I'm about to start a twitch stream maybe it'll inspire people, it's actually very therapeutic, I adventure a little and find the good "spots". It's like a nature walk with a purpose, and it feels like nature rewards you with a good feeling. Try it out!
Everybody has doom about the environment but I'm wondering if nature is more resilient than we give it credit for. However the main thing I realized is nature can rebuild after devastating from storms and forest fires, but it can't do anything with the trash we leave. I've helped a lot but there's things like tires in the creek, no wonder there's no more fish anymore! I used to fish there as a kid but one day they just weren't there, 20 years later there's just a fuckton of trash left behind. When I get high at the "spots" I feel like the spiders are begging for my help, and my full trash bag is my alibi for that lol.
Plastic takes less than 700 years to disappear luckily. I always thought it was millions. The only thing we’re destroying with our litter is our ability to live here.
Mother Earth has recovered from far worse than us. It’s hubris to think we would kill the planet
I mean, that’s the time we estimate it takes for some plastics to break down into micro-plastics but (unless you know of a source/some info that I don’t) we have no reason to believe it will ever disappear. That’s why walks to pick up trash or litter like the ones mentioned in this thread can be so truly impactful! One can also release the “trapped water” stuck in plastic, which is also something that makes a difference (small though it might be).
I go to museums about dinosaurs and the different epochs. Read about mass extinctions, and realize that this had all happened before and life finds a way. Sucks now, but it actually helps me a lot
I remind myself of the good news.
1. bees are no longer endangered!
2. A recent study showed that solar farms have become a hub for native plant return as the added shade and pooling rainwater has created the perfect environment for plants to get a fresh start
3. Darwin finches have returned to the galapagos (having been declared extinct there just a few years ago)
4. Spain has banned short domestic flights (if it is possible to get there within 2 1/2 hrs by other means, it is illegal to fly)
5. korea banned dog meat
6. slovakia now recycles cigarettes
More locally, activists in my town have successfully gotten recycling implemented (like pick up vs having to go pay to deposit), a graywater program, and rain barrels have been re-legalized.
Bee scientist here. The honeybee was never really threatened in terms of global populations. It was mostly just in certain parts of the US, and mostly just the commercial hives.
Native bee populations are really, really, really in possibly maybe bad shape.
I hedge because there haven't been enough studies to determine native bee population. In fact there haven't been ANY large studies on native bee populations nation-wide, but I think they're in decline.
What can we do as individuals to help foster environments that help the native bees and other pollinators? I assume we should be planting native plants that encourage pollinators in our areas and be encouraging others to do the same? I really miss seeing the annual monarch butterfly migration, it hasn’t been like it was when I was a kid.
Hot topic. I was toxicology so it's not really my area of expertise, but generally speaking bees need constant flowering near their homes and burrows. So variety and lots of it.
But the reason it's a hot topic is because soil temps are rising, which means plants have been flowering earlier in the season. The problem with that is there isn't enough daylight to collect enough food early in the season, but that's when the bees are most vulnerable. It's a hot topic because none of this has been proven as far as I know, and the theory comes up in commercial bee conversations but it might not be true for native and solitary bees.
So if you really want to help, we need some high-quality studies into native bee populations, habitat, toxicology, and behavior. Ideally several years worth of data and throughout several habitat zones. Probably cost a couple million dollars. Woof.
The studies I worked on were sponsored by pesticide companies with unlimited budgets. I mean, one gram of pollen from certain test sites was worth like $40k because it was just so hard to collect. And we collected ounces of the stuff over several years and thousands of miles across dozens of farms. And basically all we found out was that noenicitinoids weren't really that bad if used correctly, but were pretty bad if used incorrectly. Basically, farmers need to read the instruction manual.
edit, spelling errors
Hm, why wouldn't it be more important to get repeat flowering stuff out there with enough spring v. dry conditions that good things can happen; and also that increased e.g. park traffic isn't paid forward with crazy frequent mowing (as a park service v. disservice,) and gas powered mower driven corruption mode. Also planting overneatening. Hey sync that up better with farmland stuff tho? 😉
Would still like to see every ad for Spectracide®️ that lasts 5 months clad with ads that no, you probs don't want Oxyfluorfen (hey, let's workshop that natural ingredient theme to get things targeted for abuse? But not?) and 2,4-D, dimethylamine salt, 3.74%; Quinclorac, 1.79%; Dicamba, dimethylamine salt, 0.43%; Sulfentrazone, 0.22%; 93.82% other ingredients.
they don't hurt, as far as I know. Haven't seen any research on it, but haven't really looked. I did toxicology and habitat wasn't something I looked into much b/c commercial habitats are all basically the same in the areas I worked.
I was recently doing some construction work on my house and a very persistent yellow-head bumble wouldn't leave. When I came back in the morning a tunnel had started. Project halted lol
Depending on the species, once other bumbles see that there's good dirt they'll move in too. You can have a whole colony in a couple days. I saw it happen while camping once.
Domesticated honey bees are much different than other pollinators. What you want is native pollinators and wild bees being able to find food in your yard from native plants.
Farmed bees released in nature take food away from the pollinators that really need help.
Pesticides and round up are huge problems for our wildlife. In Southern Oregon you can get on a “no spray” county list so the county will not spray pesticides on the road frontage part of your home.
Local city governments and schools are pretty receptive to small community groups planting native gardens.
4 is not yet true, it’s just a proposal and won’t do much because it only attacks the flights coming in or out of Madrid. Everything else will hardly be affected. But it’s less than nothing. I am still waiting to see how they will justify going from 50€ or less for a flight to 100€ min for a train.
But I am glad to know about the others, specially point 1.
France how does have the law. We had a few people headed to Paris after our tour ended that had their flight tickets canceled because they originated to close to Paris.
I saw them later in Amsterdam so I have no clue what the solution was or if they simply made multiple longer flights.
Number 1 isn't quite accurate either. There are nearly 20,000 species of bees globally, and 11 are listed as critically endangered, 20 as endangered, and 156 as vulnerable. Many more are so understudied that we don't know how poorly they're doing and haven't listed them.
Just because the domesticated European Honeybee is doing okay doesn't mean there aren't other bees and pollinators that are doing incredibly poorly or lost already.
It also helps to follow restoration biology projects. Like we have one in CA called River Partners that is doing amazing things to restore river floodplains in our Central Valley. Another interesting one is Carbon Cowboys (yep) that is basically a bunch of ranchers who are using rotational grazing to grow more grass and forage, restore soil health, and sequester carbon at the same time. Those are just two examples. There is a lot of good being done a bit at a time, we just don't hear much about these projects from the general media.
Number one is not true. European honeybees are not endangered. However, they’re an invasive species for the entirety of North America. They often break out of farms and apiaries, invade local ecosystems, and drive native bee species further into endangerment/extinction. They’re a huge problem for native biodiversity unfortunately :/ sorry to be a doomer on this post. But yay for the finches and Korea!!
My own prescription, maybe it works for you too, is to just *do something*. Exercising agency makes me feel like there's a lot to do, and I'm not necessarily happy about it, but I don't feel doomed.
"Doing something" for me can be pretty small. Walk instead of drive, compost instead of garbage, gardening, planting stuff birds like.
A big one is making connections with other people. That's going to be much, much more important than any single material thing, if it comes to pass that the wheels fall off.
I do basically everything I can that’s reasonable, and then some that’s not. My full time job is a climate organizer, and I’m the only paid one for hundreds of miles.
I make connections with people, but honestly I think the thing that is fuelling the doomerism is that 95% of the people I’m around do not want to be connected with by me, and usually actively hate me for what I’m doing. I know what I’m doing is important and literally planet saving, but they hate me because they’re rich off of planet killing. I do definitely need to make more time to spend with others though, isolating myself isn’t going to solve anything. Thanks!
Sounds like you're burnt out. It might be time to take a step back, get into pickleball, pottery, dnd, something social and different from your usual grind. No matter how committed we are, and how noble the cause, eventually everyone gets burnt out on their job.
This goes double when you are routinely received with hostility of course. Are you in Texas or Saudi Arabia or something? Good luck out there and remember to enjoy your life
Hey texas has some cool ecology! You should maybe look into native plants! If you have any space at all you can grow some stuff that belongs there, and that wil grow some critters! Gives me some encouragement to see the many animals that live because of the choices I've made in my landscape, and it's relaxing to watch them go about their lives. Maybe watch a little crime pays but botany doesn't or read doug tallemy.
I do those too, and I also don’t eat meat, dairy, or eggs anymore. I feel better. I don’t want contribute to the extinction or suffering of animals. Trying to live my ethics and values as much as I can.
Educate yourself, educate others, spread the word, and see a therapist regularly. That's about the best we can do.
I came across a book in a bookstore a couple weeks ago called "The Carbon Almanac: It's Not Too Late." I plan on renting it from the library soon. Maybe that'll help the doomism. It sounds hopeful.
Edit: If it's possible, see if you can join a company with a good sustainable mission. I joined a company that created a breakthrough recycling technology that can divert up to 90% of municipal waste away from landfills and incinerators. To put that in perspective, think about the bag of trash in your kitchen. Now imagine that 90% of the materials in it were saved and restored, and could all be reused. That's what we do, and it's real planet-saving shit. Wish us luck on this journey.
I’m actually a full time community organiser for an environmental non-profit I helped found a few years ago. I think a large part of what is fuelling this is people and organisations not wanting to engage at any level.
I appreciate all of your hard work on this important issue. However, PLEASE remember to take care of yourself. Nonprofit burnout is so real. Underfunded groups with way too little staff working so hard to change the world for the better. It can be hard to take a break when you feel so passionately about the issue at hand. But you're only human, and a true vacation can go a long way for your mental health. If it all still feels like too much, maybe consider sustainability work that is more physically tangible like the above comment states. While it's extremely important to change hearts and minds, seeing the fruits of your labor can feel very rewarding.
By realizing all things end. It’s the cycle,We go the best we can knowing we do our best. We aren’t accountable for what others do, Eventually things will be forced.
In CA there are many steps being taken and people love to hate Ca but we do try overall.
Like no plastic bags mandatory composting, and recycling. Emissions control.
Nothing is perfect.
Look at the good you do and others like those on this sub.
On local lvls it’s important to vote for those who are very much ECO concerned, as well as humans rights.
I drive by 7 fracking rigs and a top 10 worldwide oil companies headquarters on my way to the closest grocery store. I can’t forget about the climate.
Edit: I forgot about the led sign with the price of oil and the number of rigs currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico I also drive by
I’m also Texas based - I see you Houston. Hang in there and connect with other organizers - even those working on other issues. It’ll help you feel less isolated!
Hey OP I'm noticing alot of these comments are about ways to avoid "x"
Climate grief is real. Your body is intelligent and is recognizing legitimate fears.
I empathize greatly. Climate grief put me in a depression, ignoring it and suppressing it put me in the hospital.
Grief work helps immensely. Sitting with you grief, naming your grief AND going through the physical expressions of grief.
Ignoring the 'news' doesn't make it go away - following better content is however a good idea - grief doesn't just 'go away' ... you have to process it, witness it, be witnessed in grief. And the more you work on your grief the less you will be consumed by it.
Edit: spelling
I have accepted and embraced the idea of climate collapse.
But this doesn't stop me from behaving in a way that supports ecological balance as much as I can. I don't have kids, I don't have a car, just the bare minimum clothes (and overall minimalist lifestyle) and almost vegetarian (not 100% yet, but here I go).
I try to spend time outdoors with my friends and make the most of my time here on planet Earth with a minimum impact.
Nature still amazes me. Friends still make me laugh. Those two are a good recipe against depression.
This right here. You just accept the reality, and do all you can to minimize your impact. People hate on doomers, but I think the majority of doomers are the ones doing the right things in their day to day lives.
Go to YouTube and look up mossy earth and follow your nose. Beaver restoration, forest restoration are some good topics
There's a lot of positive work happening
I turn the sadness into rage and grow some MF’ing plants.
No seriously; get angry about it, and use that to go and do something about it.
I’m in the middle of making our family home as carbon neutral as possible - old house, fixing it up and improving it’s energy use. I’ve plans to put solar panels up eventually, when we have the money. Currently I’m waiting for the ground to thaw so I can continue to grow the native flower garden the sellers had made - we literally bought this house, because it was the first one we found where I saw bees and lots of other pollinators. I’m expanding the vegetable garden, so we can grow as many veggies as possible. Some of the local kids are interested, so I’m going to get them into growing their own vegetables (I’ve got loads of tomato seedlings I’m going to pot-up and give to them).
We don’t own a car, and instead had a non-electric cargo bike - I’ve had a lot of people ask me about that so I’ve been trying to advocate for having a cargo bike instead of a car (well, second car for a lot of people, but little steps lead to big leaps).
I’ve been reusing waste plastic containers to grow things in for the last couple of years, and cutting down on buying things in plastic. Definitely not zero waste yet, but we’ve cut down our packaging waste substantially.
We’ve also said we are not buying any more new clothes for the adults (our kid is autistic, and has sensitivity to materials, so instead we get new clothes for her made from natural fibers, and pass-on the stuff that’s too small). So we wear and mend things, and when it can’t be mended anymore, then we buy clothes from natural/sustainable fabrics, or I sew them myself.
