Written by 2022 Called to Climate Action student leader, Kaelyn Howe
Anybody who cares about the climate crisis has most likely also felt the suffocating effects of “climate anxiety”, a recently-coined term that encompasses the fear and overarching sense of doom that many of us feel when we think about the future given what we know about the state of our planet.
As a part of the “Climate Generation”, I have grown up feeling the weight of our planet’s illness. In elementary school, we celebrated Earth Day by taking field trips to the overflowing landfill. In middle school, we learned about the limited access to water for rural Africans and simulated the long walk to water faced by hundreds of millions of our kind. In high school, we listened to the words of world leaders, scientists, and even a Swedish woman younger than ourselves who warned of a limited timeline to solve the climate crisis. Now, as college students, we have been inundated with images of devastation due to climate change and the catastrophic future we are headed towards, if not already living in. It is no wonder we question why we should work hard in school, find a job, or even have kids…why contribute to a future we are assured we will never see?
But this unpredictable future is not the full picture. While it often feels naive to feel hope for a bright future, it is imperative that we shift our mindset from one of defeat and despondency to one of optimistic determination. The window of hope is still open and it is up to us to climb through it.
In entering this summer internship, I harbored a lot of anxiety along with my excitement to work for Iowa Interfaith Power and Light. I was honored to have the opportunity to learn more about the issue, amplify my voice as well as those that are less heard, and take longer strides toward a brighter future. However, following my background as part of the Climate Generation, there were also countless grim feelings that had seeped between this enthusiasm.
What if nobody listens to me?
What if it’s too late?
What if I do everything I possibly can and it is still not enough?
While these feelings and thoughts should not be ignored, there are many tactics we can use to combat them and push ourselves out of paralyzing fear and into a state of hopeful action. Through personal practice, the advice of our empathetic and experienced advisors (Irene and Alli), and some digging on the internet, here is what I have come up with as the most realistic and helpful tools in alleviating climate anxiety and replacing it with optimistic anticipation for our future:
- Learn: Sometimes it feels like the more we know, the more daunting the future becomes, but if we can frame our research around promising new developments in climate action, we can become more assured of a viable future
- Act: If I was anxious about a soccer game, even if we were facing a fierce opponent, one of the first things I would do is practice. It is not different here. Worried about the climate crisis? Start small with something you can do right in the moment: go pick up some trash in your neighborhood, plant native plants in your yard, or take some time sorting through your family’s recycling bin. Practice!
- Visualize: What will your world look like when you accomplish everything you would like to accomplish? I visualize a world where we all eat locally-grown fresh produce, practice loving adoration for our environment, and eliminate financial worry and greed.
- Share: Lean on those around you. You are not alone in feeling these difficult feelings. Have a conversation with your best friend, your boss, your therapist, or even your dog. By voicing your worries, you open the door to receive comfort and assurance. It is in each other where we will find hope and resilience.
- Take a break: Finally, remember that self care is immensely important when it comes to being a long-term climate activist and avoiding burnout. We have all heard the saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” but it is hard to internalize the reality that sometimes the thing you need to do is nothing. Relax, replenish, and rejoice in the gifts of the present moment.
Kaeyln is one of three of Iowa IPL’s summer 2022 Called to Climate Action student leaders. You can learn more about our students in their own words by visiting their introductory blog post.