Climate Change? Fear vs Love.

Why we should change a narrative of fear into a narrative of compassion and love.

Climate Change is now part of our everyday lives. Some believe in it, some don't. Belief however has very little to do with the reality of our situation, where the now not so subtle temperature changes globally are posing a real threat to our very survival. Whilst I do not neglect the need to inform and sensitise people, I also am convinced the so far used narrative of fear is not working and is possibly never going to.

“The world seems devised between those trying to save the planet and those who don't”

As the world is about to enter into a crisis, at a rate described by science as alarming, we are still trying to figure out how to get the message across in a way which leaves a mark and prompts people into action. One of the most used techniques is fear. What does this mean? Newspapers, the TV, social media, they bombard audiences with terrifying, unsettling images of draught, natural disasters, death. So, if our basic instinct is survival, these images should, by default, provoke deep and immediate change in those exposed to them. The reality is: they don't.

Remembering Where We Come From.

This is not really about giving ourselves a pat on the shoulder for how much we have already accomplished. This would not be very productive, given we don't have much time left. But how do we get the world to listen? How can we get to those most distant hearts? There is no easy answer to these questions. Perhaps the key, like with everything else, is to simply stop and ask

Why is this all happening? What are the roots of human behaviour right now?

We've lost touch with Nature. Because of the lives we live, the time pressure, the constant bombardment with things we need to buy, accomplish, prove to ourselves and others. Anxiety reigns in our lives, it's almost like a constant layer of inflammation affecting our bodies and minds. How can we expect for fear to work on an already deeply unsettled state of emotions? It can't lead to positive outcomes.

Whilst we focus on finding mass-solutions, we forget the importance of the individual, of the centrality this has in change. Would we use fear to help a child learn about the world? No. Teaching about climate change and its consequences is vital, but I propose to do this with love, kindness and nurturing. We can use self expression, art, the beauty of Nature to help individuals remember about their origins, to help them remember who they are and where they come from.