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Glass Half Full Theatre
https://glasshalffulltheatre.com/climate-connections-walkabout-refugee-puppets/

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Ocean climate performance

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Nominated for B. Iden Payne Awards for Outstanding Original Script, Production of a Drama, Lead Actress, Sound Design, Original Score, Scenic Design, Puppetry, and Critic's Table Awards for Outstanding Theatrical Event and Lead Actress.

The Orchid Flotilla is a tiny floating island of refuse, upon which a solitary woman scrounges for survival in a not-so-distant future. The orchids she tends become a metaphor for her own capacity for resilience and adaptation. Lurking below the water and eventually joining her on the craft are other characters in both human and object form. A visual theatre performance about the human capacity to overcome ecological disaster. Sophisticated contexts. Not for young children.

Written & Directed by Caroline Reck

Featuring Caroline Reck and Gricelda Silva

Original Composition by Adam Sultan, Sound Design by K. Eliot Haynes, Lights by Megan Reilly, Scenic by Caroline Reck and Connor Hopkins, Shadow Puppetry by Erin Meyer, Voical Performance by Chris Gibson.

"A bare foot was all it was, and yet . . . that foot acquired sentience . . . Which, of course, made the illusion of intelligence, of a separate aliveness, all the more wondrous and wondrously comical. And in that moment, any doubts that Caroline Reck, the owner of both foot and leg, was destined to make theatre, were permanently dismissed. " - Austin Chronicle

"It is best that you just experience it, like the works of Beckett... which the piece very much reminds me of. Allow yourself to be immersed in the evening and I guarantee you days and nights of discussion over what you have experienced to follow... and you won't miss dialogue at all. "-Broadway World

"It's a rare gift to be able to tell a story without using words. And it's even less common for us to get to witness such beauty on Austin stages." - Austin360

Caroline Reck, crouched in a shopping cart, alone and adrift on unknown seas, proved how much can be done with little. Her grace, her wistfulness, her silence, her sense of play, left both a joyful ache and an admiration for her artistry in my heart. -

Dreyer Theatre - Performances: Salvage Vanguard Theatre - International Association for Environmental Philosophy: Geo-Aesthetics in the Anthropocene - Salisbury University, Maryland (2010) Towson University, Maryland (2009) Austin Texas (2012 & 2014) International Association for the Environment, Space, and Place conference (2009)

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Nominated for B. Iden Payne Awards for Outstanding Original Script, Production of a Drama, Lead Actress, Sound Design, Original Score, Scenic Design, Puppetry, and Critic's Table Awards for Outstanding Theatrical Event and Lead Actress. The Orchid Flotilla is a tiny floating island of refuse, upon which a solitary woman scrounges for survival in a not-so-distant future.

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It's time to invest in an equitable, We need to divest from systems that don't serve us
thriving, future, y'all.
and invest in futures that do!
The fossil fuel industry depends on continued extraction from and violence against the earth, and disproportionately creates collateral damage in Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) communities around the world. We are not "sacrifice zones" for the fossil fuel industry or for the theater. For far too long, United States theatres have given the fossil fuel industry a social license to operate - a pass on the harm they have caused people and the planet.
‍
Not anymore.
‍
We are launching a movement to end the grasp fossil fuels has over our communities and our theaters. Often arts institutions and artists accept funds that do not align with their values because "who else will give us the money?"
‍
How can we fight for racial and climate justice and accept funds from industries that harm BIPOC and the planet? How can we pat ourselves on the back for being "progressive" or "antiracist" when we name our theaters after oil magnates and continue to accept sponsorships from fossil fuel companies?
‍
We can't.
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Divesting is hard, and it is possible. Finding new sources of investment is hard, but it is possible. Oh, it is possible. Don't believe us? Check out this article on Howlround and Go Fossil Free for more. We arts workers have more agency and power than we think!

Groundwater Arts has joined the movement with Go Fossil Free and 350.org, and we are launching the Divest to Invest Campaign to move arts workers and institutions away from fossil fuels and towards a regenerative future.
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Our goal is for 500 arts workers to commit to one of the following by June 1, 2021.
‍ Because, we are thinking translocally, no one single commitment is going to work for everyone, so we are asking arts workers to make ONE OR MORE of the following THREE commitments (or adapt them to suit what's possible for you).

