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Even though I am a Geography and Science Teacher, I wouldn't say climate crisis is the top concern for me personally, because like Chelsey has mentioned, it does not affect my survival yet. However, it is a primary concern that I often think about during my daily life. For future generations, I am more on the optimistic side and I believe there are adaptation and mitigation measures that we can take, to push back / avoid / overcome the crisis.

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Chelsey (IS243)
While I am concerned, I have to say as sensitively as I can, that the greater environment does not come above my individual needs for survival. I’ll use moving to a new apartment as an example. I moved in with my partner about a year ago and I know I needed us to have our own space for my mental health and well being, ability to have functioning workspace while we both work from home, etc. Our priorities were commute time and access to transit, proximity to a cheap grocery store and number one: rent price within our budget. So when we moved here and found out there was no compost system… that fact that this aspect wasn’t good for the environment could not trump all the other needs. Some of our environmental goals are integrated like being able to use transit or bike/walk to work, but some are not. So like some others I would think, the environment is a high concern in my mind, like the fact that I am aware that my not composting is contributing to environmental waste and I could as an alternative take on a costly individual composting solution, but unfortunately living an environmentally friendly lifestyle isn’t always accessible to all. Having the climate crisis at the top of our list of concerns and priorities isn’t always possible because of the larger systems that make life by default NOT environmentally sustainable.

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The Climate Crisis is certainly a primary concern for me. I think about it daily and it influences many of the decisions I make. As someone who is interested in raising children and as a future educator, I am concerned about what the future 10,20,30+ years from now will look like for my own children and those that I teach. My biggest concern is really that there will not be a group of world leaders in the near future that have the will to enact policy that will have a substantial impact on global greenhouse gas emissions and other mitigative policies for the damage that has already been done.

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Yes, the Climate Crisis is definitely a big concern for me and hopefully for my generation as well. Coming from health and phys ed, thinking about the environment around us and learning from outdoor education is important, but something that we need to be aware of when it comes to our current climate crisis. Being outside is important for our mental and physical wellbeing, but something that may not be as possible in the coming years with fluctuating temperatures, more extreme weather and increasing pollution in our forests, beaches and parks.

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Nicole DeCiantis (IS253). Yes, the climate crisis is a primary concern for me, seeing how it is impacting and harming humans, wildlife, and areas around the world. It is very alarming reading articles and turning on the news to hear that 1 million species are at risk of extinction, the little time we have until we cannot reverse the effects of the climate crisis, and the earth’s temperature increasing over the years. Learning about the impacts of climate crisis really fuelled an urge to implement sustainable practices into my lifestyle. I am trying to adapt my habits to implement sustainable practices in my daily routines by reducing my use of single use plastics, growing produce at home, walking more to nearby stores, carpooling, and watching my consumption patterns at local grocery stores. With this growing and concerning issue, I believe that it is important as a future educator to inform students about the climate crisis in my future classroom. I believe that integrating the climate crisis and sustainability within the curriculum in conversations, lessons, and assessments can help students reflect critically on their actions, and spark critical thinking on how we can work to combat climate crisis and reduce its growing effects.

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Taylor Fernandes (IS253). Yes, the climate crisis is one of my top concerns. I've been studying the climate crisis since high school. I think because I have that educational background, I find myself noticing these changes and evaluating its effect on my daily life. For example, my region had a really intense rainstorm yesterday so much so that my street started to flood with a few inches of water. I found myself thinking back to my studies of the increase in frequency and intensity of storms on account of climate change. If this is what we are seeing now, I worry about how it will be in the future. Not just for my generation but the generations to come.

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Judy Zhu (IS243).
Yes, the climate crisis is a social and global concern I try to keep in mind in my everyday life, though it wouldn't been my top concern in recent years. My educational, personal, and teaching life has been centered around coping and living in a (post)pandemic world. If I were to create a project for my students, I would lean toward the theme of, for example, issues surrounding vaccine distribution in Canada or other countries instead of calculating how much waste and pollution is produced in Canada that contributes to the climate crisis. With that said, I do my part in preventing further global warming. I take public transportation for my daily commutes whenever possible. And after learning about carbon and water usage/pollution from a previous environmental course in university, I have become more careful when shopping for food and deciding on my diet structure. I also like to watch documentaries that talk about what our world would look like if we continue to pollute our planet. By engaging in this course, I hope to find unique and innovative ways I could integrate the topic of climate crisis into my classes.

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Randy S. (IS243). I hope I'm posting this in the right place, however the ongoing climate crisis is definitely a concern. From a very morbid stance, I believe the world is going to end at some point in the future (as humans have caused irreversible damage). So as of now, I try to focus on the little everyday efforts that I can do in regards to recycling properly, making better eco-friendly food choices, or ensuring that my lifestyle is consistently sustainable. Having an open mindset helps in being able to learn from others.

Now, as an educator, it's important to teach students the importance of a sustainable lifestyle and overall culture. This way, they are able to develop habits overtime and guide their ways of viewing the environment around us.

