This is a long response but I couldn't resist the prompt; I think about this subject a lot, since I have small children and I specifically reject the idea that humans should give up on the future of the planet, self-destruct as a species, etc.
I have a friend who continuously posts depressing climate articles on social media, apocalyptic reports about record-breaking temperatures and all the devastation being wrought all over the world; he says he's trying to raise awareness, and is annoyed that almost none of his friends comment or seem to engage much with his posts. The problem is that feeling scared and helpless creates stagnation; it doesn't motivate us to solve anything, it just makes us want to crawl into a hole and hide. Climate change is real and terrifying and largely outside any one person's control, but we have to figure out a way to stay positive and energized in the face of it, just like with everything else (I say this after many years of therapy to work through my inability to handle uncertainty).
Here's what I lean on:
1. That Mr. Rogers quote advising kids to "look for the helpers," and then adding the adult step of elevating those helpers. There are some amazing individuals, organizations, businesses, nonprofits, writers, scientists, and others who are working every day to tackle different facets of the climate change problem, no matter how hopeless it seems. As much as possible, we should support their work and spread the word so that others support them as well. One example: I saw a documentary about the Great Barrier Reef that showed how much damage climate change is causing, but then highlighted awesome local efforts to combat this, like scientists breeding coral that reproduces more often and withstands hotter ocean water, and eco-tourist retreats where visitors help monitor reef conditions. Humans manage to be both the most destructive force upon the delicate natural balance of the world and also the most capable of figuring out ingenious solutions to preserve it.
2. Related to #1, focusing on one's sphere of influence -- the things closest to us are easiest for us to affect, whereas things happening across the world are almost totally beyond our control. When we spend too much time reading about and worrying about things we have no control over (thanks, NPR), it saps the energy we need to actually take action on a local level and improve things in our own community, which is much more doable. A recent example in Austin is the successful halt to the Zilker Park Vision Plan; there was so much local pushback against more paving and overbuilding on the parkland (I signed a petition and spread the word, as did many others) that the plan was scrapped and the city council knows they have to come up with something less destructive. I try to focus on local news and issues that I can actually do something about, since I'm highly empathetic and trying to care about all the terrible things happening everywhere all the time will actually make me less effective at creating change, not more. I suspect this is true for most people.
3. Humans are highly adaptive, and so is life in general. If we don't manage to reverse the tide of climate change, the fundamental weather patterns of the Earth will change over time and humans will change with it. We will probably move away from the equator and the coasts to avoid extreme weather and flooding. All the carbon that we're releasing used to be in the atmosphere at various times anyway; I have friends who do geological research in Alaska and say that the polar areas used to be covered in rainforests, millions of years ago. It's inconceivable to us that jungles could thrive in areas with so little sunlight for half the year, but life is incredible and figures out how to work with what it has. Humans are consciously even more adaptive and can come up with creative solutions to live in all manner of environments on very short notice compared to evolutionary timeframes. Someday in your shrunken-apple-headed kitchen witch days, which I hope to survive to as well, you won't be huddled in front of a window unit; you'll either have moved somewhere less hostile to human life or you'll be living in some giant yet-to-be-invented cooling metropolis dome that converts heat to electricity, condenses humidity into rain, and filters in enough sunlight to recharge people's Vitamin D without frying their skin. Or something like that, but hopefully we stick around long enough to find out.
4. Moderation to maintain sanity. We can reduce or avoid plastic where it's possible, and not beat ourselves up when it's not. We can fly occasionally when it's the most sensible option, but look at replacing a percentage of our trips with ground travel or train rides. Extremism is usually not sustainable (except for necessary health reasons like sobriety or celiac disease), and it also limits the audience we can influence. But you can set a relatable example through moderation that inspires others to be more moderate as well, because cutting back is always less alienating than swearing off something forever. If you could influence ten people to fly 20% less, you'd make a bigger impact than if you yourself flew 100% less. This article has some helpful info too: https://www.businessinsider.com/sustainable-air-travel-plane-airline-carbon-offset-aviation-emissions-2023-3
I love your writing and your heart -- thanks for listening and for being so conscientious. You definitely have influence and the power to create ripple effects.
Meredith! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time and for such a thoughtful response. This reminds me of another long conversation we had at my dining room table about JKR. When I took a month off from the news, it really helped. I have resumed some NPR listening, but much less. Maybe I’ll take another month off. When I was talking to Henry last night I vocalized one of my biggest stressors—I just feel so awful for all the younger generations. To get to hear such hopeful AND grounded insights from you, with your wonderful and wonder-full little kids is very helpful. Thank YOU for listening and being conscientious and for being patient and so very thoughtful. I’m really grateful. Xo
I also have the guilt struggle but try to remind myself to only get worked up about blaming situations that have actionable solutions that I could participate in. Otherwise, I look at the future mass extinction with some degree of detachment- reminding myself that Earth has done the massive change thing before- but it was asteroids that caused it. For whatever reason, we are the asteroid- in a way that I don’t blame a lion for being a carnivore, we don’t see the big picture where our destruction is part of future creation. I have to amuse myself with wondering what magnificent creatures will evolve after adapting to this mess or maybe scientists will rescue us with amazing alternatives to keep the ship from careening into the rocks full force. Until the end I will try to step lightly and water kindness.
