Climate Change Anxiety

Our headlines are filled with climate change sirens, The Guardian warns us of the horrors
of climate change in this encouraging headline! “Climate crisis: extremely hot days could double
in the US, study shows”. ScienceDaily reports, “Underwater
glacial melting is occurring at higher rates than modeling
predicts” and CBC News states: “The evidence: making the case
for climate change”, you get the point. I find myself passively
intaking the bombardment of information as I read through the
articles. I can’t help but feel like Evard Munch’s 1893, The
Scream painting. I have included my re-creation of Much’s
painting so that YOU can also commiserate in my current
emotional state. After really taking in Munch’s painting via my
recreation, I truly believe this was a futuristic representation of our
world coming to an end. The bloody consistency of the sky mixed
with tones of melancholy and muted despair, really make a
compelling argument of our impending doom. Taking a closer look at the lake, and we can see it
is filled with algae blooms, and then the sickly shade of mucus green and cat barf yellow,
illuminates the alien-like face. Was Munch on to something, did he time travel to the 21st century
and was completely mind blown by the environmental devastation that has consumed the world
and decided to create a self-portrait of the terror that pierced his sight?
I’m curious to know if the worrying and overwhelming news headlines contributed to
avoidance as a mechanism to cope with the problem? Is it too hard to face because it questions
our entire way of life? How do you expect us to change, it should be the government and
businesses that are held accountable, right? Or does anxiety disrupt our anthropocentric ways and
motivate us to change. Well yes, yes it does! Maria Ojala’s article, “Facing Anxiety in Climate
Change Education: From Therapeutic Practice to Hopeful Transgressive Learning”, identifies
studies that have recently found that anxiety and worry are necessary preconditions for social
deliberation and critical thinking. It goes on to say that anxiety evokes reflection and keeps
people from doing what they are doing at the moment, which allows people to focus on the
outside world thereby motivating thought into action (Ojala, 2016). Ojala references studies in
political psychology that found that climate change worry and the increased climate change
research is related to an inclination to search for more information about the problem (Ojala,
2016). This research is intriguing, although I am still skeptical as to the action it does invoke.
However, it seems that Mother Nature has something to say about this all, as she has
reached her limit. She is sending out her army. Her defenses are activated, she is taking a stand!
Have you heard, there is a tick, not your ordinary Lyme disease-carrying tick but a more
powerful enemy has emerged from the woodwork and is biting carnivorous homosapeins. It’s the
VEGAN TICK! (But really, this should be the common name for this tick, I’ll have to patent it!).
As a result of its inconspicuous bite, an immediate allergic reaction to red meat occurs. It goes
unknown until that moment you bite into that delicious, T-bone steak, and then POOF you will
never, and I repeat you will NEVER be able to eat a T-bone steak or a filets mignon or any type
of scrumptious red meat ever again! According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) agriculture accounts for 18% of greenhouse gases, that is a staggering
amount (Are cows the cause of global warming). Well, maybe Mother Nature has a solution to
that problem, could it be that we are not the ones to solve this but ultimately earth will rectify
itself? I guess that’s just wishful thinking, I’ll move onto what is currently being done.
There is hope, well at least there is hope for reducing the impact of climate change, there
is no hope for those bitten by Vegan Tick! There has been a change in the way we manage our
current climate circumstances. The recognition of Indigenous practices of stewardship in
conjunction with Western science is contributing to awareness and action. In Canada, the
education system is moving toward a holistic teaching approach that is looking for the answer in
the once dismissed Indigenous pedagogy. This is important because Indigenous communities are
strong advocates for environmental conservation and preservation, living cohesively with the
land for centuries. The introductory to perspectives that are not Eurocentric exposes students and
communities to be more reflective through gaining a larger understanding of the world, which
allows for a student to consider how universal actions impact others. Students are aware of the
climate change issues and the devastating effect it will have on their future, and as a result, this
knowledge has created a wave of action.
Students are taking a stand, yes you heard me right, I said, students! Greta Thunberg a
student from Switzerland addressed the UN Climate Change COP24 Conference. She
confidently advocates for accountability and action among leaders, corporations, and
policymakers when it comes to changing the course of our planet. Greta clearly states the
injustices that are occurring because of greed among the few and our cumulative action. Greta’s
speech was inspiring and motivational, her dedication and determination will change the future
for many and encourage not only her peers but hopefully us all. It is clear, it takes a child to re-
educate parents, leaders, and teachers, on the real meaning of wealth, health and happiness. It is
not in materialistic gain, it is our communal actions of love for one another by caring for our
planet because we are all connected to this earth and each other.

Reference
Are cows the cause of global warming? Retrieved from https://timeforchange.org/are-cows-
cause-of-global-warming-meat-methane-CO2
Ojala, M. (2016). Facing Anxiety in Climate Change Education: From Therapeutic Practice to
Hopeful Transgressive Learning. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 21.