Denial or despair? How to rewrite your climate change story | Clover Hogan | TEDxLondonWomen

Summary

This powerful speech reflects on the speaker's deep connection with nature, growing eco-anxiety, and the challenges posed by climate change. It narrates personal heartbreaks, like witnessing mass dolphin hunts and devastating wildfires in Australia, and critiques societal denial and despair in confronting environmental crises. The speaker argues that shifting mindsets is crucial for change, urging individuals to take responsibility for what they can control, rather than feeling powerless. They inspire action through personal stories, challenging common excuses and offering a call to mobilize for the planet and future generations.

Takeaways

• 🐸 Growing up in tropical North Queensland, the speaker was deeply connected to nature, spending much of their childhood outdoors.
• 🎥 At age 11, the speaker turned to documentaries like 'The Cove,' 'Food Inc.,' and 'An Inconvenient Truth' to learn about environmental crises after being prohibited from watching horror films.
• 💔 The speaker's first heartbreak came from witnessing environmental destruction through documentaries, including mass dolphin hunts and deforestation.
• 🔥 The second heartbreak was during Australia’s 2019 bushfires, where one billion animals perished, and people lost their homes.
• 🌏 The speaker emphasizes how young people today are inheriting environmental devastation and are experiencing eco-anxiety, with 70% of 18-24 year-olds in the UK suffering from it.
• 🧠 Eco-anxiety and climate change are described as some of the biggest mental health challenges facing the current generation, compounded by feelings of powerlessness.
• 🤔 Despair and denial are described as common responses to climate change, but both are paralyzing and stem from a sense of powerlessness.
• 💡 The speaker believes the greatest challenge is overcoming the feeling of powerlessness, advocating for mindset shifts to empower people to act.
• 🛠 Responsibility and power are linked, with the speaker arguing that taking personal responsibility can lead to real power in making a difference.
• 📖 The speaker encourages people to rewrite the limiting stories they tell themselves and take action based on their individual skills and passions, no matter how small it may seem.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood like in North Queensland, Australia?

The speaker grew up in tropical North Queensland, Australia, where they spent a lot of time outdoors, interacting with nature, such as fishing frogs from toilets, dodging snakes, and helping stranded sea turtles.

What inspired the speaker's early interest in environmental issues?

The speaker turned to documentaries at age 11, such as 'The Cove,' 'Food Inc.,' and 'An Inconvenient Truth,' after being banned from watching horror films. These documentaries opened their eyes to environmental destruction, like dolphin hunts and deforestation.

How did the speaker feel during the 2019 Australian wildfires?

The speaker felt deep despair, grief, and frustration during the 2019 Australian wildfires, watching as one billion animals were incinerated, and seeing friends attempt to save their homes.

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

Eco-anxiety refers to feelings of helplessness, grief, panic, insomnia, and guilt around climate change. It is on the rise, particularly among young people, with 70% of 18-24 year olds in the UK reportedly experiencing it in 2019.

What are the two common emotional responses to climate change described by the speaker?

The two common responses are denial and despair. Denial involves ignoring the problem, while despair leads to feeling overwhelmed by it. Both stem from a feeling of powerlessness.

How does the speaker describe the mindset of corporate leaders regarding climate change?

The speaker suggests that corporate leaders, despite their positions of power, often feel powerless. They are conditioned to prioritize profits and maintain the status quo, which can conflict with their personal beliefs about environmental responsibility.

What is the significance of the quote 'With great power comes great responsibility' according to the speaker?

The speaker flips the quote, suggesting that 'With great responsibility comes great power,' meaning that taking personal responsibility can empower individuals to create change.

What does the speaker believe is a greater threat than climate change?

The speaker believes that the greatest threat is the feeling of powerlessness in the face of climate change, which affects people of all ages and social positions.

How does the speaker propose we shift from despair or denial toward action?

The speaker suggests shifting mindsets by rewriting the limiting stories we tell ourselves. By focusing on the areas we can control and using our unique skills, we can challenge feelings of powerlessness and take meaningful action.

What personal transformation does the speaker describe by the end of the talk?

The speaker initially wanted to save the world but realized the greater task was saving themselves. They emphasize personal responsibility and the importance of using one's privileges and resources to encourage others to take action.