I have sometimes wondered about this “we are the asteroid” thing and it offers—maybe not comfort but explanation? I appreciate the detachment take. I really, really need to shift my attitude.
I am so sorry Spike! The heat this summer reached an insane level, and the assholes are more prickly than usual. It took a couple years to make it happen, but this 64 year old native Texan finally moved to Maine. I’ve been here (in Windham) a week and a half. It is so green, it rains(!), and I am comfortable at 76 degrees (no a.c. in my new place). My 3 adult kiddos all fled Texas in 2020-2021. It isn’t safe for LGBTQIA folks. Two are in Colorado, and one in New Hampshire. I’m sure there are political issues here too, but I could not take another second of Texas government. It took two years to talk my work into letting me move and work full-time remote. I just could not move without steady income, but my urge to flee was consistently pointing me here. So…nevertheless she persisted! I will always have an intrinsic connection to Austin. It was my home for my entire adult life. But I still feel good about my decision. (And at least at this point, I’ll take the snow versus that unrelenting heat.) Truly sending some rain mojo your way.
I was just dreaming about Maine yesterday! I love it there. So glad you found a good place to be. I truly do not think I can live the rest of my life in this hellish state.
Thank you, Spike. The heat, the stupids, and the beginner’s mind all hit the bullseye(what!?). I’m struck by the alchemical burn-off that can leave me momentarily seeing a glimmer of gold.
I came home from a two week trip to cooler temps to a broken AC. A simple reminder that there really is no easy way out. I too ponder the relationship between the damage to the climate by air travel and my continued, although greatly reduced, addiction to travel. It is a tough on. I am sorry your herd has been reduced but you have, as always, made the best decision in these long hot burning times.
I had to get out. I could not cope w the heat and I exercised what I recognize to be a great privilege, took the dogs and drove north to my friend. We are safe here, there are green things, and …. Dare I say it out loud …. It even rained here last night. As always spike, thanks for sharing. let go or be dragged is now my new fave phrase!
This is a long response but I couldn't resist the prompt; I think about this subject a lot, since I have small children and I specifically reject the idea that humans should give up on the future of the planet, self-destruct as a species, etc.
I have a friend who continuously posts depressing climate articles on social media, apocalyptic reports about record-breaking temperatures and all the devastation being wrought all over the world; he says he's trying to raise awareness, and is annoyed that almost none of his friends comment or seem to engage much with his posts. The problem is that feeling scared and helpless creates stagnation; it doesn't motivate us to solve anything, it just makes us want to crawl into a hole and hide. Climate change is real and terrifying and largely outside any one person's control, but we have to figure out a way to stay positive and energized in the face of it, just like with everything else (I say this after many years of therapy to work through my inability to handle uncertainty).
Here's what I lean on:
1. That Mr. Rogers quote advising kids to "look for the helpers," and then adding the adult step of elevating those helpers. There are some amazing individuals, organizations, businesses, nonprofits, writers, scientists, and others who are working every day to tackle different facets of the climate change problem, no matter how hopeless it seems. As much as possible, we should support their work and spread the word so that others support them as well. One example: I saw a documentary about the Great Barrier Reef that showed how much damage climate change is causing, but then highlighted awesome local efforts to combat this, like scientists breeding coral that reproduces more often and withstands hotter ocean water, and eco-tourist retreats where visitors help monitor reef conditions. Humans manage to be both the most destructive force upon the delicate natural balance of the world and also the most capable of figuring out ingenious solutions to preserve it.
2. Related to #1, focusing on one's sphere of influence -- the things closest to us are easiest for us to affect, whereas things happening across the world are almost totally beyond our control. When we spend too much time reading about and worrying about things we have no control over (thanks, NPR), it saps the energy we need to actually take action on a local level and improve things in our own community, which is much more doable. A recent example in Austin is the successful halt to the Zilker Park Vision Plan; there was so much local pushback against more paving and overbuilding on the parkland (I signed a petition and spread the word, as did many others) that the plan was scrapped and the city council knows they have to come up with something less destructive. I try to focus on local news and issues that I can actually do something about, since I'm highly empathetic and trying to care about all the terrible things happening everywhere all the time will actually make me less effective at creating change, not more. I suspect this is true for most people.