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Daniela B. (IS273) Similar to my classmates above, the climate crisis is definitely a primary concern for me. I make a conscious effort to make changes in my life that will make an impact, but constantly being inundated with timelines until it is too late can definitely feel extremely overwhelming. That is where I struggle the most in relation to climate change because it often feels so big and daunting that I feel like even all my efforts will not have an impact. As a pre-service teacher, recognizing this relationship that I have with trying to make an impact while also seeing how overwhelming it can be, it definitely becomes difficult to identify how I could reshape this work for students. We discussed in class that students often feel overwhelmed or anxious when it comes to climate change for the same reasons I stated above, and I think that I still feel this way because of the way I was taught (or not taught) about climate change. For me, my goal is to be able to communicate the importance of climate change to students and get them involved in making changes in their lives, and helping them to recognize that every change is significant. The most important part of it all is consistency, and hopefully by removing some of that anxiety and hopefully giving them the space to show them how they can have more control (voting, lifestyle habit changes, activism, etc.), they will feel more empowered to do so. I hope that when a story is trending in the news about climate change students are equipped with the skills to deal with that news but can also use the empowerment they learned to help them make a difference.

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Ellie L. (IS273) If I answered this question before this course started, I would probably put it in my top 10. But now, even after just 3 classes into the course, it’s definitely shot up there to the top 2. I have a lot of emotions regarding the climate crisis, that usually bounces between anxiety and frustration. We (as a society, and globally) talk a lot about “change” and the UN has set up these very utopic-sounding SDGs, but I’m having a hard time actually seeing, reading, or experiencing any big changes in climate action. For those wanting to do something actionable to resist the meat industry’s impact on the environment, maybe you start out empowered that you’re taking action reducing those GHGs like a champ, but week after week you go to the grocery store, and you constantly have to pass by the large meat aisle that never changes — heck, maybe it even got bigger over the years you started your vegan journey — I can see how that can have a major negative impact on hope if you’re constantly seeing no positive changes. As a TC about to go off into the workforce as a potential “role model”, I wonder what I can do to effectively get students to genuinely care about Nature without coming across as preachy or holier-than-thou by telling them what I’m doing and how they should follow suit. I’m currently in the phase of brainstorming some creative ways to help my future students intrinsically want to respect Nature, not just because it is and will be “of use” to them. I suppose it’s kind of like getting them to see Nature the same way they would see a loved one. I may be reaching for the stars here considering we live in a capitalist society that lauds competition, and I certainly have mountains to go in my learning journey shaking off these deeply-ingrained monoculturalist views about sustainability and Nature, but I still have hope we can combat climate change by thinking and working together.

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Victoria (IS 273) - Yes, the climate crisis is a primary concern for me. The impact of this crisis on Earth is evident through rising temperatures around the globe, an increase in natural disasters, and the various changes occurring across ecosystems. I believe it is clear that human conduct directly contributes to this crisis and am a firm advocate for adopting a lifestyle that is more sustainable and mitigates the aforementioned concerns. I often fall victim to the thought that it's too late to reverse the damage that has already been done or feel useless as my individual actions are not making much of an impact. However, it is important to remember that if we collectively work together to combat this crisis meaningful and necessary change can be achieved.  As a preservice teacher, I can facilitate respectful conversations about the climate crisis amongst my students and encourage them to take action alleviate the looming debacle.

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Layla (IS 273) Yes, the climate crisis is a concern for me as a young-ish person and preservice teacher. I think that most of my concern stems from fear of the unknown; how will this impact me and my loved ones and us as a species in the years to come, will this make obtaining certain resources difficult in the future, how can I prepare todays youth for tomorrows issues while making them feel empowered? Climate change has had an increasingly direct impact on our lives (record breaking heat dome, wildfires and evacuations etc.), blame is placed on individual responsibility which adds to climate anxiety and yet personal lifestyle  actions (like changing our recycling habits or eating more sustainable) can only do so much. With that said, is this issue at the forefront of all of my concerns on a daily basis, no; however, I am now becoming more cognizant of my actions (e.g. voting & lifestyle habits) and observant of news outside our immediate region. Hopefully this concern will lead to more conversations  (especially with skeptics) about the undeniable impact of human-caused climate disruption.

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Julia Brotto (IS 273): Climate change is a primary matter of concern for me. As I think about the state of our world and climate-related abnormalities we have experienced, such as extremely hot weather conditions, reduced snowfalls the winter, and increased forest fires in the United States, I worry for the future of myself and my family's generation, but of my students' as well. Unfortunately, the way our system currently operates veers society away from a sustainable future as corporations have engrained capitalist views and practices for centuries. Since taking this course, I am hyperaware of my behaviours and habits and fuelling them by environmental sustainability, as I believe every decision propels one towards success or failure (stagnation is not an option). For instance, I have switched to solely using reusable water containers and prioritizing walking, carpooling, or taking public transportation over taking a car myself when commuting somewhere.The pressure to relieve our planet of this crisis can feel unbearable at times, and there is something to be said for the sheer helplessness, anxiety, and defeat one can feel as a result of this injustice. I have and will continue to initiate my learning of the climate crisis and how I can healthily work towards resolving it in my everyday life, so that I can meaningfully and holistically integrate this work in my teaching practice.

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Christina McLaughlin- 273. Yes it is because I see constant news updates that speak about the wildfires, hurricanes and other environmental disasters. I also am frustrated by the decisions of older generations in my family who are less concerned about recycling and the environment. The baby boomer generation that I live with still constantly use plastic straws and water bottles without thinking twice. I know this is a time-sensitive crisis that must be dealt with globally as soon as possible. Especially since taking this course, environmentally-conscious decisions have returned to the forefront of my decision-making. Even when I don't make the correct decision I am more conscious now of what I could have done to make the action more environmentally friendly.

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Yuliya Petrunkina (273) - Yes, it is a concern for me as I am not only bombarded with information regarding climate change and devastation through the news but the evidence is obvious in the science community. As an individual I am scared for my future, as well as that of my loved ones. I feel that we have been bombarded with information on taking personal action to be more sustainable however a lot of the alarming data seems to show that we have not accomplished anything. Things seem to be getting worse. All of this makes me feel very powerless and hopeless.