+ I pledge to introduce the following contract clause in all future contracts I negotiate:

+ I pledge to DIVEST my personal funds from fossil fuel companies (i.e. retirement, mutual fund accounts). Client/Employer [should define "Client" and "Employer" in the contract] hereby represents and warrants that: (i) it has not heretofore knowingly and willingly received funds or donation from fossil fuel industries, including, but not limited to, contributions in kind, cash, or by means of sponsorship; (ii) it will not knowingly and willingly accept funds or donations from fossil fuel industries for the duration of the term of Contractor's [should define "Contractor"] contract; and (iii) will not pay Contractor's fee from any funds or donations received from any fossil fuel industry. For the purposes of this agreement, "fossil fuel industries" are defined as producers of coal, petroleum, or natural gas, or any derivative of coal, petroleum, or natural gas that is used for fuel.
+ I pledge to JOIN a local climate justice organization working toward divestment by offering my theatrical skills (ie. direct action, etc).

Our goal is for 100 theatres of all shapes & sizes to commit to one of the following by December 31, 2021.
‍ Because, we are thinking translocally, no one single commitment is going to work for everyone, so we are asking theatres to make ONE OR MORE of the following THREE commitments (or adapt them to suit what's possible in your community).

+ We pledge that we will ACCEPT NO NEW fossil fuel sponsorships.
+ We pledge that we will DIVEST FROM ALL fossil fuel sponsorships.
+ We pledge that we will DIVEST OUR ENDOWMENT from fossil fuel funds.

Sign the pledge today.

Commit to a just future. Be part of a regenerative movement. And celebrate your commitment loudly! The more organizations and individuals that speak publicly about their commitments to divestment, the more positive social pressure we place on our peers to do the same!

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It's time to invest in an equitable, We need to divest from systems that don't serve us thriving, future, y'all. and invest in futures that do! The fossil fuel industry depends on continued extraction from and violence against the earth, and disproportionately creates collateral damage in Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) communities around the world.

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There is a great theatre piece that Ravi Jain and Franco Boni worked with Alanna Mitchell adapt called Sea Sick, based on her book about ocean acidification... just a recommendation for those with an interest in ocean/theatre crossovers.

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There is a great theatre piece that Ravi Jain and Franco Boni worked with Alanna Mitchell adapt called Sea Sick, based on her book about ocean acidification... just a recommendation for those with an interest in ocean/theatre crossovers.

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Sacred Instructions presents a beautiful insight into the traditional cosmology practiced by Indigenous peoples. This book offers readers a new path forward using timeless Native American wisdom. Sacred Instructions transforms the way that we see the world and our place in it.

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If you have this knowledge, could you speak to Black and Indigenous solidarity in the climate crisis?

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If you have this knowledge, could you speak to Black and Indigenous solidarity in the climate crisis?

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A National Black Climate Agenda

Join the Black Rising Seas:

Sign up to attend The Red Black and Green New Deal Climate Summit 2021

Join the RBGND support network!
You will be updated on all of the work we are doing.

M4BL is introducing a national Black Climate Agenda

The Red Black and
Green New Deal
(RBGND)

Climate Justice is Racial Justice

At The Movement for Black Lives, we believe all Black people have the right to determine our own futures; where we can earn a decent living, purchase a home, raise a family and live in a safe community with access to reliable, clean and affordable services. We should be able to add our voice to the problems and solutions that impact our family and our community's well being. We should be able to build a future around the things that are important to us, leaving a legacy of generational and cultural value for those that come after us.

The climate crisis is happening right now. Extreme weather events are becoming more and more frequent as they expose the vulnerabilities of those not able to adequately prepare for such emergencies. Black and Indigenous communities bear the brunt of these events that are exacerbated by other socio-economic factors like poverty, and systematic racism. We need investments in equitable climate solutions that center the concerns of Black communities.

Climate change is a bi-product of an economic system based on extraction, exploitation, accumulation through dispossession, and white supremacy. Climate change is not an isolated crisis, but a symptom of an economic system that jeopardizes the future of life on this planet. Climate change threatens everyone's physical health, mental health, air water, food and shelter but some groups, especially the socially and economically disadvantaged, face greater risks than others. This is because where they live, income, health, language barriers and limited access to resources is usually an indication that these are communities of color, immigrants, low-income and people whose native language is not English.

The impacts of Climate change on Black Lives will continually get worse if we don't take Climate Action now.