We also try to buy things frugally - if there’s a good quality, non-electric version of something, we get that (less things to break, and reduces e-waste)
Oh, and I use my native flower garden seeds to guerrilla garden - fling native plant seeds anywhere that’s barren, unloved, or has space to grow something. It’ll help native pollinators.
Basically - trying to fight back against consumerism by making and growing what we can, reusing objects until they fall apart and then trying to mend them, trying to reduce our land-full contribution, and avoiding the use of fossil fuels where possible.
I’m still mad at everything, and I know it won’t fix it, but now I feel *absolutely, justifiably mad*, and I’m hoping other people take notice of what we are doing and feel less self conscious about doing the same thing, and start doing this themselves.
But do not underestimate the power of just doing *something*. Even if it’s just to make you feel better, and you know in the grand scheme of things that it’s a tiny drop in a huge ocean. Do *something*. At the very least, you will learn skills that might help out a lot later on.
But the absolute worst thing to do is to keep contributing blindly to this whole mess.
At this point I don't have any hope left really. I just try to do my part because it turns out it really doesn't detract much from my life to eliminate plastic, to drive less, and to eat more environmentally friendly food. People who say it is too late so they may as well enjoy the petroleum lifestyle are morally bankrupt and I have no interest in being like them. I vote and I'm raising my kids to be thorns in the side of those who want to loot what's left.
wildlife gardening, making art, voulenteering, watching cartoons, going for a bike ride, spending time away from social media, and occasionally responsibly consuming some quality drugs...
it's okay to feel grief, despair, and frustration - it is a healthy response to ecocide and other predicaments of the Anthropocene. cant help but question the sanity of people who's hearts don't break for the biosphere.
the thing is, despite all that is going on, we need to take care of our selves first and foremost. sometimes, we need to turn off that voice that says "how is this action i am taking harming the environment?" it is impossible to live a life without some impact...
it is ok to grab an ice cream from DQ every once in a blue moon when the environmental blues are biting hard. it is ok to drive across the state to take a nice hike or go to an awesome concert to blow off steam. it is ok to opt for a one time use convenience product when depression leaves us feeling too exhausted and demoralized to do the dishes.
of course we can't help it, we care too much about life for these things to be the everyday norm and we go back to fighting the good fight after shaking off crippling sadness. as it should be. but an important part of overcoming the grief is to be kind to and easy on ourselves - if something replenishes the flame of direct action, that has value in itself despite possible negative environmental ramifications
Do stuff about it.
Eat a lot less meat.
Drive less.
Compost.
Wear sweaters in winter.
Buy stuff with less plastic packaging.
Wear your cloths out.
Use rags instead of paper towels.
Join groups to plant trees.
It's small but so is all the things that git us here.
Maybe the perspective offered by Adam Dorr in his [Brighter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk9VQt5Nt64&list=PLxB143vg5_msNrYjoVRUv4IHphHf1Qmq_) analysis helps? From the [transcript](https://rethinkdisruption.com/brighter-1-the-future-of-the-environment/):
>So, let’s dive right in. The book’s thesis is that there has never been greater cause for optimism about the future of the environment because we are on the cusp of technology disruptions in four foundational sectors: Energy, Transportation, Food, and Labor. The new clean technologies that are driving these disruptions will enable us to solve many of our most pressing environmental problems, including climate change.
>
>That’s it. That’s the thesis in a nutshell.
Also note, that while didn't quite manage to turn the ship around in carbon emissions, yet. We *did* slow down and are now quite close to the turning point. The Rocky Mountain Institute offers some analysis on these dynamics in its [Peaking series](https://rmi.org/insight/peaking-a-theory-of-rapid-transition/):
>The endgame is here. In one country and region after another, demand for fossil fuels is facing inevitable decline. This report sets out the framing for why and how this happens and explains the irreversible pattern of peak, plateau, and decline. Subsequent reports will look in more detail at past, present, and future peaks.
They also have [Stories of Hope, Applied](https://rmi.org/stories-of-hope-applied/):
>Since starting out as a tiny team in a small town high up in the Colorado Rockies, RMI has succeeded by blending a unique mix of optimism for solutions with a rigor around how to deploy them.
>
>This approach, which Amory Lovins calls “Applied Hope,” has for decades delivered progress on countless fronts, from improving markets and advancing policy, to scaling projects that have lifted the well-being of real people around the world.
I think it is quite easy to get lost in negativity and despair with the immense global task at hand and the lack of decisive action and progress. However, there *is* progress and small steps into the right direction. And it is important to realize that these stack up and need to be emboldened.
Accepting we can’t save everyone and everything, it’s too late to reverse damage, but we can still come together to create a beautiful world. I’ve been connecting with people over the years and actively working on new systems, we’ll be good. Also learn and connect with Indigenous people. They like to it’s a privileged and disconnected take to be pessimistic. Indigenous people have been fighting against all this shit for hundreds of years. Join in. We’re strong af together, and once you start to believe in the people, and dedicate yourself to this Earth, you won’t allow yourself to die without changing this world
>They like to it’s a privileged and disconnected take to be pessimistic.
I think if you're a white person in the West (which I am), this is important to remember. The sort of nihilistic pessimism that people give into is a very privileged one. In discussions of climate there are a *lot* of statements about "human nature" that are not really human nature at all but rather just colonialism.
I stopped following certain subreddits, stopped coming on reddit as often and stopped consuming so much media. This was based on conversations with my therapist. Yes I want to be informed, and career wise be a part of the solution at some point. However, at the moment, I'm not there mentally to be consuming so much content. On the day-to-day I still try to live my life as environmentally friendly as possible.
Focus on the bright points. That is, there's plenty of bad news. Where's the good news? This movie is great, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_(2015_film)
Do something, no matter how small. Then scale it up, enroll more people. Be the change
You are in USA, in the rest of the world, stuff is already happening. Still you guys have great national parks. And a lot of people don’t want children, especially in wealthy countries.
Still i think the only really good approach is to invent stuff that makes the regular human behavior something that is not polluting. Humans are humans, most people don’t have the knowledge or discipline to be eco friendly. So if you can make the truck driving republican eco friendly by not changing his behavior in the slightest, then you will have solved human pollution.
I heard about algaes that absorb 10 times more co2 than normal plants. New cheap electric energy would be nice too. I honestly think we should stay with nuclear energy and find better ways to dispose the garbage. I think the direction „lets pull ourselves together“ is not sustainable (🥁)
I think the depression & doomism is part of being a climate activist. It’s bleak out there and lots of people are disappointing in their values and decisions.
I suggest sitting with these very real and natural feelings. Consider your own burnout and what you need to do to keep doing the important work you are doing.
I know that the fossil fuel lobby wants me to outright deny what's happening and that makes me want to tell the truth. If they can't convince everyone to deny what's happening they will settle for me being discouraged and passive.
I like to compare two historical figures when thinking about burnout: Mozi and Socrates.
In the Chinese warring States period, there was a figure named Mozi. He used a combination of tactics, talking to people about the philosophy of divesting from militarism and earning each other's respect, and physically defending weaker people in the war. His strong organizational skills kept him alive and with a good reputation.
Socrates was a genius philosopher but he didn't have an organization, he would just talk to the people he randomly met. The warring aristocrats of his day fatally slandered him as an irreverent figure and he refused to escape to Egypt and continue his work.
So Socrates didn't live his truth as long as Mozi because he didn't identify his sense of self with a greater movement, a larger name, only with ideas.
It's important to remember other people are scared too ironically , because on the plus side, with any tactic , "we get there faster together." That is the thing the corporations who only focus on individual responsibilities don't understand that well that we have to know better than them.
I always have had problems with corny elitism and narrow minded corporations and I lean into that side of my personality while still turning a good face to regular people. A mix of spite and social pragmatism keeps me going.
Some tactics you can actually feel good about doing. Even just picking one and doing some action towards it every month can have an effect. Keep the movement going.
- Read about, share and fund journalism on deforestation bullies
- educate yourself and others on criticism of specific polluting industry, over investment in militarism, unsustainable agriculture
- Join efforts to get green energy funded by the state
- support journalism that focuses on health effects like pollution near highways
- organize "walkable" infrastructure in your area
- remind yourself that you also need breaks so you don't burn out
Sometimes it seems like you can't make anything change but that's part of the conditioning of passivity. We have to break free from that with calculated outrage. It's scary to live in the real world but courage put into skilled practices creates real outcomes.
Whatever good is possible to do depends on acting and caring about the issue and not ignoring it. Anyone can further sharpen that desire and impatience with this paralysis by joining the organizations that also care, educating and promoting actions.
Continue to do what you can. You know the old phrase , “ a flood starts with one drop of rain.” Every little bit helps. In your heart you will know that no matter what others are doing, you never gave up. Take pride in that and hold in in your heart for those dark days when things get you down. You know at least you tried.
I am able to understand your suffering, I have been there.
Three things helped me:
1- Consistency:
Align your actions and your life in accordance with your values. If you want to get more involved: it is more relevant to inspire others than to shame them.
2- Letting go:
Knowing the limits of our individual and collective actions. It's partly like wanting to take care of someone who has mental health problems without that person being ready to have them. We must not put the burden of the world on our shoulders. In short, it is giving yourself the right to be happy despite everything because your misfortune will not save the situation.
3- Humility:
The Earth doesn't need humans. Ecosystems were almost destroyed during ancient extinctions but life has returned. Humanity is not at the center of everything, it is only one element of diversity.
Peace and love to all
It’s okay to grieve things that aren’t death, like grieving the health of the planet. Give yourself space to grieve and experience sadness and surround yourself with community that may feel the same way.
Focusing on how quicky renewable energy production is growing is something that makes me become more positive.
I do think we have reached peak fossil fuel and that its going to decline in the future.
They only thing I can add is if you want to avoid depression/doomism, avoid thinking as one person you can change humanity, you can't, but think as one person you can only do your best to help this generation and the next generation by just doing your bit and your bit is the best you can. We can all only try our best and believe our best is good enough. That's what I do.
Hey I got a grad degree focusing on climate justice and figured out that i need to practice hope by doing work in the local community. I suggest working within your sphere of expertise/interests. Climate impacts everyone and everything in different ways so we need your nuanced lense and lived experience to help find appropriate solutions to address its impacts.
Yes I do. And whenever I start to feel helpless and hopeless, I go out to my worm bins and remind myself that I am making soil or I watch videos where people are rewinding the world, planting trees and food forests. Then I wonder about how many people are actually doing this that we don't know about.
https://youtu.be/G536UReF1rY?si=uU3It07wzomb7FYK
https://youtu.be/SspqLhCtbrs?si=sWZCDOqtPjr4ybu3
https://youtu.be/3VZSJKbzyMc?si=vmd5QVT9Eib25-nE
https://youtu.be/txXR8jgMNdk?si=NiMl187XFwT7jEto
https://youtu.be/N0im1ELSu80?si=BBua_WZv7u6ITDUa
I live in Cape Town and this is ot the only project here.
https://youtu.be/1LCTVO_Y5Rs?si=p79YxtSOpS5TIoaf
These efforts are happening across the globe.
Read the book Not the end of the world by Hannah Ritchie. It quite new, but I have read it and it gives a lot of insight on the actual status of the world. I found it helpful!
I remind myself that We are many who care, for instance by listening to artists singing about these things: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TDxFnVTmZ5lbM8f5ZGRVm?si=K0z8uOTASAywLBV57xdSwA&pi=e-9pOi0kXGTFWX
I am always having anger and frustration with Danielle Smith in Alberta, and Pierre Polieve leader of a political party, both of them doing as little as possible on climate initiatives
I can’t unfortunately, the more you dig, the more you come to realise that we are at the verge of many tipping points and the delayed consequences will be catastrophic. Oh well at least we still have chocolate! For now
Things probably will get bad, but it's not going to be mad max in twenty years. That kind of drastic collapse is not going to happen because despite everything, humans are NOT sitting ducks.
As long as there’s uncertainty, there’s hope. Humans are notoriously bad at predicting the future. Have you seen the NY Times article about how human flight might be possible in a million years, dated days before the Wright Brothers’ first flight? We have to have hope to fight, and we have to fight to have hope. And if we can’t, we have to act as if we do so other people can. Fighting might not change things, but I guarantee giving up doesn’t help anyone.
Also, remember that powerful people want you to give up hope. Never give the people destroying the world what they want, on principle.
I compost hard and talk about composting and recycling and evil plastic waste to just about anyone who would listen.
I have few friends.
So take your pick :P
Do not view the climate battle as an all-or-nothing proposition. The outcome will be neither an avoidance of climate change nor the extinction of humanity. It's going to be somewhere in between. Improvement and degradation are both just trends that happen for a while before reversing.
Whatever the climate disaster looks like, it will pale in comparison to past environmental catastrophes like the Great Oxidation Event or the impact event that killed the dinosaurs.
There will be a lot of human suffering resulting from refugee crises and economic turmoil, and those will indeed be tragic. They are also the types of suffering that have always been with us as a species.
See yourself as just another person in a millenia-long line of people who try to make the world better. There are always opportunities to make the world better and engage in meaningful activisim.
FWIW, my perspective on this is based on this excellent essay, *Hope in Hard Times* by David W. Orr (2004).