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Aliya IS 233- Yes it is a primary concern for me because I accept the scientific modelling that shows the catastrophic effects our sustainable ways will have on the climate in the near future. While the exact date of the catastrophe can vary in reality, it is imperative to act now rather than take a chance and risk the very existence of our future generations. Unfortunately, global efforts on climate have been largely unsuccessful because of the social inequality driven by capitalist systems. I believe that we have to address the social injustices as a first step towards taking concrete measures on climate change that can be applied on a global level.

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Jason (253): The climate change is a primary concern for me because I am afraid of the biodiversity that is going to be impacted as we continue to destroy our planet. For example, 25% of primary production is formed by algae in the arctic ice. If this melts/goes away it will have devastating impacts on the food chain from the bottom up. With respect to greenhouse emissions, each year 1% of algae (phytoplankton) is lost from the ocean, which will not only impact the fish that consume this, but also the amount of carbon that is sequestered form the atmosphere each year (around 10 billion tons of CO2 is sequestered due to this) ==> this will lead to increasingly warmer temperatures, more ice melting, and so on. What's scary to me is that this is a positive feedback cycle, and I fear we may be too late. Ironically, climate change may "benefit" Canada politically with the opening of the Northwest passage, essentially controlling shipping in the arctic. However, this too is bad for the environment as we will see more ships + wastes from these ships enter our oceans, further disrupting biodiversity. When I think of climate change in the arctic the first image that comes to mind are the polar bears floating on drifting ice, but it really goes far beyond that. If we begin to lose producers, it will affect all consumers in the food chain, one way or another.

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Daniel Fronda (233): While I believe that we need to make both individual and societal changes in order to mitigate the climate crisis, I at times wonder how realistically and drastically we can effectively make an impact. Fundamentally speaking, we live in a hyper-capitalist, consumer-based society, and the economic success of nations oftentimes comes down to manufacturing and production (industries), and for consumers to buy products/services, and in turn, stimulate the economy via consumerism. If our society is to commit to mitigating the impacts of climate change, we would largely have to move away from a consumerist, hyper-capitalist political model, and shift towards more of a socialist model, which does not promote consumerist culture. In order to practice more environmental sustainability, people would have to consume less, reuse more, buy more locally, outsource less, etc., and all of these shifts have drastic economic impacts. Most notably, countless jobs would be lost as many industries would inevitably collapse. Committing to climate change as a society, would largely require humanity to sacrifice their current quality of life for the sake of future generations, and we have to weigh the pros and cons that that would have on the economy and peoples' livelihoods. Personally, I espouse more socialist values and do not believe in hyper-consumerism, and would welcome more of a shift towards more socialist ways of living; but I am weary of the economic impact that would come with a dramatic shift towards more environmentally friendly practices. Sure, some jobs and industries could be created in the name of of environmental stewardship, but I question whether those will be enough to make up for the losses. Nevertheless, I do believe that change has to start from within, and that every individual can take steps towards reducing their carbon footprint. For example, I have began to consume less meat and plan to slowly over time, move towards more of a pescatarian/vegetarian diet, and I am mindful of buying more so what I 'need' as opposed to 'want'. If consumers want corporations to change their practices and to commit to improving the climate crisis, then we have to on mass change not only our consumer habits, but our conscious awareness too, insofar as understanding how our actions impact the environment from a local, regional, and global perspective. The climate crisis has worsened exponentially in the wake of the industrial revolution, so humanity would largely have revert to more traditional methods of technology, agriculture, manufacturing, production, etc., in order to effectively reverse the effects of climate change, and I wonder how feasible this really is from an economic, political, and social perspective, and the potential fallouts (like job and industry losses) that could result from such paradigm shifts.

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The Climate Crisis is a primary concern for me because it impacts our health and the health of the planet. Our choices and our consumption of certain products is killing our planet, and it is dangerous. It is important for each of us to make conscious environmentally sustainable choices. I am looking forward to learning from this course how to better approach this crisis both in my own life, and also how to motivate my students!

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Linden- 233- Yes, but I am not super educated on the topic so I am trying to educate myself as much as I can! I am very concerned about the climate crisis and what that means for future generations of humanity and wildlife. Previously, I have been very anxious and stressed about how to get involved but this course has been a great resource for me and has eased some of that anxiety. We also addressed climate change anxiety in Lesson 2 that I found very helpful.

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Claudia Continenza (233): Climate change is a primary concern for me especially because I feel as though others are not concerned with it at all. My Grandmother has always been concerned about the environment and composting and recycling properly. It is her view that she wants to leave a world for her grandchildren and great grandchildren where they can play outside and have access to adequate food and water. She always feels as though it is her obligation to take care of a world that has given so much to her, in terms of resources but also the ability to experience different climates and wonders of the world. I have always admired her for this and I think she has passed on some of these ideologies to me. I come from a family of avid gardeners who believe in sustainability and protecting our earth for future generations, but also for the good of the earth itself.