3. Humans are highly adaptive, and so is life in general. If we don't manage to reverse the tide of climate change, the fundamental weather patterns of the Earth will change over time and humans will change with it. We will probably move away from the equator and the coasts to avoid extreme weather and flooding. All the carbon that we're releasing used to be in the atmosphere at various times anyway; I have friends who do geological research in Alaska and say that the polar areas used to be covered in rainforests, millions of years ago. It's inconceivable to us that jungles could thrive in areas with so little sunlight for half the year, but life is incredible and figures out how to work with what it has. Humans are consciously even more adaptive and can come up with creative solutions to live in all manner of environments on very short notice compared to evolutionary timeframes. Someday in your shrunken-apple-headed kitchen witch days, which I hope to survive to as well, you won't be huddled in front of a window unit; you'll either have moved somewhere less hostile to human life or you'll be living in some giant yet-to-be-invented cooling metropolis dome that converts heat to electricity, condenses humidity into rain, and filters in enough sunlight to recharge people's Vitamin D without frying their skin. Or something like that, but hopefully we stick around long enough to find out.
4. Moderation to maintain sanity. We can reduce or avoid plastic where it's possible, and not beat ourselves up when it's not. We can fly occasionally when it's the most sensible option, but look at replacing a percentage of our trips with ground travel or train rides. Extremism is usually not sustainable (except for necessary health reasons like sobriety or celiac disease), and it also limits the audience we can influence. But you can set a relatable example through moderation that inspires others to be more moderate as well, because cutting back is always less alienating than swearing off something forever. If you could influence ten people to fly 20% less, you'd make a bigger impact than if you yourself flew 100% less. This article has some helpful info too: https://www.businessinsider.com/sustainable-air-travel-plane-airline-carbon-offset-aviation-emissions-2023-3
I love your writing and your heart -- thanks for listening and for being so conscientious. You definitely have influence and the power to create ripple effects.
Meredith! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time and for such a thoughtful response. This reminds me of another long conversation we had at my dining room table about JKR. When I took a month off from the news, it really helped. I have resumed some NPR listening, but much less. Maybe I’ll take another month off. When I was talking to Henry last night I vocalized one of my biggest stressors—I just feel so awful for all the younger generations. To get to hear such hopeful AND grounded insights from you, with your wonderful and wonder-full little kids is very helpful. Thank YOU for listening and being conscientious and for being patient and so very thoughtful. I’m really grateful. Xo
I also have the guilt struggle but try to remind myself to only get worked up about blaming situations that have actionable solutions that I could participate in. Otherwise, I look at the future mass extinction with some degree of detachment- reminding myself that Earth has done the massive change thing before- but it was asteroids that caused it. For whatever reason, we are the asteroid- in a way that I don’t blame a lion for being a carnivore, we don’t see the big picture where our destruction is part of future creation. I have to amuse myself with wondering what magnificent creatures will evolve after adapting to this mess or maybe scientists will rescue us with amazing alternatives to keep the ship from careening into the rocks full force. Until the end I will try to step lightly and water kindness.
I have sometimes wondered about this “we are the asteroid” thing and it offers—maybe not comfort but explanation? I appreciate the detachment take. I really, really need to shift my attitude.
I am so sorry Spike! The heat this summer reached an insane level, and the assholes are more prickly than usual. It took a couple years to make it happen, but this 64 year old native Texan finally moved to Maine. I’ve been here (in Windham) a week and a half. It is so green, it rains(!), and I am comfortable at 76 degrees (no a.c. in my new place). My 3 adult kiddos all fled Texas in 2020-2021. It isn’t safe for LGBTQIA folks. Two are in Colorado, and one in New Hampshire. I’m sure there are political issues here too, but I could not take another second of Texas government. It took two years to talk my work into letting me move and work full-time remote. I just could not move without steady income, but my urge to flee was consistently pointing me here. So…nevertheless she persisted! I will always have an intrinsic connection to Austin. It was my home for my entire adult life. But I still feel good about my decision. (And at least at this point, I’ll take the snow versus that unrelenting heat.) Truly sending some rain mojo your way.
I was just dreaming about Maine yesterday! I love it there. So glad you found a good place to be. I truly do not think I can live the rest of my life in this hellish state.
Thank you, Spike. The heat, the stupids, and the beginner’s mind all hit the bullseye(what!?). I’m struck by the alchemical burn-off that can leave me momentarily seeing a glimmer of gold.
Love, just f'ing love.
Thank you.
I came home from a two week trip to cooler temps to a broken AC. A simple reminder that there really is no easy way out. I too ponder the relationship between the damage to the climate by air travel and my continued, although greatly reduced, addiction to travel. It is a tough on. I am sorry your herd has been reduced but you have, as always, made the best decision in these long hot burning times.
Thank you. It was a hard decision but it was the right one. I’m trying to stay focused on that. Welcome home.
I had to get out. I could not cope w the heat and I exercised what I recognize to be a great privilege, took the dogs and drove north to my friend. We are safe here, there are green things, and …. Dare I say it out loud …. It even rained here last night. As always spike, thanks for sharing. let go or be dragged is now my new fave phrase!
I’m so glad you have a Northern perch where you can watch the rain and knit and weave. Thank you for reading.