For those of us who care about the Arctic, polar bears, and the impact of global climate change on communities, it can sometimes feel as if we’re being overwhelmed with relentlessly bad news.
If you’ve ever felt your hope begin to fade from time to time, don’t worry: you’re not alone. Our chief climate scientist, Flavio Lehner, says that he sees what he calls “climate despair” in his students at Cornell University.
But, he notes, while understandable, such despair can be paralyzing.
“We can’t afford for these young people to start out their careers with such a mindset,” he says. “Instead, we need constructive optimism to help bring about the changes we need.”
The good news is that the situation is far from helpless; and we truly can make a difference.
Sensible steps, big change
I remain hopeful, but not in a magical or abstract sense. My definition of hope is a verb. There are many, many ways in which all of us can contribute, and being hopeful primes us to look for those collective solutions that will reduce our energy use, and shift our societies to renewable energy. It all starts within our communities, and our impact can be exponential.
Lean into your skills and interests. You are going to be able to have a larger impact by taking action in an area that you are passionate about and brings you joy.
Find your sphere of influence. Think about home, work, school, and your community. Can you influence the workflow or identify areas of inefficiency? Are you in a decision-making position that could impact the way you do your work or purchasing at your job? Is there a community solar project you can rally support for?
Talk about climate. Research tells us that a majority of people are concerned about climate change, but they are self-silencing because they’re convinced they have the minority opinion. If we can empower the majority who are already concerned to start talking with their friends and families, we can continue to turn the tide on this misconception and really start mobilizing for change.
In other words: instead of worrying about what we can’t control, we should concentrate on what we can. In the words of marine biologist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something”.
In so doing, she says, we not only nourish our own joy, we restore our sense of hope. And hope, she explains, “is a motivation for a better world. It won’t be a perfect world, but it will be filled with beauty and wonder.”
We can come together to address climate change, and keep working so that sustainable choices are the easier choice for more people. It is all of us as a collective that will move the needle, and the power in that keeps my hope alive.