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Jess-Pierre Arquillano (253): If I'm being honest, I do not think the climate crisis is a primary concern for me. Although, I do believe the climate crisis is concerning for the world. Throughout my life I have been taught to and still do things to contribute to a cleaner environment such as  limiting single use plastics and or avoiding driving by taking alternative means whenever possible, but I wouldn't say I always make decisions to contribute to a cleaner environment. I also do not think I spend a majority of my energy worrying about or taking action towards improving the climate situation. Because of this I do not think the climate crisis is a primary concern. Part of me understands that individuals making little changes does contribute to the solution, but also finds it disheartening that for a much more effective result, we would need to see governments and big companies take actions they most likely will not take. But as I said, the climate crisis is concerning for the world. As such, I hope to educate myself more on the topic and educate my future students to help aid with the problems they will take the brunt of.

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Seamus Egan-Elliott (253): It is a growing primary concern for me, especially in the past couple years as I have become more educated on the matter. I try to do my part by walking/biking instead of driving whenever possible, limiting plastic water bottles, bags, etc. I know that if we all make even just a small change then that can have positive impact globally. However, I also realize that I have the privilege to spend time, money, and energy on looking after more than just my own immediate needs. I am aware that this is more difficult for people of lower SES because they may often just be trying to make it through the day and care for their own family. This can make it more cumbersome to look beyond your own world and take on additional priorities,  especially when going green is sometimes more expensive. I think the government can do a better job making addressing the climate crisis more affordable and accessible to everyone.

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It is a primary concern for me, but also a great source of stress and anxiety. Any discussions surrounding climate change make me feel worried and concerned for our future. Something I do find comfort in is discussing what we can do to help fix the climate crisis together, rather than individually. When I think about it myself, the task seems daunting, but talking in a group helps me think about the climate crisis beyond individual actions and what work needs to be done in terms of bigger corporations

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It is a primary concern for me, and I want to do as much as I can to reduce my daily consumption but I also get frustrated because so much of the fossil fuel consumption and waste comes from big corporations and if we do not change the way that these corporations operate and change government regulations then we are just putting a little band aid over a huge problem.

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Climate change is a primary concern with me and gives me a lot of anxiety about the future. I think that powerful elites from corporations and government are primarily responsible for causing climate change as opposed to everyday citizens. I think that addressing climate change requires community organizing and working together to put pressure on people in power. I don't think individual actions alone can mitigate climate change.

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It is a primary concern for me personally and I try to do my best with regards to day-to-day recycling, power consumption, etc., but I feel like just me by myself doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, because there are more people for whom it isn't a primary concern than people for whom it is.

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It is definitely a primary concern for me. It sucks that the world is coming into this. And the bigger 'ups' people say they would act on it but so far, it was just words than action. I think it is important that all of us work together to overcome this obstacle so that this world can live for the better and not for worst.

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Daniela Miranda (253): the climate change crisis is a primary concern for me. As someone with asthma, the rising temperatures and bad air quality make it harder to breathe, and it will only get worse unless radical change happens, and soon. It isn’t just about me doing my part, that is not enough, it is about humanity coming together in the present to save our future.

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Nicole Kofman (233): The climate crisis is a huge concern for me. Throughout my education, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about the causes of climate change and the dangers that result. It can feel overwhelming and upsetting when it feels like on the individual level, I may not be able to make such a big impact. In order for our planet to address this issue, there must be larger scale change (as expressed by many articles and Hilary Inwood's talk). In addition, my teachables are chemistry and general science and I feel that I can help spread the knowledge of this crisis to a bigger group of people (which gives me hope on the impact I might be able to make).

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The climate crisis is, for me, the single most important challenge humankind is facing. As such, I believe it should be a primary concern for everybody, especially those of us who are more well-off in wealthier, more consumptive nations like Canada.

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Carissa Chen (263): Up until the most recent years I had not given the climate crisis much thought. I did do my best to take the small steps of ensuring I disposed of waste properly, trying my best to minimize the amount of water/electricity/gas/plastics used on a daily basis. However, just as Hilary Inwood said in class, those are only small steps. What is needed now is radical (in positive sense) change. In response to the Padlet question, despite the many concerns I have, I do see that are all interrelated in some way, shape, or form and therefore they are each considered primary concerns in my personal view and I believe each of them require that same radical change Hilary Inwood discussed in yesterday's class.

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Jessica Dingli (263) : Yes, the climate crisis is a big concern that I have, however at times it can be discouraging to make any changes when it seems like the rest of the country is not taking the initiative to enact change. I feel that before the pandemic we were making progress with the reduction of straw use and plastic bags, however with everything that has happened I feel that these efforts are basically non-existent because now the concern has shifted from climate change to COVID-19. I do my best to make changes in my everyday life, although I know there are definitely more changes I can make.

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Nicole Preddie Cohort 263: Yes, climate crisis is a concern I have, and the lack of global effort that is being put in place to solve it is also concerning. For instance, the government can make dramatic changes when faced with a crisis. This was apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as businesses were shut down, masks were enforced, and schools were closed. These changes occurred rapidly as an attempt to keep citizens safe. Seeing how large-scale changes can occur rapidly makes me wonder why this urgency isn’t put toward the current climate crisis.

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Quintin: Yes, the climate crisis is a huge concern for me, particularly as a parent and as an educator - two roles through which I am heavily invested in the future equitability of our planetary ecology. That said, I also consider it something of a subsidiary problem/consequence of eurocentric, anthropocentric, and productivist structures of power and oppression. A question I've been asking myself lately: How can I help replace capitalism with structures of care?

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Sara Ciarrocchi: The climate crisis is a real and serious issue. It not only affects ur generation but the generations to follow. Growing up, I was told not to let the water run and was taught to dispose of waste properly, but I do not think just teaching children and teens about conservation of resources is enough. Greta Thunberg's approach to environmental activism is a model that is much more effective for trying to mitigate and potentially reverse some of the effects of climate change, as it dives into the why regarding why climate change is a scary and dangerous thing. Most of the damage we are doing to the Earth is permanent. This is why environmental stewardship needs to be more strongly emphasized in this sense in classrooms, as some students do not realize what the implications are behind recycling properly, etc.

