How are we living through the climate emergency?

Did you know that global media have declared this week Climate Emergency Week?

The theme is “Living Through The Climate Emergency”. Giants like The Guardian, Vice, Al Jazeera and more are sharing stories about the people and places experiencing climate change and how they, and all of us, can survive it.

Since COVID, it’s been too easy to block out the drought, famine, floods, fires, and conflict happening all over the world. For more than a year, BBC news tv coverage has been completely flooded with UK-centred coverage, I realised I needed to try harder to know what’s going on in the rest of the world.

I remembered a good friend Chris once told me to watch Al Jazeera news. I’ve recently started watching it at lunchtimes. At first, I was shocked at how much news I’d been missing and I felt my anxiety about climate change, death and disaster creeping back in. But I’ve since realised that Al Jazeera shares so many stories and documentaries about the positive action being taken to address the world’s problems, that I’m actually feeling more knowledgeable and hopeful. It’s also refreshing to hear from a diverse range of news presenters from different countries all around the world.

So how am I living through the climate emergency?

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to climate change I feel like a guilty bystander. I am not (yet) physically impacted and in danger, living through climate change has been about trying to find ways to ‘fight it’ from my safe, secure and privileged home in the UK. That makes me feel guilty and somewhat hopeless.

I try to avoid plastic, I have switched to renewable energy companies and I know I need to switch to an ethical pension scheme and bank. But I often struggle to see how these small changes can make a difference. But then I roll my eyes and remember the saying: what is the ocean but a multitude of drops? And so what is the fight against global climate change but a multitude of people finding solutions to help us survive it?

Choosing how I live through the climate emergency

If my experience is being part of the fight, I have to actively support the global multitude - the people who are living in danger and the people who are finding solutions.

Supporting people who are living in danger

I can support people by educating myself about the drought, famine, floods, fires, and conflict happening all over the world. By offering my support to organisations who can physically help them like Doctors without Borders and Refugee Action. Millions of people are already fleeing from danger and climate, and these refugees need safety and protection. So when people talk or act against migrants and these refugees, I need to speak up and fight in their corner, especially when it comes to equality, race and human rights.

Support people who are finding solutions

I can support people who are finding solutions by watching documentaries, talking to people and championing sustainability through my work. I can also write about climate change and share stories that will inspire people. For example, today I watched a documentary about drones helping farmers in Sudan to save precious trees from desertification. Next week, I start working with the Stanford Center for Social Solutions and Stokholm Resilience Centre. I will be supporting research into how the world can sustainably feed itself in relation to blue food from our seas, rivers and oceans.

So how are you living through the climate emergency?

I hope the more we talk about what we are experiencing, feeling and doing during the climate emergency, the more we will feel like an active part of the solution. So, how do you see yourself being part of the global multitude when it comes to adapting to climate change? And can you do anything to support Earth Day on Thursday 22 April?

Read more about #ClimateEmergencyWeek.

Looking for inventors to help me power my TV using my windmill!