Dealing with climate change anxiety & anger.

I am writing this on the 27th of October. 

Looking through the window I see the sun shining brightly, and walking around the countryside I can feel the warmth on my skin. This is not autumn I remember. This is global warming.

The first time it hit me that climate change is an actual threat to humanity was right after going vegan. It might’ve been 2015 or 2016, I am not sure, but it was a while ago.

I was standing outside in February and thought about how it hasn’t snowed yet. Growing up on the coast where it never snowed, we always went on holidays to my oma. In the countryside, we always had plenty of snow so we, the beach kids, could play with it.

Then we moved to my oma’s town and freezing winters became a tradition. Until snowy months turned into snowy days, and today I am not even sure if I will see the snow before January.

It’s difficult dealing with climate change anxiety because it is not an exaggerated fear. The worst will happen, and the whole species will have to either adapt or perish. No third option.

One thing that helps me deal with climate change anxiety is to do my part in fighting it. I am a part of a bigger community that is making progress, but I am also a powerful individual. It may sound crazy but I can protect the world. 

When a million people believe they can make a difference, they actually do.

Environmentalism is not just about innovation and transforming whole industries. It is about what you do in your day to day life. Do you recycle? Do you buy reusable items? Do you repair what is broken?

(If you want to find ideas on how you can help fight climate change, read this post.)

Electric vehicles are great, but what’s more awesome are all the people who drive them. It’s the people who care that deserve all the praise and recognition. You deserve it. 

I deeply admire everyone who cares for our mother Earth. I am inspired by people who love our trees, rivers and plants. The fact that you are trying to deal with climate change anxiety, tells me your eyes are open. 

Honestly, those feelings will not go away because they are our human reactions to something that threatens our survival. Homo sapiens just wants to reproduce and survive. Global warming is making this harder.

Feel the anxiety and anger, and move with them. 

Use them as fuel. Don’t try to remove them as they are reminders of a problem we must solve. Use them. Use all of it. It’s the only thing that will make you feel hopeful about the future.

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Tanja