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Sarah Johnson: Yes, the climate crisis is a primary concern for me as it will and in certain aspects is impacting every degree of our lives. Climate change is a primary concern in the present, near future but also for the far future when I think about my children and grandchildren and what kind of life that we are creating for them. My teachable are history and social sciences and I have never specifically thought about teaching climate crisis or what my role is as an educator in regards to climate crisis. This class is challenging how I will incorporate climate crisis into my teaching. The "Identifying and Addressing Students' Questions on Climate Change by Sakari Tolppanen and Maija Aksela article really made me think about how climate crisis is a primary concern for students as well and as an educator, I need to made it a primary concern on how to educate about it and create a team-environment in mitigating its effects.

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Megan Teles: I was trying to find this tweet that I found, I believe last week, and it was on climate change. Basically the first thread was someone flaunting their mason jar of trash they collected over several months. The next person commented that would not help climate change because there are 100 corporations that contribute to about 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions. So a third person commented that they can create as much trash as they wanted now because climate change doesn't matter to the small people. I try my best to cut back on the amount of plastics and one-time use objects that I have because I still think that the little things do count and the ocean is the one thing that I hate to see filled with garbage (not that other areas don't matter but marine mammals hold a soft spot in my heart). I wish I could do so much more but as one person and even in my household that is our contribution because the climate crisis is a primary concern for me. Unfortunately, it is something so much larger than I am and if I truly thought hard about it, I probably would not get any sleep at night. Just trying to save the turtles, one paper straw at a time.

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Allisa Debattista: The Climate Crisis is a concern to myself but i feel as though it will be more of a problematic situation for the next generation. I often think about what world my children will live in. As we are already exhibiting signs of climate change around the world, there are far more greater worries the media is generating and suffocating the society with. It is almost as if matters relating to things that aren't about the climate change are more important than climate change! I think about myself and my role in deterring climate change, understanding what I can do to be more "green". However, everyone must partake in being green and I feel that we are a far way from being a green society.

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Daniel Anderson: The Climate Crisis is a concern but I believe it has overshadowed other modern concerns of equal or greater risk to human life. Political division, weapons of mass destruction and automation ushered in by A.I. are all factors that pose an existential threat to human beings. During my first masters, I studied how to motivate individuals to live sustainably, which is a worthwhile goal regardless of the climate's health. However, these steps, while important, pale in comparison to the impact of multinational corporations. Moreover, 'green' movements have been coopted by politicians and corporations to generate new forms of power and capital. Taken together these issues should cause us to take pause and measure our response.

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Nicole Wolny:As my knowledge surrounding the climate crisis increased, so did my concern for the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants (all peoples, animals, marine life, etc.). My concern grew as I confronted what I perceived to be reliable sources of information in various institutionalized spaces, including zoo's and museums, where the information was presented to me in a clear, engaging way with statistics and data to reinforce the disturbing trend of the current climate crisis. Although I don't always understand how I can become  more environmentally sustainable, I have witnessed people on various social media sites who promote a green way of living that I find quite inspirational. Witnessing leaders in the environmental community advocate for increased sustainability measures increases my concern for the climate crisis.

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The science is there and we know that we are almost at the point of no return. I have a complete lack of faith in our world leaders (which has become even more prominent during this pandemic) and without radical action by them, all hope is lost. By the time our future students have any influence in the world it will be too late. All we can do is try to mitigate the effects moving forward but individual acts are not enough. The climate crisis is constantly on my mind and something that deeply troubles me on a regular basis.

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The climate crisis became a primary concern for me during my time in undergrad studies at McMaster. Before this, I was aware of the direction we were headed but did not understand how quickly this issue was growing and the local effects seen. Taking sustainability and natural disaster courses opened my eyes to the imminent danger our planet was in. As I was enlightened by the climate crisis, I made a commitment to explore the nature around me, showing respect by helping clean it up. Exploring all of the waterfalls and nature trails around Hamilton has helped strengthen my stance and commitment to combating the climate crisis. Although where I work (a marina pumping fuel into boats) has some negative sustainable outcomes, I advocate in my workplace to respect and take care of the environment and eco-system which in a sense is the only reason I can work where I do. Educating myself with the benefits of algae and marina wildlife growth is important to the life of the marina and the whole lake. Although I know there is much more to be done outside and inside of the eco-systems I frequently interact with, making a concerted effort to reduce carbon footprints and ecological damage will help you and hopefully others grow a greater appreciation for the surrounding environment. - David C

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Deanna Bucco: The climate crisis is a primary concern for me and it is also a source of anxiety. I worry that we have gone past the point of no return in terms of reversing the damage that has already been done. I agree with what Jeff said that world leaders are turning to populism to get re-elected instead of focusing on the urgency of the climate crisis, and as a result we are now seeing situations of food shortages, extreme weather, etc. I guess I wonder what affect I can have as an individual. I worry that nothing I do on my own will be enough in terms of the bigger picture of the climate crisis.

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Katelyn Katic: Climate change is a huge concern for me! On a personal level, I try to do my part. I don't eat meat, I try not to create too much waste, and one food goal I have is to be able to afford to purchase more local produce (but alas, I still live with my parents). However, though those little actions help me to feel better about how I'm interacting with the Earth, there is so much more that needs to happen industrially, systemically, and globally to educate and encourage large scale changes.