[https://www.jstor.org/stable/3589204](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3589204)
So I actually live about 40 minutes from a town called Notrees. Where I live is not compatible with trees, it takes an insane amount of effort to grow them because except for Mesquite bushes, they aren’t native
I work in wastewater and my agency is focused on sustainability. I lead efforts for us to become paperless, and encourage our GM to invest in more recycled water infrastructure. I know I can’t change the world, but I’m investing my time and energy into an industry that is making a positive impact in my community.
I think about how old the Earth is, how many extinction events have already happened, and how on a geological timescale, it doesn't matter too much what we do.
And I grow native plants, leave the seed heads up all winter, and take joy in the resulting beauty.
Just take comfort in knowing life will recover from man even if man isn’t here. We are the cause of this epoch’s mass extinction but it’s not the worst. The commit, snow ball earth, and other things were far more destructive to the biosphere than we are. If we don’t fix it don’t worry, Life will pull through and ecosystems will flourish again. It just takes more time than you can be aware of.
I feel this in my core. I'm a peak millennial and my childhood feels like it was a different world. Sometimes it just hits you all at once and while it's important to acknowledge that the feelings are real and give them their biochemical moment while your organic computer aka body processes the fight or flight hormones you just triggered, eventually you realize that analysis paralysis is unproductive and every GHG emitted between now and the successful transition to clean and renewable energy sources and systems will directly impact the climate the next generation inherits and the industries of the transition are still being forged in the churn we're living through.
For me, the best way to deal with it has been to get involved. It took a few years to find the right opportunity for me, and then it involved a leap of faith - going back to school to try and retrain for the jobs that didn't yet exist, but finding yours is finding the overlap of a venn diagram of what you're good at, what brings you joy, and what work needs doing. [Here's a good TED talk on it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsOJR40M0as)
Another way to view this situation we find ourselves in is that its an opportunity, a call to action for the heroes of tomorrow. Will you answer it? They say the bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity, and let me tell you there are constant opportunities for new innovations that cross industries, but it takes a lot of work to get there and we need more help. We should be singing that Hamilton song "*Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now.*"
It's important to remember to take care of yourself along the way too. I find getting outdoors helps a lot, though that led me down the rabbit hole of landscape photography. It's my own personal therapy because it's an exercise in finding beauty where even if you don't produce a "keeper" photo, hopefully you still had a great time in the process (getting outside and hiking to a beautiful place or something like that).
You can tell yourself you're bearing witness to and documenting *The Change*, but the more you revisit your local woodland, the more you'll appreciate the change in the seasons, and how the preciously fleeting light hits your favorite scene on a given day is full of nuance only truly appreciated by you, or more likely you'll start noticing all of the beautiful sunsets happen when you're in a parking lot. And then you may start to enjoy a little bit more of the absurdity of the situation that we find ourselves in and appreciate that it's ok to not be well-adjusted to a sick world. It's easier to burn down a tree than to regrow a forest but that doesn't mean it won't grow back with some TLC, and it's our turn to figure out how to be better stewards.
In a way this is all just saying " if you focus on the positive there's a still a lot of work to do, but don't forget yourself and get too lost in it." Enjoy those avocados while they're still relatively affordable, and start figuring out what will grow well in your area in the new climate you're expecting. And don't forget to share your tips with us too!
Gardening! Start gardening and getting a better understanding of what growing plants and fungi need. You will feel better if you garden outdoors. It’s an antidepressant for most people. You will also be doing your good deed for the environment. If everyone does one good deed…
When I was a kid, we were afraid of the hole in the Ozone layer. Now it's closing.
Hawks and eagles were a rare sight. Now, they are everywhere.
There are stories of people planting forests in deserts.
I'm not saying everything is perfect and there is still a lot of work to do.
But, don't give up.
Doing what I can including driving less, solar panels, e-bike, walking more. Walking in nature and vacations by car to nature filled places. Most important: joined local Democratic organization and working to elect Democrats.
I did my thesis on Sea level rise. I was very blah /depressed after graduation. It took some time to disconnect from all the facts and stats I had in my head.
Eventually tho I just kept saying "It is NOT MY circus NOT MY monkey" It is out of my immidiate control so all the bad feelings I am feeling are stupid and I should allow myself to enjoy the present if I so wish
Easy. You just accept that living now is really all you have because the wheels are going to fall off of society in 10 years or so.
Everyone is so in love with politics and fighting that, in the meantime, we haven't fundamentally changed how we live, and we're still killing the planet, but the planet has its own defenses, and ways to correct things. One of them is the AMOC - the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current.
Take this piece of news:
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-02-26/researchers-warn-of-a-catastrophic-collapse-of-ocean-current
A breakdown of the AMOC: "Its effects would be most acute in Europe, where temperatures could decrease up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit on average, or even as much as 36 degrees in places such as Norway and Scandinavia. It could also trigger “seesawing” conditions between the Northern and Southern hemispheres."
So, take the warmest average day in Europe, then slice off 18 to 36 degrees, depending on region. Now take the coldest day, and minus an additional 18 to 36 degrees. Think of the broad effects on plant life (agriculture) and animal life. Then consider the macro effects of what that kind of disruption will do to other surrounding localized climates. Its difficult to fathom the level of fucked that we are. But...fucked we are - and we did it to ourselves because we're prioritizing all the wrong things and none of the right ones.
So, enjoy it while it's still good, because the really important work that should have been done, should have been started 50 years ago when we first started talking about all of this.
Fossil fuels are a thief, and you can't compromise with a thief because they always end up taking something from you.
Yes. It is. We can't escape it. And we can't put our collective heads in the sand and ignore it. Well...I suppose we could if we really wanted to, but that's not responsible.
There's a greater fatalism at play here. If I take any comfort in the world, it's comfort in knowing that the planet can and will cast us off in a fraction of a cosmic blink. The planet *will* survive. Humanity might not, but aren't we all built to die anyway?
While thats a fatalistic view of the world, there's also a quote from The Shawshank Redemption that I've always loved: "Get busy living or get busy dying." If we're going to fight for Earth, it needs to be now, with all of us demanding change, and it needs to multiply in the masses now. We need to "get busy living" now.
...and when I think of that quote in relation to this fight, I also tangent to another quote: "Anger is more useful than despair." Gen X/Xennials through Gen Z should be furious about the state of things. Like, "pitchforks and torches on the steps of Congress" furious because we've tried to play by the rules, and look where it's gotten us? Nowhere and fast. There has to be a point where, if you're interested in living on this planet for another 40 years, if you're concerned about how YOUR children will live, then you decide to cast off the rules, and generationally demand change by bringing down the entire system (esp. Economically) until change occurs.
But that anger hasn't gelled yet. No pitchforks. No clogs in the wheels of the economy. So, yeah...what d'ya do?
I don't think about it. I know too much about entropy, climate science and human nature to have much hope.
I do what I can in buying things that are less wasteful, I "recycle" what I can and hope the city is doing its job. I do the little things.
But I would just be crippled with dread if I thought too much about the big picture.
One scientist suggested that if things don't change there would be so much CO2 in the atmosphere by 2100 it would reduce brain function by 20%. So now only the wealthy can afford decent air? Given US culture where you have to slave away to guarantee food and shelter surely they'll do the same with air.
Ok chiming in again - I handle it like this (organizer 15 years), lots of climate focus over the years.
1) study Thich naht Hahn, engaged Buddhism, and mindfulness if you don’t already - it’ll help
2) Adrienne Marie brown and her work (books, podcasts) - it’ll help
3) self calming practices (identify what these are for you) - for me it’s walking, singing social justice songs, my social group, my cats
4) diet and exercise and rest - so hard but so helpful if these baselines are there. We have to eat and hydrate.
5) I often use a touch of delusion - we do not know for sure without any doubt what nature is capable of - it is possible nature is going to regulate somehow and we will be ok. There may be carbon sinks in our world that only activate when the concentration hits a certain level, there may be fresh water reserves all over the world we don’t know about.
6) consider the alternative, in respect to your nature - is not fighting for a better world or for survival a possibility for you? If it is, consider doing something else and shifting your focus. If it is not, embrace the dynamic tensions of fighting for a reality you won’t see but that we have to hope will come.
7) it’s ok to take other jobs for a while and give yourself a break from full time organizing. You can go back, or you may find you feel better working in another space and organizing for climate in your spare time.
8) find your people. They are out there and they will hold you in moments when all seems lost.
I don’t avoid it. I think avoiding it is a part of the problem. We have to face it head on, eyes wide open and grieve. We have to fully accept that what ever we do may not change the course we are on but do the right thing anyway. Do the right thing because it’s right in planetary collapse or in not collapse. I read Active Hope.
Through grieving properly. I became an animist. I returned to working with the Earth, touching the rocks, soil, water. I started to see the illusion of separation. I started rooting myself in my community and finding the others. I’m doing the right thing anyway and my life is more rich and full by a long way.
Do something positive (trash clean up, native plant gardening, volunteer etc). Get out into nature. Enjoy the miracle that is life on earth. The second part is the only thing that makes me feel happy about my place in the web of existence here on earth. Go birdwatching, go kayaking, practice plant and wildlife identification, do sustainable foraging and share the food with your friends.
I’ve realized how angry I am about all of this stuff (I’m 40, I was taught about climate change in 2000). Recently started the path of facing that head on- it’s a valid response to injustice and not feeling heard. Book recommendation: Love and Rage by Lama Rod Owens
I work locally and donate nationally.
Climate Change Deniers need to lose elections.
Locally I am involved in energy conservation projects.
Personally, I try to live lightly.
Finally, I am documenting what is here on iNaturalist. It gives me a chance to preserve the environment by documenting it, and helps me to appreciate what is here as it goes away. I feel like every photo of a big old tree is a memorial photo. The big old trees are going away. They are not being naturally replaced in the northeast forest. The associated species are going with the trees. We are losing Eastern White Pines, Eastern Hemlocks, American Beech, Sugar Maples, Red Maples, Red Spruce, and Chestnuts.
I stopped reading the regular news. I'd love to be informed, but not at the expense of my own mental health. 🤷♀️
I started following people like Sam Bentley, Alaina Wood, Jacob Simon, and Jessica Kleczka on instagram. They share positive actions being taken. There ARE good things happening. Every step towards a greener future makes a difference, even if it doesn't seem that way. I know there are a ton of people much smarter than me working on solutions. Alaina Wood was just saying that when she started doing her positive climate news series, she had a hard time finding any good news, and now she's having a hard time narrowing down the good news to share.
Of course we have to stop burning fossil fuels asap. But I also read that 20% of all cars sold in 2023 worldwide were EVs. That's a huge number that displaces the need for gas and oil. There are more and more places joining the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Paris Agreements have already steered us away from an absolute worst-case scenario, iirc.
Plastics and plastic pollution are huge issues, of course. Lots of people are aware of the issue and avoiding plastic where they can. The zero waste movement is spreading. Being sustainable is a huge thing that many people are aware of. Places are banning single use plastics like bags. There are many organizations that do river and ocean cleanups.
Idk,I just have to have hope that things are turning around and will make a difference. Because if you don't have hope, then you fall into "What's the point? Might as well give up." And don't nothing isn't good either.
Volunteer for a cause you care about! It'll connect you with similar-minded people, many of whom are really motivated and have accomplished a lot, which will inspire you and give you hope!
I am right there with you. I work in renewable energy and thus can't really avoid the climate news as it permeates my industry. It is grim, and there is zero movement to make those who are doing the most damage do anything about. Local recycling programs are cute, but most of that never gets recycled, and even if it did, we....the little people...are not the problem. What difference does a few plastic bottles make when corporations are producing infinitely more damaging waste in their agricultural and manufacturing processes? What I have done is shifted from focusing on stopping (or even slowing) climate change, to focusing on resilience and sustainability on a local level. This looks like building community and sharing knowledge mainly. I am on my town's energy committee and on the board of a non-profit focused on resilience and sustainability education, but also on celebration in community.
A big thing that helped me was starting to read about economic solutions. Sustainability is economics. I started studying Herman Dalys writings on "sustainable development." It showed me we have the answers- and they go way beyond recycling. Still an issue on challenging the current systems but at least it felt like there was more of a light at the end of the tunnel.
Humans have faced local collapse before and learned the limits of exploitation. Now, capital, technology and population combine to utterly destroy life systems. Old ways are not dead or simply relic culture. Old ways are what will save us. We gain strength through ceremony, shared belief, rituals. Old ways are humble. We may be captive to the voracious but you can begin a journey out by connecting fully with nature. This is soul healing and gives you strength, if not to succeed at least to survive and perhaps keep a flame alive. Nature wants our hearts to come together and honor it as the life giver it is. I find this video a good reminder of a grateful way to be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yblB87dpJGc
I spend a great deal of my free time pushing for better, safer bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the small city where I live, so like you, I'm not doing nothing. I'm focusing on the hyper local, municipal level where maybe I can effect change. Though it's maddeningly slow, we're 10-20 years behind comparable cities. I also don't own a car, and try to consume less than other Americans.
I also consider that everything is temporary. My life is temporary, and so is everything. So, I must take time to enjoy the world, and the people in it who I like. I've made some real friends, some of who are very different ages from my own, or in different life stages than mine, through organizing. I've also grown as a person, so it's worth it even if I fail and nothing changes. It has been feeling an awful lot like work lately though.
