people are aware of the dangers of the climate crisis and are motivated to take action. For us working tirelessly towards a sustainable, equitable world, the global transition to prioritizing people over profit can feel daunting, hopeless, and even unachievable. We make climate action our careers and many, too many, activists put their lives on the line in the name of Earth protection.
The climate movement may be growing, but ensuring its longevity will require us to keep imagining the world we want.
The tangible effects of climate change grow more evident as governments and institutions continue environmentally destructive practices. The growing climate justice movement goes against the hierarchies designed by Western systems. Our expanding voice leads to backlash from those who wish to continue the status quo. Climate justice advocates understand we have power and money against us, yet we persevere.
Climate Emotions – They’re Complicated
My love for wild animals, oceans, and trees grounds me. The natural world fills me with awe. When a butterfly lands on me, a bird sings outside my window, or a fish looks at me curiously, I find reconnection to our green and blue planet. I embrace the energy they transmit to me, recognizing it’s a universal energy that ties us all together. These moments overflow my soul with wonder and bliss, and I think, “I never want this to end.”
At the same time, the moments of stillness are filled with heartbreak. I also notice the butterfly struggling to cross the road, trash near the bird outside my window, or the lack of fish in once-abundant oceans. We are witnessing the loss of lives, human and nonhuman, knowing it could have been prevented. And this is not acceptable. Mixed emotions combine, mix, and sort themselves out in the only way I know how: taking climate action.
Macaw spotted in the Amazon. Photo by Tania Roa
What Hope Looks Like
In my TEDx talk, I discuss my interpretation of “Ego vs Eco.” The transition from an egotistical mindset to an ecological one requires key principles:
- Equal
- Coexist
- Open-hearted
A peaceful, regenerative, and just world is only possible when we see all people as equal and all species as equal, when we coexist with one another and all living things, and when we open our hearts to the environmental solutions surrounding us.
The transition will also require key ways to take action:
- Educate
- Collaborate
- Organize
Education about ecosystem restoration and sustainable living inspires people to get involved. Collaboration, community, and partnerships nurture our growing movement. Finally, we’ll need to organize to transform the systems that led us to the climate crisis in the first place, including the patriarchy, human hierarchy, and racial discriminatory practices.
Ways to Take Climate Action
- Education requires learning and unlearning. Seek out slow media focused on environmental and social justice. I enjoy YES! Magazine, Slow Factory, and Mongabay.
- Collaboration signifies deep community. It can include working at nonprofits, volunteering with local organizations, and participating in youth-led campaigns on social media. Find your online or offline community today by searching for climate justice-focused organizations near you.
- Organizing looks different for everyone. My favorite tools for mobilization are words. I share stories of climate solutions through written or oral pieces. Understand what skills or talents you can offer, then search for ways to use them. If you’re an adventurer, invite underrepresented individuals on your outdoor excursions. If you’re concerned about mental health, host safe spaces for people to discuss their climate emotions. The opportunities are endless.
Together, we are the hope.