How I'm Finding Hope for the Climate Crisis

Over the last few months (okay, make that decades), the climate crisis has become a point of global focus. Flooding in Pakistan and Jackson, Mississippi, and extreme heat in California are just a few of the many climate headlines in the last week. When this is the news that we are being faced with, being a climate activist (and a climate optimist) feels overwhelming, and hope may feel distant.  Yet, climate optimism is a powerful force, and certainly one that will help us continue making progress towards a better future. Even when things feel capital B Bad, Sustainable Baddie is focused on hope and community care. I created a collection of news stories and resources to offer opportunities for collective action amidst a difficult time. Read to learn about leadership in environments most impacted by the climate crisis, the various positive changes taking place today, and ways through which you can help, including offering physical, monetary, and social support. 

 Flooding in Pakistan 

Photo Credit: BBC

At present, there are over 33 million people who are displaced due to the flooding in Pakistan. Refugees are living in poor conditions with a lack of food access and without relief from temperatures in the hundreds (degrees Fahrenheit). On September 13th, Pakistani advocates called on wealthy countries like the U.S. to offer support for those displaced in the floods. Huma Yusuf, a columnist from Pakistani newspaper Dawn explains, “Countries like Pakistan…are bearing the brunt of the greenhouse gas emitting activities of industrialized nations…The industrialized nations that have profited from it should be the ones helping out with this big bill.” This appeal for assistance has motivated countries to send resources, which, hopefully,will motivate others to offer more. The U.S. pledged 30 million in aid, and 60 other countries have sent planes filled with essential items. 

Witnessing the tragedy resulting from the floods can feel debilitating. However, I am finding hope and encouragement through the activism of Ayisha Siddiqa. She uses her platform to share the stories of Pakistani flood victims. Her profile is filled with updates about the current flooding, ways to support the displaced peoples, and reflections through her poetry. If you are looking for someone who will help you find both inspiration and motivation, Siddiqa’s platform is one to follow. And if you are looking for ways to help now, Siddiqa encourages those who can to donate to Akhuwat, the Edhi Foundation, and the Asani Trust. 

No More Patagonia 

Photo Credit: NPR

Just last week, Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard, gave up his billionaire company to climate change efforts. Chouinard is a corporate leader who has remained outspoken around issues like climate change, environmental protection, and extreme wealth gaps. His decision to give up the company is intended to set a precedent and encourage other billionaires to follow suit. He gave up Patagonia and majority of his family's assets to the leadership of a non-profit and trust that will “ensure all profits are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land all over the globe." Hopefully, the example set by Patagonia will radiate through other corporations who share similar values. Not only does this move offer hope for the progression of the climate movement, but it also means there is more available funding for climate action. 

Extreme Heat in Los Angeles 

Photo Credit: Source NPR; Ethan Swope/AP

The last few weeks, Los Angeles, other parts of California, and Western parts of the U.S. experienced record breaking heat waves. The heat waves, which will continue through September, are affecting one of the largest power grids in the country. States surrounding California like Utah and Nevada reached unusually high temperatures above the hundreds (F), and amidst multiple wildfires, the risk of fire spread is increasing.  

These heat waves have had a particularly large impact on un-housed communities. In a column for the LA Times, Anita Chabria and Erika D. Smith pose a question: will these heat waves drive solutions to homelessness? They explain that solutions used during the pandemic like Project Roomkey did slow the increase of houselessness in Los Angeles. The hope is that leaders are learning from what was accomplished during the pandemic, and will apply these solutions to climate and public health crises. For more hopeful content, follow activists like Nalleli Cobo and Mutual Aid networks like Mutual Aid LA. Be sure to check out Mutual Aid LA’s regular dispatch that provides comprehensive information on how to support folks all over the LA area.

Climate Energy Action on the Rise

In August, President Biden signed a climate and health bill that made extensive changes to health access in the country, and outlined clear changes in fossil fuel usage. The bill has room for growth, but overall, it remains a positive step towards climate action. Since the bill was signed, a wave of clean energy efforts has ensued. Massive companies like Toyota, mining companies like Piedmont Lithium, and solar power companies like First Solar are all allocating large funds to producing more electric vehicles, building lithium battery plants locally, producing more solar panels, and more. It’s assumed that the motivation is coming from incentives in the climate bill. I am hoping that this bill sets the precedent for more to come, and that other large corporations and companies are incentivized to replace their outdated practices with newer clean energy ones. 

