How Can We Conquer Climate Anxiety?

7 September 2023
What Happens Next?
How Can We Conquer Climate Anxiety? | 84

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The climate anxiety you may be feeling isn't an isolated problem. It's a shared experience and one that can be addressed through empowerment and action.

The emotional toll of climate change often leaves us feeling paralysed. But as today’s expert guests tell host Dr Susan Carland, we can’t fix the climate crisis alone – and we don't have to face climate anxiety alone, either.

It's normal to feel overwhelmed by the complexity of climate change and its implications. But you don’t need to become a climate expert to make a difference. Dr Rhona Garad, from Monash University’s Centre for Health Research and Implementation, and Faculty of Education Professor Alan Reid discuss the science literacy barriers that often stand in the way of engaging with the issues, and how we can overcome them.

Dr Rebecca Huntley, author of “How to Talk About Climate Change In a Way That Makes A Difference”, says it’s crucial to remember that choosing to see hope and potential where others see despair can provide the motivation to keep going.

Moving from anxiety to action involves taking practical steps. Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie suggests three practical areas where individuals can make meaningful change.

You can amplify your voice by connecting with like-minded individuals and joining environmental groups, says Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation. When we find the right people, we gain the confidence to engage in conversations and become agents of change.

Climate anxiety’s a natural response to the climate crisis, but it doesn't have to paralyse us. The future’s not set in stone – it's shaped by the actions we take today.

A full transcript of this episode is available on Monash Lens.

Learn more:

• Listen to part one of this series
• Is it time to rethink our language on climate change?
• Can the SDGs be used to measure the concerns of youth?

“What Happens Next?” will be back next week with part three of this series, ‘Can Art Help Our Climate Anxiety?’.

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