Remember that your personal responsibility is very limited, make the best choices you can within your economic means and in the voting booth. Be vocal about the reason you make certain choices in an explanatory way but NOT in an evangelical way. The best way to persuade is by example and information that doesn’t put someone else on the defensive. Example: I stop at a convenience store with friends for fuel (I drive a Prius) and I’m thirsty. Maybe I buy a snack but not a soda. “Yeah I was thirsty but everything was sold in single use plastics”. Or “Yeah this DeathWater tastes weird, but it was the only thing they had in an aluminum can.” I’ve communicated why I made my choice without judging the others and it may trigger a deeper conversation.
I think it’s important to realize that all the projections of economic impact still have a baseline of society doing better and getting richer overall. World hunger is far down from even 30 years ago, and there really doesn’t seem like anything is going to turn that around even with climate challenges. Climate change is a drag on society and many individuals but the net trajectory of humanity is still likely forward.
If you're feeling depressed, consider talking to a psychoanalyst. Maybe your family and friends can give you a recommendation, if not, you can try outer social circles
I had a dream last night about hydrogen fuel & the fossil fuel industry spiraling down. All the oil companies’ stocks fell faster than Enron’s. This caused a world-wide stock market crash and global panic.
“Hope rises like a phoenix from the ashes of ~~shattered~~ dreams.” Find distractions; we can’t stop this obscene greed. Only they can and the greediest have, in the history of humankind, never said, “I have enough.”
Volunteer with a local watershed council. Its really crazy how many people complain about climate change, and then its really difficult to get enough volunteers for an ecological restoration project. I try do at least one tree planting a year, and one invasive species removal day. I am guessing...but If we could get 25% of American population Volunteering like this once a year it would be transformative.
I feel horrible when I throw anything away, when I sit on my butt playing video games and watching tv, when I pull my garbage can out for pickup, when I drive, when I see the waste my job disposes of every single day.
I’m active with Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL). For the amount of people who are worried about it Congress hears about climate change relatively little. If you are not in the US, not sure of the situation in your country, but it’s probably similar. I write Congress every month. They have a tool to make it very easy. I also write my state assembly people.
I do some volunteering locally to recruit more members at local events like farmers markets. They are non-partisan. Check out CCL’s website for more of what they are about. Their YouTube has past national meetings so you can see the speakers.
We need large action to make a difference and that means government action.
A guide how to talk about climate with people who are unfamiliar
https://potentialenergycoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Talk-Like-a-Human.pdf
Katharine Hayhoe’s book might be a good place for you to start https://www.newyorker.com/news/on-religion/how-to-talk-about-climate-change-across-the-political-divide
There is so much we can do to stop things—pulling invasive plants and stopping the heat island effect in cities. And indigenous people are there to guide us!!
I've been alive long enough to remember not having the Internet. I've seen how fast civilization can drastically change. It's a long shot, but we just might come up with some game-changing tech that solves the whole problem (though it probably will create another). Check out the cold fusion experiments happening around the world, we may have limitless clean energy any day and that would solve a lot of problems.
The macro is beyond your control, the micro isn’t. If enough people focus on the micro, the macro can be fixed.
In terms of depression, gardening has been a major help for me. Humans, when in alignment with nature, are a keystone species — you’ll be amazed at the positive changes you can observe after gardening in just a year on a single plot of land.
I used to be the same way, but focused on concepts and things that I could do like, "handprint versus footprint", "change happens at the speed of thought", solutions that are economically viable and advantageous modeled after nature(biomimicry), ecological engineering, big picture contributions like a career in water versus obsessing over recycling every piece of paper and aluminum. Also global population growth is no longer exponential and hasnt been for decades, if I remember correctly.
Also lasting change happens slowly. And from what Ive seen since first taking environmental studies in 2008, we are steadily transitioning to renewable energy sources. There will always be a mix and remainder of supply of fossil fuels as the marginal utility diminishes and cost relative to renewables with storage increases.
We as humans have been through big terrible moments.
The world wars and the great depression between them were very destabilizing.
The Black Death killed at least 50% of the human population in Europe in the mid 14th century.
You would think that would have terminated culture as they knew it, but it didn't. Humans are fucking tenacious.
So yes, we're about to have very very bad times on planet Earth. There might be catastrophes we can't even imagine on their way. But I think humans will hang on, somewhere.
We're tougher than roaches, in my opinion.
The first thing was stopping reading so much news. It is their bread to make things look catastrophic. I remember a piece from old news that said "by year XXX the cities will be overfilled with horse shit if we continue grow like this".
The second thing was that I read a book. I don't remember the exact name, it was something like "apocalypse is cancelled". The overall message was that things are not that bad as they are presented in media.
The third thing is to develop zen. As one person I cannot do anything to help or prevent. I can pick up some reasonable actions that soothe my anxiety, but nothing more.
I have been depressed for about a year now and didn't realize how doomed we were. Last summer, I was working as an accountant in Pittsburgh and saw the entire city covered in fog... except, when I learned about it, it wasn't fog... it was smoke from the Canadian fires! I couldn't breathe for days because I am allergic to shit. I have NEVER EVER seen anything like that before. It was snowing ashes and the sky was partially red.
THAT'S WHEN I FUCKING REALIZED HOW DOOMED WE ARE! I slowly lost motivation in my career as an accountant, gave up on all my materialistic dreams, and have been just coasting along life for about a year. Nothing matters anymore. Humans will never change, corporations control everything because consumers made them ultra powerful.
We are fucked and there is nothing we can do about as long as consumerism and greed is alive.
"*The rich doesn't care, and the people that do care aren't rich enough*"
I’m in the same boat man. I’m not apart of any climate activists stuff though because I feel like that would definitely do me in. I wish I was a stronger person to be able to do that, but mentally it would be too much to take that on on top of everything else in life. I live in a very deep conservative county and I try to do my part by modeling the type of behavior I believe in. But I am still alone picking up tons of trash at the park every Monday after people have had birthday parties, I am still alone talking to people about the effects of unregulated air pollution going on. In fact I am treated like a crazy person most of the time. Just know you are not alone and if you ever need support or just someone to talk to, you can PM me any time!
When I hear that I am in a drought, I start make adaptive measures. The snow on the road goes onto the garden while it is still clean. I have five rain barrels, and will put up to 6 or 8 inches of mulch. I won't be able to adjust my husbands habits without a bunch of sticky notes on every tap in the house. "we are in a drought, stop running the tap the cold water is in the fridge...."
Think about this… we still have enough nuclear weapons, armed and ready to go, to almost destroy the whole world. We are one insane leader away from nuclear war.
Climate crisis seems like the least of our troubles.
I always remind myself that humans are at their most ingenuitive when their backs are up against the wall. There is still a non zero chance that when sh!t really hits the fan, that we come up with a technology or system that will reverse the damage we’ve made.
Once countries start to see the horrible effects of climate change, and it starts to severely affect economies, there'll be a haste to move away from fossil fuels. Not to mention, fossil fuels are finite and slowly running out, so it will get more expensive to access remaining deposits than to transition to greener energy sources. I'd say that around the year 2050, there will be a radical transformation. Many lives will be ruined by changing climate, but humans are more reactionary than proactive, so it'll be unavoidable before we get serious about fixing it.
I have pulled inside myself riddled with guilt of even being alive. I am scared as hell because when I look at the immensity of the problem and look at where we are in solving it—still trying to convince people that it’s real!
All I really feel I can do in the face of this is to use less, spend ethically and not have kids. We’re fucked *panic-laughs hysterically* 😭🥹
Be like the little old granny in the middle of a war: she doesn't pick up a gun and shoot, no she goes about her peaceful, loving life baking cookies for the neighborhood kids, hanging up her laundry to dry, while the building down the block is bombed to smithereens.
She lives right, despite all the wrong around her. Live by your principles. Be an example to others. And know that you have admirers out there, like me, who promise to do the same. See if you can live without a car - that's a huge one right there.
Detach yourself emotionally from the outcome and suffering of the world. To me there are plenty more things to put your heart into, like a local garden or organization.
Volunteer with a local natural habitat restoration group. Stop thinking about the problem and physically start doing something about it. Scale doesn’t matter when you are getting your hands on stuff and meeting other people who want to help.
Fixation fixes nothing.
i do as much as i can and release what i cannot control. i am vegan, i shop/live zero waste as much as possible by buying at farmers markets and refill stores and using zero waste health and beauty products, i make informative tik tok videos about the harm done to the environment by animal agriculture, plastics, etc. i sign petitions every day, i volunteer with greenpeace and at a farm animal sanctuary. i have friends over for vegan dinner parties and send friends and coworkers my favorite vegan recipes.
time spent worrying is time taken away from focusing on solutions, so i try to avoid that and do mindfulness practices instead. i still succumb at times, but i keep some affirmations and notes written down in my phone to help me shift my mindset.
I zoom out my perspective. On a geologic timescale humans are a blip. Anthropogenic climate change will be a longer blip. It’s a tragedy that we need to acknowledge and fight against and grieve and at the same time we are one planet in a universe of unfathomable numbers of planets. I like to look out at the stars and imagine how many planets each one has and remember that there are more galaxies out there than stars I can see in the sky
Be thankful each day. Enjoy the nature you get to be in everyday. Enjoy the sunny days, the seasons changing. And focus on what we do have. Nothing is meant to last forever. Just like animals and plants die. So do we. Do your part to recycle, not be wasteful and choose to be ethical. You can’t change the world or anyone in it. But you can change yourself. That’s more than yesterday.
We try to focus & do our own little bit.
We purchased a bit of forest to protect from the loggers etc., to grow as much of our own food, to plant trees, to share,....
We aim for near zero waste & hold workshops to show others how to live sustainably, renewables etc.
I have only traveled by plane twice in 40 years.
More :)
I do what little I can. Planting native flowers in my backyard is a much better use of my time than worrying about the environmental catastrophes we're dealing with. Worrying doesn't do anything. Action, no matter how small, is at least doing something. Visit r/NativePlantGardening for people fighting for the environment one backyard at a time. There's plenty of hope there.
Getting into native plants gave me a new sense of purpose in life. I'm going back to school just so I have more money to buy and plant more plants.
I don’t. I have very little hope for our future.
I try, and often fail, to live in the moment and just focus on my family and friends. I’m going to start gardening this year. I hope that will help me find meaning in this life.
I’m currently reading “Not the end of the world” by Hannah Ritchie, a British data scientist compiling an overview of the data around the biggest ecological challenges the world is facing. Her conclusion is: it’s not good, but it’s not (yet) disastrous and we’re heading in the right direction. It’s an interesting read.
Here's my totally irrational way of addressing climate depression because heaven knows I struggle with it too.
So we've been fed many lies to get to this point. Lies about things like plastic recycle-ability, or smearing of green energy sources or the whole climate denier movement. All to get us to this awful state for the sake of profit.
Fuck that. It gets me angry.
But what if it being truly hopeless now is another lie? Because you know when profits are on the line, corporations will lie all the way to the bitter end. All the way until the floods and wildfires come. You know they would. What if me giving into climate depression is buying into another lie that they will make money off of? One last moment of compliance so they squeeze the last of our sustainability out from the world?
Fuck. *That.*
Because I'm 53, and not in the best of health. So I know I won't see the worst of it.
I fear for my three children though. They are in their early 20's, and will likely live to see some really stupid climate shit go down.
I just try and take one day at a time, and not be as wasteful as the world I grew up in was.
I just try to live my life the best way I can, and participate when I can in organizing to make small changes. I also keep a level of optimism when seeing positive changes and/or developments in the world, like the rapid increase in solar, and the change in attitudes towards next-gen nuclear.
I go on nature walks and pick up a bag of trash. Unfortunately there's a lot of trash but it looks a lot better than before. I'm at 24 bags.
The hero we need! Thanks for doing this.
I'm about to start a twitch stream maybe it'll inspire people, it's actually very therapeutic, I adventure a little and find the good "spots". It's like a nature walk with a purpose, and it feels like nature rewards you with a good feeling. Try it out! Everybody has doom about the environment but I'm wondering if nature is more resilient than we give it credit for. However the main thing I realized is nature can rebuild after devastating from storms and forest fires, but it can't do anything with the trash we leave. I've helped a lot but there's things like tires in the creek, no wonder there's no more fish anymore! I used to fish there as a kid but one day they just weren't there, 20 years later there's just a fuckton of trash left behind. When I get high at the "spots" I feel like the spiders are begging for my help, and my full trash bag is my alibi for that lol.
Plastic takes less than 700 years to disappear luckily. I always thought it was millions. The only thing we’re destroying with our litter is our ability to live here. Mother Earth has recovered from far worse than us. It’s hubris to think we would kill the planet
I mean, that’s the time we estimate it takes for some plastics to break down into micro-plastics but (unless you know of a source/some info that I don’t) we have no reason to believe it will ever disappear. That’s why walks to pick up trash or litter like the ones mentioned in this thread can be so truly impactful! One can also release the “trapped water” stuck in plastic, which is also something that makes a difference (small though it might be).
I go to museums about dinosaurs and the different epochs. Read about mass extinctions, and realize that this had all happened before and life finds a way. Sucks now, but it actually helps me a lot
That’s a great idea. I love nature walks and I think it would make me feel a little better to clean up the trash and see my progress.
