So many people around me face climate fatigue or climate anxiety… how can I help?
We guide you through managing your climate woes and how to take community-oriented action.
Hey there, and welcome to the 27th issue of The Supplement, a newsletter that fills in the gaps of your other news intake. This is Sierra, one-third of the Supplement team!
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This week, we’re tackling this question: So many people around me face either climate fatigue or climate anxiety… how can I help each person? (And what if I am each person?)
TL;DR: We’re all bombarded with bad climate news these days. It feels like things will never get better. This has been splitting people into different mindsets: those who are becoming fatigued by the onslaught of crisis stories, and those who are feeling overwhelmed by how much is happening around them. Engaging with your community, and playing any size role in collective movements are one step forward to make change.
Happy Earth Day! There is so much going on in Canada around climate that it’s hard to keep track. The budget just came out with a lot of climate initiatives, the Supreme Court ruled that Ottawa’s carbon pricing is constitutional, we have renewed promises to reduce emissions, and there’s now Bill C-230, the National Strategy to Redress Environmental Racism Act.
But it’s all a lot of… dry news. And even if it’s progress, it seems that there’s hardly any good news these days. It has led to a lot of people feeling exhausted of the topic and a lot of people feeling overwhelmed by it. No matter which side of the split you fall under, this newsletter has something for you.
Dear climate fatigue,
There are a million things to worry about and it’s hard to keep them all top of mind. People have to worry about feeding themselves, paying rent, supporting their family, and engaging other social justice issues. Oh, right, and surviving a global pandemic.
People experiencing climate fatigue aren't bad people. And many of us have experienced this type of exhaustion because of the pandemic as well.
It also sets in after we talk about climate change for so long without any improvement, and this type of fatigue also lowers the motivation to make change happen. But it’s important to remember that even small changes contribute to the bigger picture.
To start, take a moment to just go into nature. Science is still exploring all the ways nature lifts our spirits, but we already know there are some real psychological benefits, including feeling less depressed and fatigued.
Here are some more interactive ways to remind yourself about what’s going on:
The New York Times created this interactive to see how the world’s most polluted cities compare to your own.
The Climate Atlas of Canada has some visuals attached to the data. Take a moment to explore through it and see what you learn.
Explore the Athropocene through Canadian Geographic Education. It helps visualize the ways that humans impact the environment, and you can travel through examples around the world.
Dear climate anxiety,
Some have described the climate crisis as a mental crisis as well. It’s why some young people have joined the #No Future, No Children movement, by deciding not to have kids until the Canadian government takes serious steps to battle climate change.
In fact, even environmental researchers are finding they might face secondary trauma or vicarious trauma through their work. But it’s also important to recognize that if you’re experiencing anxiety, letting it overcome the need for action only makes things worse. “Climate anxiety can operate like white fragility,” says Sarah Jaquette Ray, author of A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety.
Catch up on our previous newsletter: What does clean water have to do with environmental racism?
We might not be able to fix things overnight, but there are some ways to get started that can perhaps help chill you out. Shop local and in season. Going zero waste can start with just producing less waste. Support Indigenous climate leaders, who have been at the forefront of these conversations. Sign petitions, donate dollars. Progress over perfection, people! Solidarity is a solid start to overcome anxiety.
Here are a few resources to help
Here is an eco-wellbeing guide on how to avoid meltdown. The Guardian put together the A-Zs of climate anxiety, but it really is applicable to a global audience.
Staying ~in-the-know~ is important without feeling overwhelmed. A great newsletter is Minimum Viable Planet, which the author calls “weeklyish newsletter about climate-ish stuff” but is most importantly an undepressing way to learn about how to fight the climate crisis.
Grist has a newsletter called The Beacon, which is your daily dose of good news (note: it is American).
Here’s someone to follow:
Go on over to The Narwhal and follow Sarah Cox. She’s a B.C.-based investigative reporter who has done some notable digging into the Site C dam, fishing and aquaculture, and wildlife. She’s also author of Breaching the Peace: The Site C Dam & A Valley's Stand Against Big Hydro.
Here’s a story to check out:
In case you were wondering WTF happened with the federal budget in terms of climate change, here are a few places to start learning. The Narwhal held a special live video event to give you the highlights and analysis. The National Observer also has some info on the budget’s climate takeaways (and a lot of related links for you to explore).