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Sam S: Climate change is a primary concern for me. Similar to Harry, I just want to make sure actions taken to address the climate crisis are intersectional in their approach. One example off the top of my head is diet. There has been a huge movement towards adopting plant based diet (which personally I think is great) to reduce CO2 emissions associated this factory farming and the meat industry. That said, there are those in the plant-based/vegan community that condemn anyone who is not plant-based, and assume everyone should and can be without consideration of their circumstance. For the Indigenous people in the high arctic, being plant-based is not a practical option and their traditional methods of hunting are actually very sustainable. However, there are those that do not consider this, or do not consider the high expense of fresh produce in that area, or the colonial element that exists in being dismissive of Indigenous peoples hunting practices. Their actions, while I assume are well intentioned and not purposefully colonial, are not-intersectional and instead perpetuate colonial and environmental violence towards an oppressed and marginalized community.

My ideal circumstance is that individuals move towards adopting sustainable lifestyles as much as possible for their circumstances (and this is primarily in countries such as our where patterns of consumption are astronomical and very damaging to the planet), and that this will move corporations and the governments to shift their priorities to reflect climate change policy that can save our environment as we know it in time to mitigate any further damage. However, this is a very individualistic approach to what needs to be collective action. Unfortunately, most things in Canada seemed to be driven by individual gain rather than the good of the community and the world. I do believe people are beginning to care more about the environment and the climate crisis, and I think as future teachers we have a huge role to play in inspiring action within our students and our communities to help make positive change for the future.

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When it comes to the climate change crisis it is one of the top things on my list to  help combat and do my part. plastic is one of the biggest things that I have been trying to eliminate and reduce from my lifestyle. From using reusable plastic bags to bringing reusable coffee cups to buying metal straws and using shampoo bars, these are just some of the miniscule things that I have been doing to try and reduce my plastic intake. Since covid-19 hit, stores have actually opted towards using more plastic for example Starbucks will not allow you to bring in a reusable cup it was also recommended that you do not use reusable bags right now Etc. But when I think of it are these little changes I've made in my life actually making a difference in the grand scheme of things probably not. When I go to Costco with my family and I see the abundance of plastic around it sickens me. If I go to Farmers Market I get tomatoes in a little carton that is recyclable or can decompose but if you go to Costco or bigger food chain stores you get tomatoes in a plastic little container. I think bigger corporations have to show initiative to make huge change but if we all do it as a collective and educate the future I am hopeful..

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Princess: This may sound really shocking but if I answer this question as honestly as possible, no the climate change crisis is not a primary concern for me. That is not to say I am not concerned, but is it my primary concern? No. I definitely believe that it is a globally significant issue and I am aware of all the consequences but I guess I've reached the point where hopelessness has overpowered my activism. The climate crisis has been an issue I have been passionate about for the past 7 years or so. I completed my entire undergrad in environmental science and psychology and further took a minor in environment and behaviour because not only was i trying to understand what climate scientists were saying and all the evidence surrounding the issue but I was also trying to gage why exactly there was a lack of action. Some of the courses I took in global warming and environmental biology/chemistry/physics were really demoralizing because they would show us these large numbers (where we currently are) and where we need to be and what is currently being done and I realized quickly that not enough was being done and no country ever met their targets and if we were going to stay below that threshold, we required radical change, which the majority of people clearly aren't ready for. The courses i took in environmental psychology really broke this down for me and i think an important part of it is that western culture is largely individualist rather than collectivist, so not only are they not thinking of future generations because they are currently focused on themselves but they also have this tendency to shift responsibility and believe that if everyone is not making lifestyle changes then they shouldn't have to because then it will make virtually no difference. So while I'm concerned and I try my best to do my part and also educate my family and my peers, I also recognize that I alone cannot change the world and I have given up on our society because they're all selfish capitalist whose actions only reflect the concern for economic gain and not the greater good of humanity, so they continue to fuel a system that will lead to our destruction. In short, I'm over it.

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I am not sure that I would say that the Climate crisis is a concern for me. I understand what is happening and I try to do my part in being a responsible citizen of the earth. I try to reduce, reuse and recycle and prevent waste as much as I can but I really do not lose sleep over it. I have taught science and I also try to advocate in my classes and in my own home but aside from that I have not taken part in any other activities. I think that in the back of mind I do think "whatever will be, will be..." I will take life as it comes.

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I feel as though the climate crisis has not been a primary concern for me originally. This is simply due to the luxury and privilege I have as not severely facing its negative effects. However, I believe since my time in University, I have become more knowledgable and more informative on the subject and it has shifted my world-views. I feel now it is more of a concern, but not yet a primary one, although I am learning it should be; this through becoming more informed on the negative effects, and not just ones that affect myself.

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(Alex): In short, I would say a qualified yes that the climate crisis is primary and urgent. Granted, to echo Emily, my actions to date have not sufficiently supported my words (e.g., I do not use an electric car; I fly on jet aircraft; I use aerosol type containers too much), but when I take more time actually to think about the problem, I assent to it readily. However, I say "qualified yes" because I wish--here I am addressing as much myself as anybody else--that we could see climate change not only in the context of science but also more in a spiritual and holistic way, for spirituality is what I think gives us the larger, cosmic framework or context, or canopy (to recall Peter Berger [1967]) in which our actions have greater motivation and authenticity. In other words, when we feel that climate stewardship is a _religious_ obligation, we as humans shall tend to act with greater urgency and effort towards it. Lest our society roll its eyes at this suggestion, being as secular as it is, we should take note that some of the most authentic efforts for social change in the last century have come from people who explicitly acted from religious motivations, e.g., M. K. Gandhi (Hinduism), Sulak Sivaraksa and Thich Nhat Hanh (Buddhism), Abraham Heschel (Judaism), Malcolm X (Islam) and the Liberation Theology movement (Christianity). This doesn't mean we need to be part of a traditional religious institution; but it does mean, I think, we should see environment as part of the larger, "ultimate concern" (to return to Tillich) which defines religion.