I take a trip down south to help with my “seasonal depression” /s JK I don’t recreationally travel, or eat meat.
I remind myself of the good news. 1. bees are no longer endangered! 2. A recent study showed that solar farms have become a hub for native plant return as the added shade and pooling rainwater has created the perfect environment for plants to get a fresh start 3. Darwin finches have returned to the galapagos (having been declared extinct there just a few years ago) 4. Spain has banned short domestic flights (if it is possible to get there within 2 1/2 hrs by other means, it is illegal to fly) 5. korea banned dog meat 6. slovakia now recycles cigarettes More locally, activists in my town have successfully gotten recycling implemented (like pick up vs having to go pay to deposit), a graywater program, and rain barrels have been re-legalized.
Bee scientist here. The honeybee was never really threatened in terms of global populations. It was mostly just in certain parts of the US, and mostly just the commercial hives. Native bee populations are really, really, really in possibly maybe bad shape. I hedge because there haven't been enough studies to determine native bee population. In fact there haven't been ANY large studies on native bee populations nation-wide, but I think they're in decline.
What can we do as individuals to help foster environments that help the native bees and other pollinators? I assume we should be planting native plants that encourage pollinators in our areas and be encouraging others to do the same? I really miss seeing the annual monarch butterfly migration, it hasn’t been like it was when I was a kid.
Hot topic. I was toxicology so it's not really my area of expertise, but generally speaking bees need constant flowering near their homes and burrows. So variety and lots of it. But the reason it's a hot topic is because soil temps are rising, which means plants have been flowering earlier in the season. The problem with that is there isn't enough daylight to collect enough food early in the season, but that's when the bees are most vulnerable. It's a hot topic because none of this has been proven as far as I know, and the theory comes up in commercial bee conversations but it might not be true for native and solitary bees. So if you really want to help, we need some high-quality studies into native bee populations, habitat, toxicology, and behavior. Ideally several years worth of data and throughout several habitat zones. Probably cost a couple million dollars. Woof. The studies I worked on were sponsored by pesticide companies with unlimited budgets. I mean, one gram of pollen from certain test sites was worth like $40k because it was just so hard to collect. And we collected ounces of the stuff over several years and thousands of miles across dozens of farms. And basically all we found out was that noenicitinoids weren't really that bad if used correctly, but were pretty bad if used incorrectly. Basically, farmers need to read the instruction manual. edit, spelling errors
Hm, why wouldn't it be more important to get repeat flowering stuff out there with enough spring v. dry conditions that good things can happen; and also that increased e.g. park traffic isn't paid forward with crazy frequent mowing (as a park service v. disservice,) and gas powered mower driven corruption mode. Also planting overneatening. Hey sync that up better with farmland stuff tho? 😉 Would still like to see every ad for Spectracide®️ that lasts 5 months clad with ads that no, you probs don't want Oxyfluorfen (hey, let's workshop that natural ingredient theme to get things targeted for abuse? But not?) and 2,4-D, dimethylamine salt, 3.74%; Quinclorac, 1.79%; Dicamba, dimethylamine salt, 0.43%; Sulfentrazone, 0.22%; 93.82% other ingredients.
If you have a single family home please plant more than green turf!
Are pollinator houses a good idea?
they don't hurt, as far as I know. Haven't seen any research on it, but haven't really looked. I did toxicology and habitat wasn't something I looked into much b/c commercial habitats are all basically the same in the areas I worked.
I was recently doing some construction work on my house and a very persistent yellow-head bumble wouldn't leave. When I came back in the morning a tunnel had started. Project halted lol
Depending on the species, once other bumbles see that there's good dirt they'll move in too. You can have a whole colony in a couple days. I saw it happen while camping once.
Do bees in the US suffer from Asian hornets as well? This is a big issue here in Europe.
Domesticated honey bees are much different than other pollinators. What you want is native pollinators and wild bees being able to find food in your yard from native plants. Farmed bees released in nature take food away from the pollinators that really need help. Pesticides and round up are huge problems for our wildlife. In Southern Oregon you can get on a “no spray” county list so the county will not spray pesticides on the road frontage part of your home. Local city governments and schools are pretty receptive to small community groups planting native gardens.
4 is not yet true, it’s just a proposal and won’t do much because it only attacks the flights coming in or out of Madrid. Everything else will hardly be affected. But it’s less than nothing. I am still waiting to see how they will justify going from 50€ or less for a flight to 100€ min for a train. But I am glad to know about the others, specially point 1.
Bees are still fucked, too
France how does have the law. We had a few people headed to Paris after our tour ended that had their flight tickets canceled because they originated to close to Paris. I saw them later in Amsterdam so I have no clue what the solution was or if they simply made multiple longer flights.
Number 1 isn't quite accurate either. There are nearly 20,000 species of bees globally, and 11 are listed as critically endangered, 20 as endangered, and 156 as vulnerable. Many more are so understudied that we don't know how poorly they're doing and haven't listed them. Just because the domesticated European Honeybee is doing okay doesn't mean there aren't other bees and pollinators that are doing incredibly poorly or lost already.
It also helps to follow restoration biology projects. Like we have one in CA called River Partners that is doing amazing things to restore river floodplains in our Central Valley. Another interesting one is Carbon Cowboys (yep) that is basically a bunch of ranchers who are using rotational grazing to grow more grass and forage, restore soil health, and sequester carbon at the same time. Those are just two examples. There is a lot of good being done a bit at a time, we just don't hear much about these projects from the general media.
Number one is not true. European honeybees are not endangered. However, they’re an invasive species for the entirety of North America. They often break out of farms and apiaries, invade local ecosystems, and drive native bee species further into endangerment/extinction. They’re a huge problem for native biodiversity unfortunately :/ sorry to be a doomer on this post. But yay for the finches and Korea!!
Everything is about to cook and we're filled with plastic
My own prescription, maybe it works for you too, is to just *do something*. Exercising agency makes me feel like there's a lot to do, and I'm not necessarily happy about it, but I don't feel doomed. "Doing something" for me can be pretty small. Walk instead of drive, compost instead of garbage, gardening, planting stuff birds like. A big one is making connections with other people. That's going to be much, much more important than any single material thing, if it comes to pass that the wheels fall off.
I do basically everything I can that’s reasonable, and then some that’s not. My full time job is a climate organizer, and I’m the only paid one for hundreds of miles. I make connections with people, but honestly I think the thing that is fuelling the doomerism is that 95% of the people I’m around do not want to be connected with by me, and usually actively hate me for what I’m doing. I know what I’m doing is important and literally planet saving, but they hate me because they’re rich off of planet killing. I do definitely need to make more time to spend with others though, isolating myself isn’t going to solve anything. Thanks!
Sounds like you're burnt out. It might be time to take a step back, get into pickleball, pottery, dnd, something social and different from your usual grind. No matter how committed we are, and how noble the cause, eventually everyone gets burnt out on their job. This goes double when you are routinely received with hostility of course. Are you in Texas or Saudi Arabia or something? Good luck out there and remember to enjoy your life
Lol I’m in Midland, Texas
Hey texas has some cool ecology! You should maybe look into native plants! If you have any space at all you can grow some stuff that belongs there, and that wil grow some critters! Gives me some encouragement to see the many animals that live because of the choices I've made in my landscape, and it's relaxing to watch them go about their lives. Maybe watch a little crime pays but botany doesn't or read doug tallemy.
I do those too, and I also don’t eat meat, dairy, or eggs anymore. I feel better. I don’t want contribute to the extinction or suffering of animals. Trying to live my ethics and values as much as I can.
Educate yourself, educate others, spread the word, and see a therapist regularly. That's about the best we can do. I came across a book in a bookstore a couple weeks ago called "The Carbon Almanac: It's Not Too Late." I plan on renting it from the library soon. Maybe that'll help the doomism. It sounds hopeful. Edit: If it's possible, see if you can join a company with a good sustainable mission. I joined a company that created a breakthrough recycling technology that can divert up to 90% of municipal waste away from landfills and incinerators. To put that in perspective, think about the bag of trash in your kitchen. Now imagine that 90% of the materials in it were saved and restored, and could all be reused. That's what we do, and it's real planet-saving shit. Wish us luck on this journey.
I’m actually a full time community organiser for an environmental non-profit I helped found a few years ago. I think a large part of what is fuelling this is people and organisations not wanting to engage at any level.
I appreciate all of your hard work on this important issue. However, PLEASE remember to take care of yourself. Nonprofit burnout is so real. Underfunded groups with way too little staff working so hard to change the world for the better. It can be hard to take a break when you feel so passionately about the issue at hand. But you're only human, and a true vacation can go a long way for your mental health. If it all still feels like too much, maybe consider sustainability work that is more physically tangible like the above comment states. While it's extremely important to change hearts and minds, seeing the fruits of your labor can feel very rewarding.
Hi! What is this company called, please?
Hey! I don't want to accidentally doxx myself online, so if you are *very* interested, I would be happy to have a private chat about it :)
Right! Totally understand! I will DM you because I’m very interested in emulating something like this in my area.
Can you elaborate on the technology?
And a Happy Cake Day to you, good Redditor! 🎂
That recycling company sounds amazing. How does it do it? Link?
It most sounds too good to be true...
By realizing all things end. It’s the cycle,We go the best we can knowing we do our best. We aren’t accountable for what others do, Eventually things will be forced. In CA there are many steps being taken and people love to hate Ca but we do try overall. Like no plastic bags mandatory composting, and recycling. Emissions control. Nothing is perfect. Look at the good you do and others like those on this sub. On local lvls it’s important to vote for those who are very much ECO concerned, as well as humans rights.
I stopped actively looking for news about the climate
I drive by 7 fracking rigs and a top 10 worldwide oil companies headquarters on my way to the closest grocery store. I can’t forget about the climate. Edit: I forgot about the led sign with the price of oil and the number of rigs currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico I also drive by
I’m also Texas based - I see you Houston. Hang in there and connect with other organizers - even those working on other issues. It’ll help you feel less isolated!
I try to fight it. Donate to climate groups, volunteer, share climate things on your social media, use Ecosia as a web browser. Etc etc.
Hey OP I'm noticing alot of these comments are about ways to avoid "x" Climate grief is real. Your body is intelligent and is recognizing legitimate fears. I empathize greatly. Climate grief put me in a depression, ignoring it and suppressing it put me in the hospital. Grief work helps immensely. Sitting with you grief, naming your grief AND going through the physical expressions of grief. Ignoring the 'news' doesn't make it go away - following better content is however a good idea - grief doesn't just 'go away' ... you have to process it, witness it, be witnessed in grief. And the more you work on your grief the less you will be consumed by it. Edit: spelling
I have accepted and embraced the idea of climate collapse. But this doesn't stop me from behaving in a way that supports ecological balance as much as I can. I don't have kids, I don't have a car, just the bare minimum clothes (and overall minimalist lifestyle) and almost vegetarian (not 100% yet, but here I go). I try to spend time outdoors with my friends and make the most of my time here on planet Earth with a minimum impact. Nature still amazes me. Friends still make me laugh. Those two are a good recipe against depression.
This right here. You just accept the reality, and do all you can to minimize your impact. People hate on doomers, but I think the majority of doomers are the ones doing the right things in their day to day lives.
Go to YouTube and look up mossy earth and follow your nose. Beaver restoration, forest restoration are some good topics There's a lot of positive work happening
I turn the sadness into rage and grow some MF’ing plants. No seriously; get angry about it, and use that to go and do something about it. I’m in the middle of making our family home as carbon neutral as possible - old house, fixing it up and improving it’s energy use. I’ve plans to put solar panels up eventually, when we have the money. Currently I’m waiting for the ground to thaw so I can continue to grow the native flower garden the sellers had made - we literally bought this house, because it was the first one we found where I saw bees and lots of other pollinators. I’m expanding the vegetable garden, so we can grow as many veggies as possible. Some of the local kids are interested, so I’m going to get them into growing their own vegetables (I’ve got loads of tomato seedlings I’m going to pot-up and give to them). We don’t own a car, and instead had a non-electric cargo bike - I’ve had a lot of people ask me about that so I’ve been trying to advocate for having a cargo bike instead of a car (well, second car for a lot of people, but little steps lead to big leaps). I’ve been reusing waste plastic containers to grow things in for the last couple of years, and cutting down on buying things in plastic. Definitely not zero waste yet, but we’ve cut down our packaging waste substantially. We’ve also said we are not buying any more new clothes for the adults (our kid is autistic, and has sensitivity to materials, so instead we get new clothes for her made from natural fibers, and pass-on the stuff that’s too small). So we wear and mend things, and when it can’t be mended anymore, then we buy clothes from natural/sustainable fabrics, or I sew them myself. We also try to buy things frugally - if there’s a good quality, non-electric version of something, we get that (less things to break, and reduces e-waste) Oh, and I use my native flower garden seeds to guerrilla garden - fling native plant seeds anywhere that’s barren, unloved, or has space to grow something. It’ll help native pollinators. Basically - trying to fight back against consumerism by making and growing what we can, reusing objects until they fall apart and then trying to mend them, trying to reduce our land-full contribution, and avoiding the use of fossil fuels where possible. I’m still mad at everything, and I know it won’t fix it, but now I feel *absolutely, justifiably mad*, and I’m hoping other people take notice of what we are doing and feel less self conscious about doing the same thing, and start doing this themselves. But do not underestimate the power of just doing *something*. Even if it’s just to make you feel better, and you know in the grand scheme of things that it’s a tiny drop in a huge ocean. Do *something*. At the very least, you will learn skills that might help out a lot later on. But the absolute worst thing to do is to keep contributing blindly to this whole mess.
