From Anxiety to Action: My Journey into Climate Consciousness

Nambia Desert

The Awakening

I started to develop an interest in the subject of climate change and the human impact of such change, after reading “A Life on This Planet” written by the legendary Sir David Attenborough and I have to say, not only did it blow my mind in terms of the current environmental state of affairs, but it also scared the living daylights out of me.

The timing of coming across this book was shortly after making an overland tour of Namibia with some friends – if you have not done it or heard about this type of experience, I suggest you click here as it will help set the context for the rest of this dialogue.

At first, I didn’t really know what to do other than recite and observe the various areas of grave concern that Sir Davey, Dave had armed me with and trust me, that did not make me feel any better. In fact, all it led to be a feeling of anxiety and hopelessness.

Finding a Path Forward

With time, as I digested some hard truths and realities about our impact on the planet and became better informed on the subject, in general,

I learnt a few things:

• I was not alone in feeling anxious and hopeless. In fact, most of the global population, especially the younger generations, feel this way.

• These drives one of two behaviours: either it inspires some sort of action and go forward, or it encourages extreme discouragement.

• In the case of those inspired to go forward, it is usually clumsy and inconsistent and, from what I have observed, it is because the material available to inform and educate the general public (not the scientists, environmentalists and ecologists, etc.) but the everyday Joe Soap, is poor!

• For those who are demotivated and discouraged, well, again, it’s not difficult to imagine why.
  

The task discussed at a high level and thrown around in the media seems insurmountable and so, “if I do nothing, what will it really change?” Fair enough, as far as I’m concerned.

Knowledge is Power: Informing and Educating the Everyday Person

So, after much debate with various friends, family members and colleagues, I set myself a task to at least do something constructive with this newfound interest and passion which, when I discussed the above with them, it was met with a healthy dose of interest and curiosity.

Action over Apathy: Small Steps for Big Change

I want it to be clear in my introduction to remind various stakeholders, and mostly myself, that my primary objective is to create useful, logical and constructive content for a simple community of people who wanted to, first and foremost arm themselves with information that brings them awareness on what is a massive subject and an absolute minefield to navigate and two, if wanted to be acted on, might lead to a change within their personal lives and perhaps into their various communities, whether that be at home, work or other shared spaces. I can only hope that some change will come from this, and I mean change at an individual level but change, nevertheless.

Together We Can: Building a Community of Change

One thing is for certain, if I did not start, nothing would come of my intentions and that felt more wrong to me. To be clear, I will get things wrong, and I may take a few extra turns to arrive at the right destination, but I hope, once again, that together we will arrive in a better place. One where we feel less helpless, more comfortable and, ultimately, happier with the lives that we lead! To quote an African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.