Overcoming Climate Anger and Fear of the Future

It can be difficult watching climate change and the destruction of nature.  It’s easy to fall into despair and worry about the future of humanity, and all the other species.  The Human Survival Podcast fell into hibernation, as I’ve struggled the past few months with anger, fear and hopelessness.  After wrestling with these feelings, I’ve emerged stronger and more motivated to keep doing the work of saving humanity (and everything else).  And this experience has taught me some lessons about effective public communication about these important issues.  In this episode, I’ll share with you what I went through, in case it helps you keep your head straight amid these challenging times in the world.  Cheers!

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The Human Survival Podcast, hosted by Shelby Mertes.
This show is offered by The Human Survival Project, a grassroots organization helping the human race become an intentional and forward-looking species, with the global tools to improve ourselves and protect ourselves from global catastrophic threats.

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Theme music by Moby: https://mobygratis.com/

Resources:

Climate Change Enters the Therapy Room
New York Times – 2/6/22
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/06/health/climate-anxiety-therapy.html?smid=url-share

Got Climate Anxiety? These People Are Doing Something About It
New York Times – 2/4/21
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/climate/climate-anxiety-stress.html?smid=url-share

Good Grief Network
https://www.goodgriefnetwork.org/

Joanna Macy
https://www.joannamacy.net/

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
https://www.ipcc.ch/

Deep Adaptation
https://www.deepadaptation.info/
Jem Bendell
https://jembendell.com/

Job One For Humanity
https://www.joboneforhumanity.org/
(This site uses a communication style very different from mine.  To me, their vibe often feels panicky and alarmist, rather than grounded and level-headed.  But I share it here because I think their analysis and key points are strong, and certainly worth considering.  This site is an interesting example of the challenge in conveying truly alarming information without relying too heavily on fear.  I appreciate the difficulty these authors face.)

The Great Climate Migration
New York Times Magazine – 7/23/20
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/23/magazine/climate-migration.html

Global Footprint Network
https://www.footprintnetwork.org/
https://www.footprintnetwork.org/2021/01/19/we-do-not-need-a-pandemic-to-movethedate/