Flooding in Jackson 

Photo Credit: PBS

This August, Jackson Mississippi experienced a series of heavy rains and flooding that overpowered the area's water treatment facilities, leaving the city without clean, drinkable running water for weeks. Today, water pressure has been restored, but the quality of the water remains low, and the water boil  notice remains in effect. Poor water is not a new issue for many Jackson citizens. A history of lead traces and detected E. Coli bacteria over the last few years make a water boil notice a familiar occurrence. The threats of climate change affecting infrastructure and leading to the exacerbation of water treatment facilities is a reality that could begin impacting other cities as well. Jackson, like so many other cities most affected by climate change, doesn’t have the funds to repair the water treatment system to the degree it needs. 

Fortunately, Jackson citizens have been prepared for this water crisis for a long time. An NPR article featured members of the local Skyes Park Community Center, who are leading water distribution efforts. Jason Page, a youth mentor with the center, shared that they are making clean drinking water with their own water filter system. The community care being practiced in Jackson, and other places affected heavily by climate change, is a reminder that we are our communities’ own best supporters. The Skyes Park Community Center, and other organizations like The Peoples Advocacy Institution, are actively supporting their community daily through water distribution and education, while their local governments sit idle. If you want to help gather resources and support efforts for Jackson, you can make donations to the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalitions Water Fund or the local organization Cooperation Jackson, and uplift the efforts of MS Students Community Water Delivery Support. If you are local to Mississippi, the MS Students are looking for volunteers and assistance with water drop off. All of these groups are illustrating the power of local, community led, grassroots organizing, and offering me hope in the value of community care. 

Amazon Rainforest Protection

Indigenous leaders in Amazon Basin countries have introduced a pact to world leaders that would ensure protection of the Amazon rainforest. This natural environment has been under threat for years, and is close to reaching a tipping point. However, this global pact would protect 80% of the forest by 2025, and hopefully slow deforestation. The plan will be introduced at the U.N. climate conference in Egypt in November 2022. Not only will this plan make moves towards a healthier climate, but it will also require historically suppressed indigenous leadership. There will be more to come when this pact is brought to the conference, but I am hoping that this is one step in a movement towards indigenous-led climate action on a global scale. 

Where to find more Climate Optimism

 If you are looking for more climate optimism on your feed and in your life, follow some of my favorite sources. 

 Future Earth: Future Earth’s weekly Good News posts always bring hope and energy to my climate efforts. They round up the latest news in climate solutions and climate progress and share these successes with their audience in addition to sharing other forms of climate education. They offer a consistent reminder that progress is happening and there are people, like us, who want to make a difference. 

Atmos: A climate and culture magazine, Atmos shares art, writing, and activism with a lens on climate action and environmental justice. Their work is intended to create a re-enchantment with the natural world, and their dreamlike aesthetics certainly do the trick. When the climate action world can feel filled with data, facts, and laws, Atmos provides a reminder that ecojustice is a beautiful task. Sign up for their newsletters for regular enchantment, or look into their biannual print edition for something unique to put on your bookshelf. 

Slow Factory: Slow Factory offers transparent takes on the latest climate news, uplifts grassroots organizers, and offers accessible climate education. I follow them to get up-to-date climate news with a focus on restorative justice. Their work reminds me that the climate fight is a humanitarian fight, and education is our most powerful tool. 

Grist: Grist is a non-profit independent media organization that is focused on spreading environmental awareness through storytelling. Fix, their solutions lab is designed to uplift and offer hope by highlighting activists and sharing their unique narratives. Grist is not only informative, and solutions-oriented, but their amazing color scheme and design make visiting their website a peaceful experience. 

Intersectional Environmentalist: a leader in Gen Z climate action, Intersectional Environmentalist is a top tier resource for getting educated and involved with a diverse climate action community. The IE podcast, The Joy Report, delivers coverage of climate solutions that are taking place now. Their stories uplift environmental justice efforts with a lens of optimism rooted in intersectionality. They recently started putting on in-person organizing events throughout the United States. Follow to get involved at an event near you!