When faced with the stark reality of the climate crisis, many individuals feel that any action they take is insignificant. This sense of hopelessness is the most powerful obstacle to change. In a survey by Ispsos, 59% of American respondents reported they actively avoid news covering climate change, and three-quarters of surveyed young adults believe that “humanity is doomed” revealing that eco-anxiety affects their day-to-day lives. These statistics are proof of a society that has fallen into the trap of hopelessness and has already accepted defeat. Despite this, environmental issues are gaining momentum, climate change has become a key issue in most free elections, and we are formulating real solutions that will put us on a path to stop global warming—so why does it seem like everyone has already given up?
Several researchers propose that the emotion of hope is responsible for instigating climate action. They argue that there would be no sustained effort and no way to combat the psychological effects of despair that cause us to shut down when faced with issues as daunting as climate change. Others argue that relying simply on hope is counterproductive, leaving room for a false sense of security, apathy, complacency, and thereby greatly hindering effective climate action. Nevertheless, urgency without hope has been proven to lead to a belief that actions are futile, causing fear, paralysis, or complete disengagement. Although we must find a balance between unbiased idealism versus fear mongering, I believe that by using hope to motivate lasting civil engagement we have the ability to realistically combat climate change.
Hope’s scientific definition is the intentional act of setting goals and working toward them with purpose; without this there can be real action taken against the climate crisis. “Hope requires a person to take responsibility for their desires and take action in working towards them. Optimistic people see the glass as half full, but hopeful people ask how they can fill the glass” (Shrikant). In the context of climate change, hope resembles taking accountability for our past failures, acknowledging the need for reform, setting attainable environmental standards, and staying involved even when it’s hard to see the point. It’s so easy to be engulfed by the sorrow and crisis of the world; yet to survive we must believe and actively hope we will fix climate change. To do this we must get rid of the myth that major industries and government officials are the only ones who can solve this issue—change will only begin with us in our communities.
While it’s true no one person can fix what we have gotten ourselves into, the combined voice and actions of communities have the power to pressure our leaders into making decisions and changes that will insure the wellbeing of our posterity and nation. Bestselling author Jonathan Franzen remarks, “it is just as important to fight smaller, more local battles you have some realistic chance of winning,” concluding “save what you love specifically” and “take heart in your small successes.” These “local battles” can be anything from advocating for policy change, staying educated on issues that directly affect your community, participating in local organizations and initiatives that are fighting to make a difference, and most importantly embracing hope and never giving up on the future.
Exercising hope on a local level has positively affected communities around the world and one example takes place in Utah Valley. Saline lakes across the globe are in crisis and in Utah’s case, the loss of the Great Salt Lakes would entail a collapse of industries that fuel the economy, health issues from the toxic dust, and a collapse in biodiversity across the state. Grow the Flow is one of many organizations in Utah Valley, my current residence, that is attempting to save the Great Salt Lakes through education, service, and civic engagement. They can’t stop climate change, they can’t even solve the water shortage, but they have managed to unite citizens across political, religious, and class divides by giving them hope to save the land they love so much. On the G.T.F website they state that people no longer ask “’Why should I care about Great Salt Lake?’ Now we only hear one question: ‘What can I do to help?’” Grow the Flow has empowered hundreds of Utahns, including me, by making volunteering accessible to anyone, regardless of skill level, knowledge, or time commitment. Moreover, it has given me and thousands of others a sense of victory and purpose, granting the hope needed to pursue change in order to fight for a better, greener life.
Ultimately, climate crises can often feel insurmountable, but it is crucial to recognize the power of hope as a catalyst for meaningful initiative. By fostering hope, we can inspire sustained efforts and combat the psychological paralysis that comes with despair, and create the awareness needed to fight back. Hope is not baseless positivity but is setting realistic goals and working diligently towards them. It involves taking responsibility, staying informed, and engaging in local initiatives that drive change. Organizations like Grow the Flow have proven that community-driven efforts can unite people and empower them to make a difference. By embracing hope, saving what we care about, fighting for small but key victories, we can start to tackle the overwhelming hopelessness of climate change and work towards a sustainable future for all.
Works Cited
Dynata. “Respondents Who Believe It Is Too Late for Action on Climate Change Worldwide in 2021, Generation.” Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Mar 2022.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1308707/attitude-towards-climate-action-by-generation/
Franzen, Jonathan. “What if We Stopped Pretending the Climate Apocalypse Can Be Stopped?” The New Yorker, 8 Sept, 2019. www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/what-if-we-stopped-pretending.
Kroening, Zoey. “Grow the Flow Rise and Restore: Rescuing Great Salt Lake.” growtheflowutah.org.
Shrikant, M. “The Science of Hope: More than Wishful Thinking.” ASU News. Arizona State University, 15 June, 2021. https://news.asu.edu/20210615-solutions-science-hope-more-wishful-thinking