Hope in the Face of Climate Doomism

Real Talk Tuesdays

There has been a swift rush of natural disasters over the past few months—floods, fires, deadly heat waves, and even the structural collapse of entire buildings—all with their own ties to the effects of climate change. It’s terrifying.

Climate anxiety is not a new feeling for a lot of people, but these fears only seem to heighten as time goes on, infrastructure fails to keep up with our changing environment, and politicians and corporate leaders continuously choose easier profit over people’s lives. The official responses to the pandemic in our country haven’t been good enough, either. Personally, I have struggled with the feeling that my actions don’t matter enough, and I know that I am not alone. But it isn’t over yet.

It’s a bitter thing to grasp that young people are doomed to try and clean up the messes left for us. It’s a bitter thing to be born into a burning world and told to douse wildfires with a glass of water. As much as I love to turn t-shirts into rags and make cleaning sprays out of bulk vinegar and optimism, I am angry. It is part of the reason that keeping up with this blog has been difficult for me.

But it isn’t over yet. Not by a long shot. This is the time more than any before that we are connected and able to organize against the things threatening us. Education and outreach are tools that we need in order to survive the climate crisis on the small and large scales. Community is more important than ever to maintain.

And I know these are vague messages to keep up with, and I apologize for not having all the answers in the world. But I can tell you that now more than ever is the time to pay close attention to which politicians and companies you support. Local elections are incredibly vital to creating systemic change, so make sure you’re an educated voter. You can call, write, or email any official you are dissatisfied with. You can inform friends, family, community members about any environmental issue, whether that be proper recycling or clean energy bills. In these increasingly dark times, taking care of yourself and supporting others is just as important as trying to be an activist.

Feel free to congratulate yourself for what you can accomplish. We are still highly influential on our surroundings and the people in our lives, even if the heinous actions of billion dollar entities and the grand scale of natural disasters makes us feel small. The relaxation of restrictions since the mass COVID vaccinations has lead me back to my favorite bulk shops, armed with my own containers, and I believe that still matters a great deal.

So even though the world may be on fire, there is still room for joy. I feel joy in bringing my own cup to my local tea shop, in buying bulk oats and paper-wrapped chocolate, in using less electricity and in listening to my favorite climate change podcast (BBC’s The Climate Question). I feel joy in knowing I am always striving to do the best that I can for the planet and myself, and you should too. I hope we can do better together.

Grace Kennedy