It is no secret that the news makes people feel like there is this impending doom surrounding us constantly. It is important however to not get overwhelmed by this anxiety and dread and to harness it–to reduce the “psychological toll of living with climate change and become part of the solution.” How to Stop Freaking Out and Tackle Climate Change, and article in the New York Times, written by environmental writer Emma Marris, gives a five-point plan on how to relax about the planet’s current state and make a change to help fix the problem. Her first point is encouraging people to feel less guilty about their impact on the planet, because living the greenest life possible is not easy. Everyone struggles, whether they like to show it or not, which leads into her next point: looking at big picture on just an individual. One individual does not compare to the scale of the United States. Marris explains how the only way to really solve this crisis is by electing the right people into companies and government roles. For those who want to be activists, she recommends a third step, to join a group. Volunteering with like-minded folks, for a cause one truly cares about, is more likely to maintain the passion of the subject. Taking a role, whether it one of leadership or not, is the fourth step to making this process as smooth as possible. It is important to help in the way that brings out each individual’s skill, instead of making everyone do a bit of everything. The final step is to remember what is being fought for, not just fighting against. This will hopefully reduce anxiety and depression by removing thoughts of avoiding doom and instead thinking of a beautiful future. She goes on to discuss how now is a time of healing, for both our mental health and our environments.
This article has a perspective of climate change that I have never really seen before. Emma Marris preaches to be a part of something bigger than oneself. Most protests, pamphlets, or presentations are scary. The way activists go about getting their message across makes the individuals feel hopeless, like climate change is their fault, but Morris suggests that it isn’t about placing blame but about joining together to make a change. Some of the language she used in this piece felt relatable, “You feel anxious, afraid and intensely guilty. Just this morning, you drove a gasoline-powered car to work. You ate beef for lunch. You booked a flight, turned on the heat, forgot your reusable grocery bags at home. This is your fault.” Morris is saying these things that we all feel at times, especially those who really care about the environment, and then for her to go back and say it we shouldn’t feel ashamed is actually encouraging.
I believe this is a positive way to approach climate change, although it can be dangerous to not take any blame, because then each individual may feel that if its someone else’s problem, someone else can fix it. But, this is completely different than what Morris was saying. Anxiety and depression are difficult enough to deal with, feeling like the collapse of our planet is my fault sure is not going to help that. I would like to know how many people in out country have their anxiety subconsciously due to this crisis, especially for those who are in denial of the subject. In general, I really like the way Emma Morris approached this topic, and I think getting over the fear of climate change and fighting for a happy future is our best bet at solving this issue.
Citation:
Morris, Emma. “How to Stop Freaking Out and Tackle Climate Change.” New York Times, 2020, How to Stop Freaking Out and Tackle Climate Change.