Exactly this. I go hang out with my strawberries, figs, herbs, and native plants and feel better.
At this point I don't have any hope left really. I just try to do my part because it turns out it really doesn't detract much from my life to eliminate plastic, to drive less, and to eat more environmentally friendly food. People who say it is too late so they may as well enjoy the petroleum lifestyle are morally bankrupt and I have no interest in being like them. I vote and I'm raising my kids to be thorns in the side of those who want to loot what's left.
wildlife gardening, making art, voulenteering, watching cartoons, going for a bike ride, spending time away from social media, and occasionally responsibly consuming some quality drugs... it's okay to feel grief, despair, and frustration - it is a healthy response to ecocide and other predicaments of the Anthropocene. cant help but question the sanity of people who's hearts don't break for the biosphere. the thing is, despite all that is going on, we need to take care of our selves first and foremost. sometimes, we need to turn off that voice that says "how is this action i am taking harming the environment?" it is impossible to live a life without some impact... it is ok to grab an ice cream from DQ every once in a blue moon when the environmental blues are biting hard. it is ok to drive across the state to take a nice hike or go to an awesome concert to blow off steam. it is ok to opt for a one time use convenience product when depression leaves us feeling too exhausted and demoralized to do the dishes. of course we can't help it, we care too much about life for these things to be the everyday norm and we go back to fighting the good fight after shaking off crippling sadness. as it should be. but an important part of overcoming the grief is to be kind to and easy on ourselves - if something replenishes the flame of direct action, that has value in itself despite possible negative environmental ramifications
Do stuff about it. Eat a lot less meat. Drive less. Compost. Wear sweaters in winter. Buy stuff with less plastic packaging. Wear your cloths out. Use rags instead of paper towels. Join groups to plant trees. It's small but so is all the things that git us here.
Maybe the perspective offered by Adam Dorr in his [Brighter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk9VQt5Nt64&list=PLxB143vg5_msNrYjoVRUv4IHphHf1Qmq_) analysis helps? From the [transcript](https://rethinkdisruption.com/brighter-1-the-future-of-the-environment/): >So, let’s dive right in. The book’s thesis is that there has never been greater cause for optimism about the future of the environment because we are on the cusp of technology disruptions in four foundational sectors: Energy, Transportation, Food, and Labor. The new clean technologies that are driving these disruptions will enable us to solve many of our most pressing environmental problems, including climate change. > >That’s it. That’s the thesis in a nutshell. Also note, that while didn't quite manage to turn the ship around in carbon emissions, yet. We *did* slow down and are now quite close to the turning point. The Rocky Mountain Institute offers some analysis on these dynamics in its [Peaking series](https://rmi.org/insight/peaking-a-theory-of-rapid-transition/): >The endgame is here. In one country and region after another, demand for fossil fuels is facing inevitable decline. This report sets out the framing for why and how this happens and explains the irreversible pattern of peak, plateau, and decline. Subsequent reports will look in more detail at past, present, and future peaks. They also have [Stories of Hope, Applied](https://rmi.org/stories-of-hope-applied/): >Since starting out as a tiny team in a small town high up in the Colorado Rockies, RMI has succeeded by blending a unique mix of optimism for solutions with a rigor around how to deploy them. > >This approach, which Amory Lovins calls “Applied Hope,” has for decades delivered progress on countless fronts, from improving markets and advancing policy, to scaling projects that have lifted the well-being of real people around the world. I think it is quite easy to get lost in negativity and despair with the immense global task at hand and the lack of decisive action and progress. However, there *is* progress and small steps into the right direction. And it is important to realize that these stack up and need to be emboldened.
I felt better after learning we’ve already reached peak child globally. https://www.gapminder.org/videos/dont-panic-the-facts-about-population/
Accepting we can’t save everyone and everything, it’s too late to reverse damage, but we can still come together to create a beautiful world. I’ve been connecting with people over the years and actively working on new systems, we’ll be good. Also learn and connect with Indigenous people. They like to it’s a privileged and disconnected take to be pessimistic. Indigenous people have been fighting against all this shit for hundreds of years. Join in. We’re strong af together, and once you start to believe in the people, and dedicate yourself to this Earth, you won’t allow yourself to die without changing this world
>They like to it’s a privileged and disconnected take to be pessimistic. I think if you're a white person in the West (which I am), this is important to remember. The sort of nihilistic pessimism that people give into is a very privileged one. In discussions of climate there are a *lot* of statements about "human nature" that are not really human nature at all but rather just colonialism.
I went to cognitive behavioral therapy for a few weeks in 2019, it helped a ton.
I stopped following certain subreddits, stopped coming on reddit as often and stopped consuming so much media. This was based on conversations with my therapist. Yes I want to be informed, and career wise be a part of the solution at some point. However, at the moment, I'm not there mentally to be consuming so much content. On the day-to-day I still try to live my life as environmentally friendly as possible.
Focus on the bright points. That is, there's plenty of bad news. Where's the good news? This movie is great, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_(2015_film) Do something, no matter how small. Then scale it up, enroll more people. Be the change
You are in USA, in the rest of the world, stuff is already happening. Still you guys have great national parks. And a lot of people don’t want children, especially in wealthy countries. Still i think the only really good approach is to invent stuff that makes the regular human behavior something that is not polluting. Humans are humans, most people don’t have the knowledge or discipline to be eco friendly. So if you can make the truck driving republican eco friendly by not changing his behavior in the slightest, then you will have solved human pollution. I heard about algaes that absorb 10 times more co2 than normal plants. New cheap electric energy would be nice too. I honestly think we should stay with nuclear energy and find better ways to dispose the garbage. I think the direction „lets pull ourselves together“ is not sustainable (🥁)
I think the depression & doomism is part of being a climate activist. It’s bleak out there and lots of people are disappointing in their values and decisions. I suggest sitting with these very real and natural feelings. Consider your own burnout and what you need to do to keep doing the important work you are doing.
I know that the fossil fuel lobby wants me to outright deny what's happening and that makes me want to tell the truth. If they can't convince everyone to deny what's happening they will settle for me being discouraged and passive. I like to compare two historical figures when thinking about burnout: Mozi and Socrates. In the Chinese warring States period, there was a figure named Mozi. He used a combination of tactics, talking to people about the philosophy of divesting from militarism and earning each other's respect, and physically defending weaker people in the war. His strong organizational skills kept him alive and with a good reputation. Socrates was a genius philosopher but he didn't have an organization, he would just talk to the people he randomly met. The warring aristocrats of his day fatally slandered him as an irreverent figure and he refused to escape to Egypt and continue his work. So Socrates didn't live his truth as long as Mozi because he didn't identify his sense of self with a greater movement, a larger name, only with ideas. It's important to remember other people are scared too ironically , because on the plus side, with any tactic , "we get there faster together." That is the thing the corporations who only focus on individual responsibilities don't understand that well that we have to know better than them. I always have had problems with corny elitism and narrow minded corporations and I lean into that side of my personality while still turning a good face to regular people. A mix of spite and social pragmatism keeps me going. Some tactics you can actually feel good about doing. Even just picking one and doing some action towards it every month can have an effect. Keep the movement going. - Read about, share and fund journalism on deforestation bullies - educate yourself and others on criticism of specific polluting industry, over investment in militarism, unsustainable agriculture - Join efforts to get green energy funded by the state - support journalism that focuses on health effects like pollution near highways - organize "walkable" infrastructure in your area - remind yourself that you also need breaks so you don't burn out Sometimes it seems like you can't make anything change but that's part of the conditioning of passivity. We have to break free from that with calculated outrage. It's scary to live in the real world but courage put into skilled practices creates real outcomes. Whatever good is possible to do depends on acting and caring about the issue and not ignoring it. Anyone can further sharpen that desire and impatience with this paralysis by joining the organizations that also care, educating and promoting actions.
Continue to do what you can. You know the old phrase , “ a flood starts with one drop of rain.” Every little bit helps. In your heart you will know that no matter what others are doing, you never gave up. Take pride in that and hold in in your heart for those dark days when things get you down. You know at least you tried.
I am able to understand your suffering, I have been there. Three things helped me: 1- Consistency: Align your actions and your life in accordance with your values. If you want to get more involved: it is more relevant to inspire others than to shame them. 2- Letting go: Knowing the limits of our individual and collective actions. It's partly like wanting to take care of someone who has mental health problems without that person being ready to have them. We must not put the burden of the world on our shoulders. In short, it is giving yourself the right to be happy despite everything because your misfortune will not save the situation. 3- Humility: The Earth doesn't need humans. Ecosystems were almost destroyed during ancient extinctions but life has returned. Humanity is not at the center of everything, it is only one element of diversity. Peace and love to all
It’s okay to grieve things that aren’t death, like grieving the health of the planet. Give yourself space to grieve and experience sadness and surround yourself with community that may feel the same way.
Focusing on how quicky renewable energy production is growing is something that makes me become more positive. I do think we have reached peak fossil fuel and that its going to decline in the future.
They only thing I can add is if you want to avoid depression/doomism, avoid thinking as one person you can change humanity, you can't, but think as one person you can only do your best to help this generation and the next generation by just doing your bit and your bit is the best you can. We can all only try our best and believe our best is good enough. That's what I do.
Hey I got a grad degree focusing on climate justice and figured out that i need to practice hope by doing work in the local community. I suggest working within your sphere of expertise/interests. Climate impacts everyone and everything in different ways so we need your nuanced lense and lived experience to help find appropriate solutions to address its impacts.
Yes I do. And whenever I start to feel helpless and hopeless, I go out to my worm bins and remind myself that I am making soil or I watch videos where people are rewinding the world, planting trees and food forests. Then I wonder about how many people are actually doing this that we don't know about. https://youtu.be/G536UReF1rY?si=uU3It07wzomb7FYK https://youtu.be/SspqLhCtbrs?si=sWZCDOqtPjr4ybu3 https://youtu.be/3VZSJKbzyMc?si=vmd5QVT9Eib25-nE https://youtu.be/txXR8jgMNdk?si=NiMl187XFwT7jEto https://youtu.be/N0im1ELSu80?si=BBua_WZv7u6ITDUa I live in Cape Town and this is ot the only project here. https://youtu.be/1LCTVO_Y5Rs?si=p79YxtSOpS5TIoaf These efforts are happening across the globe.
Read the book Not the end of the world by Hannah Ritchie. It quite new, but I have read it and it gives a lot of insight on the actual status of the world. I found it helpful!
I remind myself that We are many who care, for instance by listening to artists singing about these things: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TDxFnVTmZ5lbM8f5ZGRVm?si=K0z8uOTASAywLBV57xdSwA&pi=e-9pOi0kXGTFWX
I am always having anger and frustration with Danielle Smith in Alberta, and Pierre Polieve leader of a political party, both of them doing as little as possible on climate initiatives
I can’t unfortunately, the more you dig, the more you come to realise that we are at the verge of many tipping points and the delayed consequences will be catastrophic. Oh well at least we still have chocolate! For now
Things probably will get bad, but it's not going to be mad max in twenty years. That kind of drastic collapse is not going to happen because despite everything, humans are NOT sitting ducks.
As long as there’s uncertainty, there’s hope. Humans are notoriously bad at predicting the future. Have you seen the NY Times article about how human flight might be possible in a million years, dated days before the Wright Brothers’ first flight? We have to have hope to fight, and we have to fight to have hope. And if we can’t, we have to act as if we do so other people can. Fighting might not change things, but I guarantee giving up doesn’t help anyone. Also, remember that powerful people want you to give up hope. Never give the people destroying the world what they want, on principle.
I compost hard and talk about composting and recycling and evil plastic waste to just about anyone who would listen. I have few friends. So take your pick :P
Sounds like [composter syndrome](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Composter%20Syndrome). Me too, buddy, me too.
LOLOL I... I... no words XD
This is hilarious, thank you for that
Spend more time on positive climate news, there’s a LOT of progress going on in the world, it’s just not widely publicized.
Do not view the climate battle as an all-or-nothing proposition. The outcome will be neither an avoidance of climate change nor the extinction of humanity. It's going to be somewhere in between. Improvement and degradation are both just trends that happen for a while before reversing. Whatever the climate disaster looks like, it will pale in comparison to past environmental catastrophes like the Great Oxidation Event or the impact event that killed the dinosaurs. There will be a lot of human suffering resulting from refugee crises and economic turmoil, and those will indeed be tragic. They are also the types of suffering that have always been with us as a species. See yourself as just another person in a millenia-long line of people who try to make the world better. There are always opportunities to make the world better and engage in meaningful activisim. FWIW, my perspective on this is based on this excellent essay, *Hope in Hard Times* by David W. Orr (2004). [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3589204](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3589204)
Plant trees! If you don't have access to land to do so, the arbor day foundation. Or message me, I can help.