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Yes, the climate crisis is a primary concern for me. Similar to my peers, throughout my academic career from grades K-12, the climate crisis was not as talked about, because, well, it was not too visible of an issue at the time. Being raised in a Catholic education system, I often thought about our role in terms of stewardship of biodiversity and ecosystems. At such a young age, I never really thought that my own actions could make a difference on such a large-scale issue, and I had always believed that it was up to large companies and industries to make the "real" change in order to alleviate the crisis.  As I grow up, I see that the  climate crisis is so prevalent in mainstream media today, and it is now impossible to really avoid - something needs to change in all of our lifestyle habits. It upsets me that Canada is the worst country in terms of resource recovery per capita, and it worries me to think about the environmental crises we will face in our lifetime - even more worrisome thinking about the world hundreds of years after our time.

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The more I learn about the climate crisis, the more I can recognize its importance. Growing up, I unfortunately feel as though I was not exposed to very much, or at least very impactful information about climate change and the drastic negative effects that humans are having on the planet. It is only in the last few years, especially the last few months at OISE, that I have been recognizing just how concerning climate change is, and I have started changing my behaviour as a result (e.g. minimizing plastics, using reusable water bottles, etc.). I look forward to learning more about the climate crisis and additional steps I can take to make a personal difference, and also inspire my future students to lead more sustainable lifestyles.

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It is! My concern is both existential (will my children inherit a healthy, habitable world?) and moral. The latter is no doubt informed by my Catholic upbringing and its focus on stewardship of the earth; but it boils down to this: if we have the means to protect the environment, biodiversity, etc., shouldn't we? Unfortunately, my concern is complicated by the feeling that individual actions will not solve the problem -- that our climate crisis requires a coordinated policy solution at the international level. So I struggle with framing the climate crisis (and sustainability in general) as an educational vs political issue. I mean, it's certainly both...

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James Belanger: The climate crisis is definitely a concern for me. However, with that said, it is admittedly not something which I actively think about. Unfortunately, I believe this to be the case (not only for myself) because many of us tend to be too preoccupied thinking about the "here and now" in our lives. Many people also feel disconnected from the issue and feel that any action they take on a personal level will have little to no effect in solving it. This, in turn, deters any such response, only serving to further the issue. In a sense, it is somewhat similar to the COVID-19 pandemic that we are currently experiencing. A newly discovered virus with only a handful of confirmed cases may not seem like much of a problem to many people at first. But give it enough time, and the number of confirmed cases grows exponentially until new cases start appearing in other countries, and, eventually, all around the world. Suddenly, in just a matter of months, the world as we knew it experienced drastic changes. For issues such as these which only tend to grow exponentially, it is of imperative importance that we try to solve the problem as soon as possible (preferably at its roots) before it gets out of hand.

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Jackie: The climate crisis hasn't always been something I considered as a primary concern for me. However, as I continue to become more informed and aware about issues regarding climate through school, social media, and peers, I have become better at instilling good habits and awareness. Although it is not at the very top of my list for concerns, over the years, I have become more aware and cautious about my own personal actions and inputs to the climate crisis. I have been instilling better habits such as being more aware of what I am throwing out, as well as what bin I am disposing these things into, and I am more mindful about my consumption of products (clothes, make-up, plastic) that can contribute to the climate crisis. I do think that the more I become aware and knowledgeable about such climate issues, the better I am at instilling and creating these better habits. I hope that I can continue to improve on my awareness and knowledge about such issues for myself, my students, and for the future.

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The climate change crisis had never been a concern for me until last year. It was seldom discussed in my elementary, middle, and secondary school careers unless it was Earth Day - but even then, the school event typically entailed sitting in our classrooms with the lights off while either reading or colouring in a map of the Earth. It was only when I started engaging with social media accounts that discussed the climate crisis and global citizenship that I began to pay attention and do my own research. While the crisis is still not my greatest concern, I tend to designate more importance on cultural and financial issues that more immediately relate to me, I have been taking steps to live more sustainably. I am more conscious of my family and I's use of plastics and production of food waste, I've been buying fewer meat and dairy products, and I've been consuming brands that prioritize sustainable merchandise and packaging; however, I know I can always do more. I look forward to having productive and continual discussions about the climate crisis and the various personal and political ways we can mitigate it with my students.

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Much like all of my peers have stated, the climate crisis is a primary concern to me. The climate is becoming increasingly erratic, natural disasters are becoming more frequent, several species are dying out, the ice caps are melting threatening even more species, amongst so many other environmental issues. If we, as a species, cannot come together to proactively and collectively confront these climate issues, then the Earth, along with us, will be put at extreme risk. However, am I acting in such a way that reflects my belief that the climate crisis is a primary concern for me? Ashamedly, no. Sure, I use reusable water bottles, walk everywhere I can, limit my intake of animal products, and compost, but that's not really enough. Due to the mass scale of these issues, these may seem like undefeatable obstacles and get confused. Through more research--as well as more learning through this course--I hope to become a more effective and supportive contributor to confronting the climate crisis.

