Have you ever been torn between turning on the air conditioner and saving the polar bears? Or perhaps you've tried to explain your decision to not have children because humanity has already placed too much of a burden on the planet, only to have your elders dismiss it as nonsense? This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the sci-fi disaster film \"The Day After Tomorrow.\" As we seem ever closer to the apocalyptic catastrophe wrought by extreme climate change, anxiety is brewing and swelling within this generation. The \"Climate Caf\u00e9\" initiative aims to bring people with similar anxieties together for mutual healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Climate Caf\u00e9s become a healing platform for those expressing anxiety caused by extreme climate change<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Force of Nature (a nonprofit organization founded in 2019 by 19-year-old Clover Hogan to promote systemic change in response to climate change), Climate Caf\u00e9s have been held in 49 countries, with over 190 events taking place. The earliest Climate Caf\u00e9 was probably hosted by Jess Pepper in Scotland in 2015. The idea for this event came after he gave a community talk where people wanted to know what they could do to combat climate change. He realized that rather than organizing an initiative or a one-off meeting, people needed a voice to share their experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For similar reasons, Rebecca Nestor of the nonprofit Climate Psychology Alliance, inspired by death cafes, hosted the first Climate Caf\u00e9 in Oxford, England, in 2018. Drawing on the concept of death cafes, Climate Caf\u00e9s provide a venue for people to openly discuss and express their feelings about climate change and the impacts of extreme weather on the environment and human survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many participants mentioned that in their daily lives, when they discussed extreme climate change with family and friends, they often didn't receive the response they hoped for, let alone engage in a discussion. This depressing situation has left some participants feeling even more anxious, uneasy, and worried, exacerbating feelings of guilt about their inability to do anything, and even impacting their mental health. \"Climate Caf\u00e9s are more like group catharsis than therapy,\" said Lauren Bondy, a Climate Caf\u00e9 organizer with a background in therapy. It allows people to express themselves in a group setting, helping them face the uncertainties of extreme climate change. Through the power of the group, they can transform their already low mood into motivation to continue focusing on this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discuss serious topics, but it is a relaxing gathering<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Initially, Climate Caf\u00e9s were private gatherings, with invitees discussing things behind closed doors. Gradually, however, more and more events have become open to the public, allowing anyone who sees the event announcement to attend. Both online and in-person gatherings are available. In-person Climate Caf\u00e9s often take place in the host's home, creating a comfortable, warm, and relaxing space where people can freely discuss their thoughts and feelings without pressure. Some hosts light scented candles, play relaxing music, and serve fruit, snacks, potato chips, and sparkling water, creating the illusion of a Friday night get-together with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Climate caf\u00e9s are held in a wide variety of formats and methods, essentially varying depending on the organizer. There are sessions targeting specific professions, and there are also sessions to discuss future action plans. However, most climate caf\u00e9s do not restrict the identities of participants, so participants are not required to come up with any conclusions or initiatives after group discussions. The focus is simply on sharing with other participants the sadness, fear, anxiety, or any other emotions they feel when facing extreme climate change, so that participants understand that they are not alone in their concern for this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we can\u2019t heal ourselves, we can\u2019t heal the planet,\u201d Lauren Bondy said, capturing the essence of the Climate Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can I host a climate caf\u00e9?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To expand the reach of climate caf\u00e9s, many nonprofit organizations and individuals concerned with the impacts of extreme climate change are leveraging their own experience organizing climate caf\u00e9s to train and share relevant information with others interested in hosting them. To organize a climate caf\u00e9, first decide on a location\u2014a coffee shop, a community space, or even a home. Next, decide who you want to invite: friends, neighbors, or strangers, and whether you want to invite a certain age group or no restrictions. Finally, design the space to be comfortable and provide food and beverages that attendees will enjoy. Finally, be prepared to engage in conversation about climate issues. The duration and frequency of your climate caf\u00e9 are up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be more specific, the nonprofit organization Climate & Mind recommends a climate caf\u00e9 lasting approximately 90 minutes. This can be divided into 15 minutes of waiting for participants to arrive and get to know each other, 30 minutes of listening to each other's ideas, 30 minutes of discussing possible future actions, and a final 10 minutes of summarizing the day's progress. As an informal platform for mutual healing, climate caf\u00e9s offer a highly flexible format. Anything that makes participants feel comfortable is a good way to promote a climate caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article is reprinted with permission from Social Enterprise Flow. The original title is \"Sharing Doomsday Fears: The 'Climate Caf\u00e9' Emerges in Accordance with the Trend.\" It is not licensed under the Creative Commons License.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
References\uff1a
*The Guardian\uff082021.9.4\uff09\uff0cAnxiety and biscuits: the climate cafes popping up around the world
*The New York Times\uff082024.3.20\uff09\uff0cCan Climate Cafes Help Ease the Anxiety of Planetary Crisis?
*CLIMATE & MIND
*Force of Nature climate caf\u00e9s<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source: Environmental Information Centre<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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