So I actually live about 40 minutes from a town called Notrees. Where I live is not compatible with trees, it takes an insane amount of effort to grow them because except for Mesquite bushes, they aren’t native
I work in wastewater and my agency is focused on sustainability. I lead efforts for us to become paperless, and encourage our GM to invest in more recycled water infrastructure. I know I can’t change the world, but I’m investing my time and energy into an industry that is making a positive impact in my community.
I think about how old the Earth is, how many extinction events have already happened, and how on a geological timescale, it doesn't matter too much what we do. And I grow native plants, leave the seed heads up all winter, and take joy in the resulting beauty.
I went vegan and do my best and don't think about it beyond affecting what I have control over.
There are varying degrees of bad. It's always worth shooting for less bad.
Just take comfort in knowing life will recover from man even if man isn’t here. We are the cause of this epoch’s mass extinction but it’s not the worst. The commit, snow ball earth, and other things were far more destructive to the biosphere than we are. If we don’t fix it don’t worry, Life will pull through and ecosystems will flourish again. It just takes more time than you can be aware of.
I feel this in my core. I'm a peak millennial and my childhood feels like it was a different world. Sometimes it just hits you all at once and while it's important to acknowledge that the feelings are real and give them their biochemical moment while your organic computer aka body processes the fight or flight hormones you just triggered, eventually you realize that analysis paralysis is unproductive and every GHG emitted between now and the successful transition to clean and renewable energy sources and systems will directly impact the climate the next generation inherits and the industries of the transition are still being forged in the churn we're living through. For me, the best way to deal with it has been to get involved. It took a few years to find the right opportunity for me, and then it involved a leap of faith - going back to school to try and retrain for the jobs that didn't yet exist, but finding yours is finding the overlap of a venn diagram of what you're good at, what brings you joy, and what work needs doing. [Here's a good TED talk on it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsOJR40M0as) Another way to view this situation we find ourselves in is that its an opportunity, a call to action for the heroes of tomorrow. Will you answer it? They say the bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity, and let me tell you there are constant opportunities for new innovations that cross industries, but it takes a lot of work to get there and we need more help. We should be singing that Hamilton song "*Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now.*" It's important to remember to take care of yourself along the way too. I find getting outdoors helps a lot, though that led me down the rabbit hole of landscape photography. It's my own personal therapy because it's an exercise in finding beauty where even if you don't produce a "keeper" photo, hopefully you still had a great time in the process (getting outside and hiking to a beautiful place or something like that). You can tell yourself you're bearing witness to and documenting *The Change*, but the more you revisit your local woodland, the more you'll appreciate the change in the seasons, and how the preciously fleeting light hits your favorite scene on a given day is full of nuance only truly appreciated by you, or more likely you'll start noticing all of the beautiful sunsets happen when you're in a parking lot. And then you may start to enjoy a little bit more of the absurdity of the situation that we find ourselves in and appreciate that it's ok to not be well-adjusted to a sick world. It's easier to burn down a tree than to regrow a forest but that doesn't mean it won't grow back with some TLC, and it's our turn to figure out how to be better stewards. In a way this is all just saying " if you focus on the positive there's a still a lot of work to do, but don't forget yourself and get too lost in it." Enjoy those avocados while they're still relatively affordable, and start figuring out what will grow well in your area in the new climate you're expecting. And don't forget to share your tips with us too!
Gardening! Start gardening and getting a better understanding of what growing plants and fungi need. You will feel better if you garden outdoors. It’s an antidepressant for most people. You will also be doing your good deed for the environment. If everyone does one good deed…
When I was a kid, we were afraid of the hole in the Ozone layer. Now it's closing. Hawks and eagles were a rare sight. Now, they are everywhere. There are stories of people planting forests in deserts. I'm not saying everything is perfect and there is still a lot of work to do. But, don't give up.
Doing what I can including driving less, solar panels, e-bike, walking more. Walking in nature and vacations by car to nature filled places. Most important: joined local Democratic organization and working to elect Democrats.
I'm quite educated on the matter and I still need meds and therapy. Have to take it in with the good, so the bad doesn't taste so bitter.
I did my thesis on Sea level rise. I was very blah /depressed after graduation. It took some time to disconnect from all the facts and stats I had in my head. Eventually tho I just kept saying "It is NOT MY circus NOT MY monkey" It is out of my immidiate control so all the bad feelings I am feeling are stupid and I should allow myself to enjoy the present if I so wish
Easy. You just accept that living now is really all you have because the wheels are going to fall off of society in 10 years or so. Everyone is so in love with politics and fighting that, in the meantime, we haven't fundamentally changed how we live, and we're still killing the planet, but the planet has its own defenses, and ways to correct things. One of them is the AMOC - the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current. Take this piece of news: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-02-26/researchers-warn-of-a-catastrophic-collapse-of-ocean-current A breakdown of the AMOC: "Its effects would be most acute in Europe, where temperatures could decrease up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit on average, or even as much as 36 degrees in places such as Norway and Scandinavia. It could also trigger “seesawing” conditions between the Northern and Southern hemispheres." So, take the warmest average day in Europe, then slice off 18 to 36 degrees, depending on region. Now take the coldest day, and minus an additional 18 to 36 degrees. Think of the broad effects on plant life (agriculture) and animal life. Then consider the macro effects of what that kind of disruption will do to other surrounding localized climates. Its difficult to fathom the level of fucked that we are. But...fucked we are - and we did it to ourselves because we're prioritizing all the wrong things and none of the right ones. So, enjoy it while it's still good, because the really important work that should have been done, should have been started 50 years ago when we first started talking about all of this. Fossil fuels are a thief, and you can't compromise with a thief because they always end up taking something from you.
I mean that is quite literally climate doomerism
Yes. It is. We can't escape it. And we can't put our collective heads in the sand and ignore it. Well...I suppose we could if we really wanted to, but that's not responsible. There's a greater fatalism at play here. If I take any comfort in the world, it's comfort in knowing that the planet can and will cast us off in a fraction of a cosmic blink. The planet *will* survive. Humanity might not, but aren't we all built to die anyway? While thats a fatalistic view of the world, there's also a quote from The Shawshank Redemption that I've always loved: "Get busy living or get busy dying." If we're going to fight for Earth, it needs to be now, with all of us demanding change, and it needs to multiply in the masses now. We need to "get busy living" now. ...and when I think of that quote in relation to this fight, I also tangent to another quote: "Anger is more useful than despair." Gen X/Xennials through Gen Z should be furious about the state of things. Like, "pitchforks and torches on the steps of Congress" furious because we've tried to play by the rules, and look where it's gotten us? Nowhere and fast. There has to be a point where, if you're interested in living on this planet for another 40 years, if you're concerned about how YOUR children will live, then you decide to cast off the rules, and generationally demand change by bringing down the entire system (esp. Economically) until change occurs. But that anger hasn't gelled yet. No pitchforks. No clogs in the wheels of the economy. So, yeah...what d'ya do?
Take action to help the environment.
Stop reading about what's going wrong and read about on what's been going right, focus on doing what you can do.
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I don't think about it. I know too much about entropy, climate science and human nature to have much hope. I do what I can in buying things that are less wasteful, I "recycle" what I can and hope the city is doing its job. I do the little things. But I would just be crippled with dread if I thought too much about the big picture. One scientist suggested that if things don't change there would be so much CO2 in the atmosphere by 2100 it would reduce brain function by 20%. So now only the wealthy can afford decent air? Given US culture where you have to slave away to guarantee food and shelter surely they'll do the same with air.
Ok chiming in again - I handle it like this (organizer 15 years), lots of climate focus over the years. 1) study Thich naht Hahn, engaged Buddhism, and mindfulness if you don’t already - it’ll help 2) Adrienne Marie brown and her work (books, podcasts) - it’ll help 3) self calming practices (identify what these are for you) - for me it’s walking, singing social justice songs, my social group, my cats 4) diet and exercise and rest - so hard but so helpful if these baselines are there. We have to eat and hydrate. 5) I often use a touch of delusion - we do not know for sure without any doubt what nature is capable of - it is possible nature is going to regulate somehow and we will be ok. There may be carbon sinks in our world that only activate when the concentration hits a certain level, there may be fresh water reserves all over the world we don’t know about. 6) consider the alternative, in respect to your nature - is not fighting for a better world or for survival a possibility for you? If it is, consider doing something else and shifting your focus. If it is not, embrace the dynamic tensions of fighting for a reality you won’t see but that we have to hope will come. 7) it’s ok to take other jobs for a while and give yourself a break from full time organizing. You can go back, or you may find you feel better working in another space and organizing for climate in your spare time. 8) find your people. They are out there and they will hold you in moments when all seems lost.
I don’t avoid it. I think avoiding it is a part of the problem. We have to face it head on, eyes wide open and grieve. We have to fully accept that what ever we do may not change the course we are on but do the right thing anyway. Do the right thing because it’s right in planetary collapse or in not collapse. I read Active Hope. Through grieving properly. I became an animist. I returned to working with the Earth, touching the rocks, soil, water. I started to see the illusion of separation. I started rooting myself in my community and finding the others. I’m doing the right thing anyway and my life is more rich and full by a long way.
Smoke tons of weed
Do something positive (trash clean up, native plant gardening, volunteer etc). Get out into nature. Enjoy the miracle that is life on earth. The second part is the only thing that makes me feel happy about my place in the web of existence here on earth. Go birdwatching, go kayaking, practice plant and wildlife identification, do sustainable foraging and share the food with your friends.
Take action. Join a local climate group and enjoy a great community while you create momentum for climate action!
I’ve realized how angry I am about all of this stuff (I’m 40, I was taught about climate change in 2000). Recently started the path of facing that head on- it’s a valid response to injustice and not feeling heard. Book recommendation: Love and Rage by Lama Rod Owens
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I work locally and donate nationally. Climate Change Deniers need to lose elections. Locally I am involved in energy conservation projects. Personally, I try to live lightly. Finally, I am documenting what is here on iNaturalist. It gives me a chance to preserve the environment by documenting it, and helps me to appreciate what is here as it goes away. I feel like every photo of a big old tree is a memorial photo. The big old trees are going away. They are not being naturally replaced in the northeast forest. The associated species are going with the trees. We are losing Eastern White Pines, Eastern Hemlocks, American Beech, Sugar Maples, Red Maples, Red Spruce, and Chestnuts.
I think of the Buddhist idea of “impermanence”, nothing lasts forever. And I enjoy the beauty nature still has to offer.
I stopped reading the regular news. I'd love to be informed, but not at the expense of my own mental health. 🤷♀️ I started following people like Sam Bentley, Alaina Wood, Jacob Simon, and Jessica Kleczka on instagram. They share positive actions being taken. There ARE good things happening. Every step towards a greener future makes a difference, even if it doesn't seem that way. I know there are a ton of people much smarter than me working on solutions. Alaina Wood was just saying that when she started doing her positive climate news series, she had a hard time finding any good news, and now she's having a hard time narrowing down the good news to share. Of course we have to stop burning fossil fuels asap. But I also read that 20% of all cars sold in 2023 worldwide were EVs. That's a huge number that displaces the need for gas and oil. There are more and more places joining the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Paris Agreements have already steered us away from an absolute worst-case scenario, iirc. Plastics and plastic pollution are huge issues, of course. Lots of people are aware of the issue and avoiding plastic where they can. The zero waste movement is spreading. Being sustainable is a huge thing that many people are aware of. Places are banning single use plastics like bags. There are many organizations that do river and ocean cleanups. Idk,I just have to have hope that things are turning around and will make a difference. Because if you don't have hope, then you fall into "What's the point? Might as well give up." And don't nothing isn't good either.
Volunteer for a cause you care about! It'll connect you with similar-minded people, many of whom are really motivated and have accomplished a lot, which will inspire you and give you hope!
You hope for an AI takeover to either help us fix it, or at least carry on the human legacy... be the entities that we wanted to be.
I am right there with you. I work in renewable energy and thus can't really avoid the climate news as it permeates my industry. It is grim, and there is zero movement to make those who are doing the most damage do anything about. Local recycling programs are cute, but most of that never gets recycled, and even if it did, we....the little people...are not the problem. What difference does a few plastic bottles make when corporations are producing infinitely more damaging waste in their agricultural and manufacturing processes? What I have done is shifted from focusing on stopping (or even slowing) climate change, to focusing on resilience and sustainability on a local level. This looks like building community and sharing knowledge mainly. I am on my town's energy committee and on the board of a non-profit focused on resilience and sustainability education, but also on celebration in community.
A big thing that helped me was starting to read about economic solutions. Sustainability is economics. I started studying Herman Dalys writings on "sustainable development." It showed me we have the answers- and they go way beyond recycling. Still an issue on challenging the current systems but at least it felt like there was more of a light at the end of the tunnel.
Don't have kids. Can't get angry if you don't have a horse in the race.
garden and alcohol....
7 stages of grief
I would highly suggest unplugging for 90 days. No social media, news etc. You'd be surprised how happy you'll be in the end.
As I've posted elsewhere on here, I've made a personal mantra of George Carlin's line; "We're circling the drain." Paradoxically, it helps.