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Stephanie: the climate crisis is absolutely a primary concern for me. I have been concerned about the climate crisis from a young age and it has always been a main source of my anxiety. I worry that my future will be severely impacted by environmental decimation and that I will not enjoy a good quality of life. I worry about potentially starting a family as any children I may have will likely have a future wrought with climate change driven disaster. I am concerned because, as much as we can all do things at the individual level to help, it ultimately is up to larger governmental bodies or corporations to participate in making change in order to see real effects. I think the climate crisis should be a primary concern for all of us since it is one of the biggest near-future threats to humans and other living species.

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Besarta Hoxha (Besa)

Climate change can bring floods, drought, shortage of food, a decrease in economic growth etc. that will affect us all (if not already) in one way or another. Although the climate crisis is a concern of mine, quite frankly it is not my constant primary concern. We are faced with our personal day-to-day challenges which we find already hard to overcome, let alone bigger problems where we feel helpless because it feels like one person vs. the world. The are ways I try to engage in environmental sustainability, but it never feels enough because like many other issues going on, it is everyone’s problem and not one person can fix it. It is never enough until every human being is working towards the same goal for that goal to be achieved (in any context, no matter the issue).

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Samantha MS: I agree with mags that in terms of a global list of concerns i have , climate change is in the top 3 for sure. but i wouldnt say it is my top concern on a personal level. if i may share, i think more about how something as simple as owning a home seems unrealistic for many in our generation, and how we may be the first generation to actually have less than our parents since WWII. i know there are real changes that need to be made for not only future generations but this generation. although i have to admit i find myself saying in my head things like "im glad im alive now and dont have to deal with this when things get real bad", as i feel a sense of doom when it comes to 100 years from now, who knows what mess the world will be in due to the climate crisis. i recognize i personally have a role to play, but it is very discouraging when i see all levels of government do very little in terms of preventative measures to combat climate change... or at least thats how it appears. CAPTION OF PICTURE: a visual representation of the collaboration that needs to occur between individual citizens and all levels of government to all strive to make changes that will benefit the environment and save us from the collapse of the planet.

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The climate crisis is absolutely a primary concern for me. My undergrad background is in International Relations and it is extremely interesting to see the way that climate change science is dealt with in the Anglosphere (a lot of denial, unwilling to accept the science, acknowledging conspiracy theories, politicization of science) especially in comparison to non-English speaking parts of Western Europe. Unfortunately, in the last 4-5 years, this has become popularized and has spread to areas in Eastern Europe and emerging and influential states such as Brazil. Also, as we know, climate change requires coordinated global action. Of course, the example needs to be set in the "developed" countries where we are by and large able to live in luxury thanks to our fossil fuel dependence. But, if this politicization of science and polarization on the consequences of anthropogenic climate change is not dealt with, we're doomed.  This makes me really concerned because as Jeff mentioned, we are seeing huge populist movements across the world that are more concerned with jobs, the economy and income accumulation where the basis is a fossil fuel, carbon economy. We only really have a decade before we see the global average temperature increases that will cause severe havoc, so these populist movements can be extremely detrimental especially if they continue in the middle of the decade.

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The climate crisis has always been engraved in my formal education from being told to recycle in elementary school to going paperless for many courses in university. I suppose I never considered it a primary concern or at the top of my priority list because I have always felt (through my schooling) that I have done things to live a "greener" life. Perhaps what I am trying to say is I have never felt like a prime contributor to the crisis because I learned to live a more sustainable lifestyle (albeit not perfectly). I am also more cautious about items I throw out (and which bins I am disposing of them into). However, with that being said I recognize that the crisis goes WAY beyond me and my actions. Educating the general population (with credible and accurate information) is extremely important in eradicating this issue. While it may not be a primary concern (perhaps due to the lack of complex knowledge I have in the topic and field), I acknowledge how severe this issue is and I care deeply about taking care of our Earth for future generations (the idea of being a steward of our Earth was widely discussed in my Catholic education). I hope that I can continue to make more sustainable lifestyle choices that are suitable for my everyday life and routine while also being environmentally friendly.

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In terms of global concerns, the climate crisis is near the top of my list. By global concerns I am referring to issues, problems, or series of events that impact all nations, societies, and peoples. The climate crisis is experienced economically, politically, and ethically on a local, national, and global scale. However, within the context of my own life at this specific point in time, the climate crisis is not necessarily at the forefront of my mind on any given day. Though it is something I care about and I try to mitigate, it is not one of my primary endeavours (in part, because I've been socialized to think that individual action is hopeless without global change). Thus, though I recognize the importance of combating climate change, it is not my primary global concern (although I am learning that it should be).

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For me, it is hard to nail down the idea of priorities. The word itself suggests that if something is a priority it is the most important thing in a given scenario. I think in a sense the climate crisis is the most urgent matter to address as it will result in the potential extinction of human beings. However I think we need to think more intersectionally about our priorities. There are many implications that the climate crisis has on minorities and oppressed peoples, so often resolving climate crisis is deeply tied to resolving issues of inquiry and oppression. So as far as the climate crisis being a priority, I agree that it is so long as it is tied deeply to anti-oppression pedagogy.

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I am very concerned that we are going past the tipping point, and that world leaders are turning to populism to get re-elected instead of focusing their attention on urgently needed, concerted action.  I would like to have hope for my grandsons' future, but also want to be realistic about how far behind we are falling in this race for survival.