It’s a common situation: I am out and about – at a coffee shop, catching a bus, active loitering – and I start talking with someone new. As the script goes, we exchange pleasantries…names, where we’re from, where we are going, what we do. What we do…hmm, now that’s the one. I see it on their faces as I tell them that I run a not-for-profit project in Guatemala: that semi-conscious process we have of mentally classifying people. Charity work for poor people = nice person. Check. But then as I go on to explain more about the project and my work I see some very interesting, mixed and surprising reactions that I believe have little to do with the actual project. I am talking about climate change, and the wide variety of responses that this topic elicits in people. Since starting this project, I have seen them all.

Without a doubt I have had many positive, enthusiastic, motivating and encouraging responses from people – in fact, it is these interactions which are one of my biggest inspirations: that amazing energy you feel when someone else sees and shares your vision. Yet at the other end of the spectrum there have been many negative responses as well: when mentioning that I work in the field of climate change has sparked anger, objection, loss of respect and/or a loss of interest in the project.

When I first encountered these reactions, I struggled to understand what it was that had upset people – and to not take offense. However as I witnessed it more and more, it dawned on me: these reactions were driven primarily by fear, by feelings of hopelessness, by an overwhelming and crushing sense of despair. And understandably so. Just one look at the latest news stories, reports from our top scientists around the world, photographs, statistics, media – even the evidence in our own backyards – and it isn’t hard to understand how someone could feel this way. In fact, I would be lying if I were to say that there weren’t moments when I didn’t experience the same feelings. How could any thinking, logical and compassionate person not feel the same way?

Next week I have the privilege of participating in a climate change conference here in Vancouver that is exploring just this issue. Resilient People + Climate Change will delve into the psychosocial impacts of climate change, asking questions about who we must become – both individually and as a society – to be able to cope with what lies ahead. And what does lie ahead? Without a doubt as this century unfolds, we – you and I – will be required to bear witness to countless horrific and devastating catastrophes brought about by climate change. How do we do this without becoming crippled by the shock, horror and despair? How do we move past the anger and rage at what is happening, and continue to work towards solutions? It is when I start to ask myself these questions –  working through my own fears at the enormity of the task that lies ahead – that I begin to feel hope once again. Because I believe that herein lies the strength and beauty of the human spirit. As I know that each difficult moment that I face has the potential to open my eyes and my heart, so I believe that this is what we will start to see in our society. As we come together as individuals to face this challenge that lays before us, we will find ourselves again, and the true strength that lies both within ourselves and our communities.

I was discussing this issue recently while having coffee with Sanjay Khanna (co-convener of the Resilient People conference), who shared with me his view on the situation. He spoke of the forest fires, that in the midst of their destruction create great wind vortexes that throw up the seeds of the trees and disperse them great distances, spreading seeds of hope. He compared this to what we are seeing in our society with climate change – seeds of hope and courage that are creating new opportunities, new communities, new hope….

And so in this, I take strength and courage. I look ahead with hope at where we are going and with eagerness to discover what lies ahead, and I try and help those that are currently facing hopelessness and despair to work through it and find hope – because these people will inevitably become our strongest leaders. I choose to see climate change as an opportunity for us all – an opportunity to create positive change,  for life, and I hope that one day, you may too.

In peace,

Corrina

Tags: climate change, resilient people