Clover Hogan: What to do when climate change feels unstoppable | TED

Summary

The speaker reflects on growing up in Australia's North Queensland, witnessing nature's beauty and the devastating impact of environmental disasters. They share how documentaries opened their eyes to issues like climate change and mass exploitation, leading to feelings of grief and eco-anxiety. As young people inherit a broken planet, they struggle with a sense of powerlessness. The speaker urges a shift from despair and denial to responsibility and action. They emphasize that changing mindsets and taking personal responsibility for what is within one's control is the key to combating environmental challenges and creating a better future.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The speaker grew up in Australia's Tropical North Queensland, surrounded by nature, which fostered a deep connection to the environment.
• 🎬 Documentaries like 'The Cove,' 'Food, Inc,' and 'An Inconvenient Truth' shaped the speaker's early awareness of environmental issues.
• 💔 The speaker experienced heartbreak from witnessing environmental destruction, such as dolphin hunts and deforestation for consumer products.
• 🔥 Australia's Black Summer bushfires in 2019 left the speaker feeling helpless, as one billion animals were incinerated, and friends struggled to save their homes.
• 🌍 Young people face growing eco-anxiety, feeling overwhelmed by the reality of climate change and frustrated with the lack of action from adults in power.
• 📊 Studies show that a large percentage of young people experience anxiety, grief, and panic about environmental disasters, which is a growing mental health crisis.
• 💼 The speaker has worked with business and political leaders who often feel powerless despite being in positions of authority, leading to denial or avoidance of the climate crisis.
• 🧠 Both denial and despair are unhelpful responses to climate change because they immobilize action, stemming from a common feeling of powerlessness.
• 💪 The speaker believes that instead of focusing on solving climate change directly, people should focus on what they can control—their mindset and actions.
• 🌱 The speaker encourages individuals to challenge their limiting beliefs and take responsibility for contributing to solutions, no matter how small or localized the impact may be.

Q & A

What childhood experiences shaped the speaker's connection to nature?

The speaker grew up in Australia's Tropical North Queensland, where they frequently interacted with wildlife, such as fishing frogs from toilets, dodging snakes, and helping stranded sea turtles. They spent much of their time outdoors, delighting in the wonders of nature.

How did the speaker first become aware of environmental issues?

The speaker became aware of environmental issues through documentaries like 'The Cove,' 'Food, Inc.,' and 'An Inconvenient Truth.' These documentaries exposed them to issues such as mass dolphin hunts, deforestation, and climate change.

What does the speaker describe as their first experience of heartbreak?

The speaker's first heartbreak occurred when they witnessed footage of mass dolphin hunts turning the shoreline red, deforestation for fast food production, and the alarming data on climate change presented by Al Gore in 'An Inconvenient Truth.'

What personal emotions did the speaker experience during Australia's Black Summer of 2019?

The speaker felt despair, grief, frustration, and fury as they watched their country burn during Australia's Black Summer. They were deeply affected by the sight of one billion animals dying in the fires and the destruction of homes.

What is 'eco-anxiety,' and how has it affected young people?

Eco-anxiety refers to feelings of helplessness, grief, panic, insomnia, and guilt associated with climate change. The speaker notes that it is particularly prevalent among young people, with research showing that 70% of 18- to 24-year-olds in the UK felt eco-anxious in 2019.

How does the speaker contrast the perspectives of young people and corporate leaders regarding the future?

While corporate leaders often envision a techno-utopia with flying cars and disease eradication, young people tend to imagine a dystopian future, characterized by empty supermarket shelves and cities underwater. This contrast reflects different levels of optimism and concern.

What are the speaker’s views on denial and despair regarding climate change?

The speaker believes both denial and despair are unhelpful responses to climate change. Denial absolves people of responsibility by assuming someone else will solve the problem, while despair makes individuals feel the problem is too big to address. Both stem from feelings of powerlessness.

What lesson does the speaker emphasize with the quote 'With great responsibility comes great power'?

The speaker suggests that by taking personal responsibility for the challenges within one's control, individuals can harness power to create change. This perspective shifts the focus from feeling powerless to finding actionable solutions within one's sphere of influence.

How does the speaker propose individuals can contribute to solving environmental issues?

The speaker encourages individuals to focus on their unique talents and passions. Whether it’s fashion, food, or music, everyone can contribute to solving specific environmental problems by using their skills to address issues such as fast fashion, food waste, or climate communication.

What central message does the speaker convey about rewriting personal stories?

The speaker believes that the stories people tell themselves, such as 'I'm too small to make a difference' or 'The system is too broken,' paralyze action. Rewriting these stories and focusing on what can be done is a powerful way to inspire both individual and collective action.