The Case for Climate Hope
The Science of Happiness
PRX and Greater Good Science Center
4.4 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 22 April 2023
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In the first episode in our series Climate, Hope and Science, we explore how embracing uncertainty enables us to move beyond climate anxiety and despair to hope and action, with author and activist Rebecca Solnit.
What does it take to be aware of what’s really happening, without falling into despair? How do we find hope? Do small, individual actions really matter? What happens to our minds and hearts when we connect with nature, and how can that actually protect the climate? We find the links between crisis, hope, happiness, and action.
Look for new episodes April 27 and March 11. Plus, we’ll share climate-focused Happiness Breaks in the weeks following those episodes.
Episode summary:
When you think about climate change, do you feel hope? On this episode of our special series, Climate, Hope and Science, we examine what it means to feel hopeful for the future of our planet. Renowned writer and activist Rebecca Solnit joins Dacher to share why she loves uncertainty, what gives her hope, and how hope empowers her. Later, we hear from climate scientist Patrick Gonzalez about why he believes climate hope is scientifically sound, and how much power we truly have to create meaningful change.
Today’s guests:
Rebecca Solnit is an award-winning author and activist whose works have explored numerous themes including technology, feminism, the environment and social change. Her latest book, which she co-edited, is It's Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility. https://www.nottoolateclimate.com/
Learn more about Rebecca: http://rebeccasolnit.net/biography/
Read Rebecca’s article “Ten ways to confront the climate crisis without loosing hope”: https://tinyurl.com/2p92e2h6
Follow Rebecca on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaSolnit
Follow Rebecca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccasolnit/
Follow Rebecca on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.solnit
Patrick Gonzalez is a climate scientist and forest ecologist at UC Berkeley. His work inspired numerous policy changes focused on forestry protections around the world.
Learn more about Patrick and his work: http://www.patrickgonzalez.net/
Follow Patrick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pgonzaleztweet?lang=en
Follow Patrick on Google Scholar: https://tinyurl.com/mvn98ear
More Resources on Climate Hope:
Greater Good Mag - More Resources on Science Center https://tinyurl.com/ytna663b
University of Michigan - Climate crisis: 4 reasons for hope in 2023: https://tinyurl.com/5n7hhpu8
United Nations - 8 reasons not to give up hope - and take climate action: https://tinyurl.com/3wzrebyy
Australian Psychological Society - Coping with climate change distress: https://tinyurl.com/43jhkbjw
How do you feel when you think about climate change? Where do you derive hope? Email us at [email protected] or use the hashtag #happinesspod.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hope is the thing that keeps you going when things get tough. |
| 0:08.0 | Hope involves anticipating a good future that we think is possible and we really want |
| 0:15.1 | to be true and that isn't 100% within our control. |
| 0:20.5 | It's good for mental health, it's good for general attitude. |
| 0:25.4 | I have to be honest, I do feel hopeless sometimes because I see the effects of climate change. |
| 0:32.5 | I mean, I live in California and I see it. |
| 0:36.3 | Sometimes you wake up and you feel hopeful and sometimes you don't and just because you |
| 0:41.4 | don't on a certain day doesn't mean you can't get there. |
| 0:44.8 | But I think those are things that have to be taught. |
| 0:48.2 | You know, we're not just born, you know, we know. |
| 0:51.7 | Otherwise, how would we make progress, how would we make advancements if we didn't have |
| 0:58.4 | this hope to give our lives purpose and meaning? |
| 1:04.0 | Progress and hope create a self-reinforcing feedback for positive change. |
| 1:09.8 | There is no such thing also about my hope for yours, but rather what we are sharing. |
| 1:16.6 | Hope is the heart of all movements for meaningful change. |
| 1:21.0 | It's like asking a whale if it needs water. |
| 1:23.3 | I mean, yeah, of course we need help. |
| 1:35.2 | I'm Dacker Keltner, welcome to The Science of Happiness. |
| 1:40.6 | On every episode of our show, we talk about things we can do to improve our own well-being |
| 1:45.6 | and our relationships with others. |
| 1:48.3 | And the science behind why practices like gratitude, journaling, mindful breathing |
| 1:53.2 | or going out in nature are so effective. |
... |
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