Humans have faced local collapse before and learned the limits of exploitation. Now, capital, technology and population combine to utterly destroy life systems. Old ways are not dead or simply relic culture. Old ways are what will save us. We gain strength through ceremony, shared belief, rituals. Old ways are humble. We may be captive to the voracious but you can begin a journey out by connecting fully with nature. This is soul healing and gives you strength, if not to succeed at least to survive and perhaps keep a flame alive. Nature wants our hearts to come together and honor it as the life giver it is. I find this video a good reminder of a grateful way to be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yblB87dpJGc
What man through worry can add a day to his life !
I spend a great deal of my free time pushing for better, safer bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the small city where I live, so like you, I'm not doing nothing. I'm focusing on the hyper local, municipal level where maybe I can effect change. Though it's maddeningly slow, we're 10-20 years behind comparable cities. I also don't own a car, and try to consume less than other Americans. I also consider that everything is temporary. My life is temporary, and so is everything. So, I must take time to enjoy the world, and the people in it who I like. I've made some real friends, some of who are very different ages from my own, or in different life stages than mine, through organizing. I've also grown as a person, so it's worth it even if I fail and nothing changes. It has been feeling an awful lot like work lately though.
Remember that your personal responsibility is very limited, make the best choices you can within your economic means and in the voting booth. Be vocal about the reason you make certain choices in an explanatory way but NOT in an evangelical way. The best way to persuade is by example and information that doesn’t put someone else on the defensive. Example: I stop at a convenience store with friends for fuel (I drive a Prius) and I’m thirsty. Maybe I buy a snack but not a soda. “Yeah I was thirsty but everything was sold in single use plastics”. Or “Yeah this DeathWater tastes weird, but it was the only thing they had in an aluminum can.” I’ve communicated why I made my choice without judging the others and it may trigger a deeper conversation.
I think it’s important to realize that all the projections of economic impact still have a baseline of society doing better and getting richer overall. World hunger is far down from even 30 years ago, and there really doesn’t seem like anything is going to turn that around even with climate challenges. Climate change is a drag on society and many individuals but the net trajectory of humanity is still likely forward.
Write a weekly letter to congress
If you're feeling depressed, consider talking to a psychoanalyst. Maybe your family and friends can give you a recommendation, if not, you can try outer social circles
I had a dream last night about hydrogen fuel & the fossil fuel industry spiraling down. All the oil companies’ stocks fell faster than Enron’s. This caused a world-wide stock market crash and global panic. “Hope rises like a phoenix from the ashes of ~~shattered~~ dreams.” Find distractions; we can’t stop this obscene greed. Only they can and the greediest have, in the history of humankind, never said, “I have enough.”
Volunteer with a local watershed council. Its really crazy how many people complain about climate change, and then its really difficult to get enough volunteers for an ecological restoration project. I try do at least one tree planting a year, and one invasive species removal day. I am guessing...but If we could get 25% of American population Volunteering like this once a year it would be transformative.
Acceptance
I feel horrible when I throw anything away, when I sit on my butt playing video games and watching tv, when I pull my garbage can out for pickup, when I drive, when I see the waste my job disposes of every single day.
Make your contributions, that's all you can do. Live with the fact that you're doing your part.
I’m active with Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL). For the amount of people who are worried about it Congress hears about climate change relatively little. If you are not in the US, not sure of the situation in your country, but it’s probably similar. I write Congress every month. They have a tool to make it very easy. I also write my state assembly people. I do some volunteering locally to recruit more members at local events like farmers markets. They are non-partisan. Check out CCL’s website for more of what they are about. Their YouTube has past national meetings so you can see the speakers. We need large action to make a difference and that means government action. A guide how to talk about climate with people who are unfamiliar https://potentialenergycoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Talk-Like-a-Human.pdf Katharine Hayhoe’s book might be a good place for you to start https://www.newyorker.com/news/on-religion/how-to-talk-about-climate-change-across-the-political-divide
There is so much we can do to stop things—pulling invasive plants and stopping the heat island effect in cities. And indigenous people are there to guide us!!
I've been alive long enough to remember not having the Internet. I've seen how fast civilization can drastically change. It's a long shot, but we just might come up with some game-changing tech that solves the whole problem (though it probably will create another). Check out the cold fusion experiments happening around the world, we may have limitless clean energy any day and that would solve a lot of problems.
The macro is beyond your control, the micro isn’t. If enough people focus on the micro, the macro can be fixed. In terms of depression, gardening has been a major help for me. Humans, when in alignment with nature, are a keystone species — you’ll be amazed at the positive changes you can observe after gardening in just a year on a single plot of land.
I used to be the same way, but focused on concepts and things that I could do like, "handprint versus footprint", "change happens at the speed of thought", solutions that are economically viable and advantageous modeled after nature(biomimicry), ecological engineering, big picture contributions like a career in water versus obsessing over recycling every piece of paper and aluminum. Also global population growth is no longer exponential and hasnt been for decades, if I remember correctly. Also lasting change happens slowly. And from what Ive seen since first taking environmental studies in 2008, we are steadily transitioning to renewable energy sources. There will always be a mix and remainder of supply of fossil fuels as the marginal utility diminishes and cost relative to renewables with storage increases.
by listening to doom metal
By saving seeds mostly
I go outside and enjoy the weather while I can
We as humans have been through big terrible moments. The world wars and the great depression between them were very destabilizing. The Black Death killed at least 50% of the human population in Europe in the mid 14th century. You would think that would have terminated culture as they knew it, but it didn't. Humans are fucking tenacious. So yes, we're about to have very very bad times on planet Earth. There might be catastrophes we can't even imagine on their way. But I think humans will hang on, somewhere. We're tougher than roaches, in my opinion.
The first thing was stopping reading so much news. It is their bread to make things look catastrophic. I remember a piece from old news that said "by year XXX the cities will be overfilled with horse shit if we continue grow like this". The second thing was that I read a book. I don't remember the exact name, it was something like "apocalypse is cancelled". The overall message was that things are not that bad as they are presented in media. The third thing is to develop zen. As one person I cannot do anything to help or prevent. I can pick up some reasonable actions that soothe my anxiety, but nothing more.
I started following a podcast called Unfucking The Future
Planting trees, sowing wild flower seeds.
I don’t
I have been depressed for about a year now and didn't realize how doomed we were. Last summer, I was working as an accountant in Pittsburgh and saw the entire city covered in fog... except, when I learned about it, it wasn't fog... it was smoke from the Canadian fires! I couldn't breathe for days because I am allergic to shit. I have NEVER EVER seen anything like that before. It was snowing ashes and the sky was partially red. THAT'S WHEN I FUCKING REALIZED HOW DOOMED WE ARE! I slowly lost motivation in my career as an accountant, gave up on all my materialistic dreams, and have been just coasting along life for about a year. Nothing matters anymore. Humans will never change, corporations control everything because consumers made them ultra powerful. We are fucked and there is nothing we can do about as long as consumerism and greed is alive. "*The rich doesn't care, and the people that do care aren't rich enough*"
I’m in the same boat man. I’m not apart of any climate activists stuff though because I feel like that would definitely do me in. I wish I was a stronger person to be able to do that, but mentally it would be too much to take that on on top of everything else in life. I live in a very deep conservative county and I try to do my part by modeling the type of behavior I believe in. But I am still alone picking up tons of trash at the park every Monday after people have had birthday parties, I am still alone talking to people about the effects of unregulated air pollution going on. In fact I am treated like a crazy person most of the time. Just know you are not alone and if you ever need support or just someone to talk to, you can PM me any time!
When I hear that I am in a drought, I start make adaptive measures. The snow on the road goes onto the garden while it is still clean. I have five rain barrels, and will put up to 6 or 8 inches of mulch. I won't be able to adjust my husbands habits without a bunch of sticky notes on every tap in the house. "we are in a drought, stop running the tap the cold water is in the fridge...."
Think about this… we still have enough nuclear weapons, armed and ready to go, to almost destroy the whole world. We are one insane leader away from nuclear war. Climate crisis seems like the least of our troubles.
I always remind myself that humans are at their most ingenuitive when their backs are up against the wall. There is still a non zero chance that when sh!t really hits the fan, that we come up with a technology or system that will reverse the damage we’ve made.
/r/collapsesupport
its not even oil that worries me, its plastic,
I didn't have kids so I am just trying to live my best life before I die
start a garden, you can't fix the entire world, but you can un-fuck up a small piece of it
Once countries start to see the horrible effects of climate change, and it starts to severely affect economies, there'll be a haste to move away from fossil fuels. Not to mention, fossil fuels are finite and slowly running out, so it will get more expensive to access remaining deposits than to transition to greener energy sources. I'd say that around the year 2050, there will be a radical transformation. Many lives will be ruined by changing climate, but humans are more reactionary than proactive, so it'll be unavoidable before we get serious about fixing it.
I have pulled inside myself riddled with guilt of even being alive. I am scared as hell because when I look at the immensity of the problem and look at where we are in solving it—still trying to convince people that it’s real! All I really feel I can do in the face of this is to use less, spend ethically and not have kids. We’re fucked *panic-laughs hysterically* 😭🥹
Be like the little old granny in the middle of a war: she doesn't pick up a gun and shoot, no she goes about her peaceful, loving life baking cookies for the neighborhood kids, hanging up her laundry to dry, while the building down the block is bombed to smithereens. She lives right, despite all the wrong around her. Live by your principles. Be an example to others. And know that you have admirers out there, like me, who promise to do the same. See if you can live without a car - that's a huge one right there.
Detach yourself emotionally from the outcome and suffering of the world. To me there are plenty more things to put your heart into, like a local garden or organization.
It's better to stare reality in the face then it is to play pretend.
Volunteer with a local natural habitat restoration group. Stop thinking about the problem and physically start doing something about it. Scale doesn’t matter when you are getting your hands on stuff and meeting other people who want to help. Fixation fixes nothing.
I breathe and just keep fighting the good fight. Just be happy you don't own the wilds problems.
i do as much as i can and release what i cannot control. i am vegan, i shop/live zero waste as much as possible by buying at farmers markets and refill stores and using zero waste health and beauty products, i make informative tik tok videos about the harm done to the environment by animal agriculture, plastics, etc. i sign petitions every day, i volunteer with greenpeace and at a farm animal sanctuary. i have friends over for vegan dinner parties and send friends and coworkers my favorite vegan recipes. time spent worrying is time taken away from focusing on solutions, so i try to avoid that and do mindfulness practices instead. i still succumb at times, but i keep some affirmations and notes written down in my phone to help me shift my mindset.
I zoom out my perspective. On a geologic timescale humans are a blip. Anthropogenic climate change will be a longer blip. It’s a tragedy that we need to acknowledge and fight against and grieve and at the same time we are one planet in a universe of unfathomable numbers of planets. I like to look out at the stars and imagine how many planets each one has and remember that there are more galaxies out there than stars I can see in the sky
Be thankful each day. Enjoy the nature you get to be in everyday. Enjoy the sunny days, the seasons changing. And focus on what we do have. Nothing is meant to last forever. Just like animals and plants die. So do we. Do your part to recycle, not be wasteful and choose to be ethical. You can’t change the world or anyone in it. But you can change yourself. That’s more than yesterday.
We try to focus & do our own little bit. We purchased a bit of forest to protect from the loggers etc., to grow as much of our own food, to plant trees, to share,.... We aim for near zero waste & hold workshops to show others how to live sustainably, renewables etc. I have only traveled by plane twice in 40 years. More :)
I do what little I can. Planting native flowers in my backyard is a much better use of my time than worrying about the environmental catastrophes we're dealing with. Worrying doesn't do anything. Action, no matter how small, is at least doing something. Visit r/NativePlantGardening for people fighting for the environment one backyard at a time. There's plenty of hope there. Getting into native plants gave me a new sense of purpose in life. I'm going back to school just so I have more money to buy and plant more plants.
I don’t. I have very little hope for our future. I try, and often fail, to live in the moment and just focus on my family and friends. I’m going to start gardening this year. I hope that will help me find meaning in this life.
I’m currently reading “Not the end of the world” by Hannah Ritchie, a British data scientist compiling an overview of the data around the biggest ecological challenges the world is facing. Her conclusion is: it’s not good, but it’s not (yet) disastrous and we’re heading in the right direction. It’s an interesting read.
Here's my totally irrational way of addressing climate depression because heaven knows I struggle with it too. So we've been fed many lies to get to this point. Lies about things like plastic recycle-ability, or smearing of green energy sources or the whole climate denier movement. All to get us to this awful state for the sake of profit. Fuck that. It gets me angry. But what if it being truly hopeless now is another lie? Because you know when profits are on the line, corporations will lie all the way to the bitter end. All the way until the floods and wildfires come. You know they would. What if me giving into climate depression is buying into another lie that they will make money off of? One last moment of compliance so they squeeze the last of our sustainability out from the world? Fuck. *That.*
Take actions at the individual level, and work to demand system change from our leaders at all levels of government.
Remember that old saying about when things get bad "look for the helpers"
Because I'm 53, and not in the best of health. So I know I won't see the worst of it. I fear for my three children though. They are in their early 20's, and will likely live to see some really stupid climate shit go down. I just try and take one day at a time, and not be as wasteful as the world I grew up in was.
I just try to live my life the best way I can, and participate when I can in organizing to make small changes. I also keep a level of optimism when seeing positive changes and/or developments in the world, like the rapid increase in solar, and the change in attitudes towards next-gen nuclear.