How you feel about the climate crisis matters as much as what you do
Is something missing in those climate reports?
Over the last week, I spent some time learning about the adaptation agenda at COP27, and reading the recently released Global Adaptation Gap Report 2022 and briefing paper by the World Economic Forum on Critical Business Action for Climate Adaptation.
As you would expect, those reports speak the language of policy and business. They include statistics, estimates of the damage, and the amount necessary to cope with the impacts of the climate crisis. Their tone is dry and detached. Those reports are supposed to be like this but they miss an important aspect. What will those scenarios feel like, in practice? What will they mean for our lives? When I bring those scenarios to life in my imagination, I see a different picture.
I see people losing their homes. I see many forced to uproot their entire family. I see us living in constant uncertainty. Those reports might not be able to quantify the trauma the climate crisis provokes and will provoke, but we need to acknowledge its importance and impact.
Emotions drive action, and we need action. Now.
Emotions are a catalyst for action
In her inspiring Ted Talk, Renée Lertzman, PhD, underlines how we first need to acknowledge and work through the pain and fear before we can discuss how to prepare and adapt.
Think about the last time you turned to your friend or partner for comfort, during a difficult period. After opening your heart and sharing your problem, they nod and say, very matter-of-factly: “It's simple; you need to do A, B, and C.”
How would you feel? Understood? Listened to? I bet not. Would you follow their advice? I'm not sure about that either.
We must create space to explore and acknowledge our emotions to transform inaction into action. But how do we do that? One solution is to join a climate circle.
This is a safe virtual space to share and process emotions around climate change. I attended my first circle this week, organised by One Resilient Earth. I won't and can't share the experience of others, but I can share mine, although I appreciate it may not resonate with you.
I entered the session with curiosity, but as soon as the facilitator explained the structure and rules, I started to feel uncomfortable. My chest got tight. I felt trapped in this session deliberately designed to confront all my feelings about the climate crisis. Why did I sign up for this? Should I leave earlier? Suddenly I didn’t want to be here, but I decided to resist, breathe, and stay.
When sharing my fears, I couldn't name them. I realised how keeping myself busy allows me to avoid my emotions. I cope with my climate anxiety by being a human doing rather than a human being.
I felt uncomfortable because I paused to feel. I couldn't name my fears, but I could recognise myself in those expressed by the other participants. From how alienating it can feel when you spend time with your family and friends, and they act and talk like nothing is happening. How bringing up the topic of the climate crisis makes you feel like the worst party pooper in this world. Sometimes, we dream of owning an off-the-grid house to ensure our loved ones and we are safer than in a tiny apartment in the city. Hearing the struggles and dreams of others gives validity to your own feelings. You realise you are not alone.
The power of the circle lay in carving out some space to reflect, feel, and transform fear in connection by seeing yourself in others.
Yet, I recognise that being able to stop and reflect is, in itself, a privilege. Many people don’t have the advantage of accessing a space that gives them insights, energy, and hope. We should make this possible for more of us if we want to see a positive impact at scale.
Learning to take care of ourselves and others
As Susanne Moser writes in All We Can Save, "Burnt-out people aren't equipped to serve a burning planet". On a similar note, Krista Tippett shares the following thoughts in this episode of her On Being Podcast:
"If this is the work of the rest of our lifetimes, we have to honour and protect space and time for staying well, for staying whole. And that means we have to surround ourselves with others who can help us carry love, trust, and hope for weeks, months, or years when that's too much for us to ask of ourselves."
Learning how to take care of our and others' mental health in this climate crisis will be essential. During the United Nations' COP27 Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, a new initiative called COP² was launched.
COP² stands for Care Of People x Planet, a global network of organisations converging intersectional learning, science and lived experience to improve people's ability to endure and adapt to trauma, vulnerability, and change. Together with the UN campaign Race to Resilience, they aim to strengthen the psychological resilience of 4 billion people by 2030.
Seeing initiatives at this scale gives me hope, as does training my mind to experience joy in everyday moments. Exposing myself to the climate crisis has expanded my range of feelings in both directions. I can almost simultaneously experience deep sorrow and the incredible joy of simply being in my bed and feeling safe.
Main takeaways
Reports and policy documents should recognise the invisible toll of the climate crisis, which includes a mental health pandemic.
Any form of climate action should start with making space for our emotions around the planetary crisis.
Learning how to foster our own emotional resilience and take care of ourselves and others is climate action.
Useful resources
For our monthly Lunch & Learns I compiled a list of key concepts, resources, interesting people to follow that can help you to foster emotional resilience. Check it out here.