A National Black Climate Agenda

The climate crisis is impacting communities in the U.S. and abroad, and requires bold, immediate action. With the largest economy in the world and the greatest historical emissions of greenhouse gases, the U.S. must commit to doing its "fair share" of the global effort to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This effort must be carried out in a manner that prioritizes the dignity, well-being, and safety of marginalized communities and the most vulnerable people in both the U.S. and around the world. Now is the time for a Black climate agenda!

The Red Black and Green New Deal (RBG New Deal), an initiative of the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), puts Black liberation at the center of the global climate struggle, and addresses the impact of climate change and environmental racism on Black communities.

This RBG New Deal agenda proposes immediate actions policymakers, corporations, and everyday people can do to fortify Black people-especially those most marginalized, such as disabled, chronically ill, transgender, gender-nonconforming, and intersex people-from the uniquely racist practices of the fossil fuel industry.

This initiative will transform and drive a national discussion meant to: address the impact of climate on Black lives; spark action toward the development of equitable solutions directly related to Black communities; build and expand a network of climate supporters and advocates for immediate action; and develop and introduce federal and local policy that protects and invests resources into the Black community to address the climate crisis.

The investment in the Black community's full potential and ability to thrive addresses all harm to Black Lives. Just as M4BL demands divestment from prisons, police, and surveillance that harms Black Lives, it also demands divestment from extractive economies and industries doing the same. The M4BL's Red, Black & Green New Deal initiative gets us to a sustainable future in defense of Black lives. The RGBND National Black Climate Agenda focuses on justice across six key pillars: Water, Energy, Land, Labor, Economy, and Democracy.

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Honor the Water
In its simplest form, water is life and should be honored as such.

Constitutional Protection of water as a human right, Corporate Accountability for water pollution, Standards of Access to water as a part of the commons, prevent water shutoffs in Emergency Declarations, clean up, restore and protect our Oceans & Seas.

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Democratize Energy
We must transition from extractive energy systems to a sustainable one. Constitutional protection of community-controlled energy as a human right.

Divest from dirty energy that harms Black Communities, Invest in justly sourced, sustainable Energy that helps Black communities thrive, Democratize local utilities and Global Accountability for US energy consumption and its role in the global climate crisis.

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Free the Land
Land is tied to dignity and care for Black communities.

Indigenous Sovereignty along with Black land Stewardship as Reparations, End the commodification of land, address issues of Fair Housing & Gentrification, restore and protect old growth Forests & Coastal Wetlands.

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RE-imagine & Redefine Labor
The roots of the climate crisis lie in an economic system that encourages unlimited extraction, unlimited production and unlimited consumption.

Advance Anti-poverty Measures as Climate Preparedness, prioritize a Just Transition for impacted workers, Invest in Black communities to be part of a Transition Economy and a Care Economy, Constitutional protection of a right organizing and collectively bargain, prioritize Black communities in Federal Jobs Guarantees, establish New Standards for Doing Business in & with the US toward a sustainable future.

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End Extractive Economies & Restore Stolen Black Capital
Generations of racism, economic divestment and targeting must be acknowledged and addressed.

Advance Reparations for Black communities as Climate Preparedness, establish climate finance mechanisms rooted in the creation of Black wealth, Protect Black Health as Black Wealth, upgrade Transportation systems to be accessible, inclusive and non-polluting, invest in Black Climate Readiness and the role of Black communities in economic transition, put an end to corporate and Fossil Fuel Bailouts andAdvance Corporate Accountability

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Advance Democracy for the People & the Planet
This climate crisis requires the voice and engagement from every country and the collective engagement of its people.

Constitutional protections on Black People's Voting Rights in the US and across the diaspora must accompany a commitment to Protect elections from anti-democratic forces. Advance Democracy through the declaration of a national Climate Emergency and a prioritization of people and planet over profits.

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Root in the Right to Breathe
Black People are dying because we can't breathe. From over-policing to toxic air, water and soil pollution- the targeting and devaluing of Black communities must stop.

Everyone one has a human right to breathe. Federal guarantee and protections to Stop the Pollution of Black Communities and Federal Prioritization and Investments in Cleaning Up Black Communities from toxic pollution and exposure.

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Declaration of Climate + Racial Urgency
This moment of our history cannot be denied, silenced or forgotten.

Federal Disaster Preparations must be rooted in equity for the frontlines, Legal Protections must be advanced and Over-policing must end in this new climate reality. Shifts to our social infrastructure must prepare for and support Climate Migration & Just Relocation for Black, poor and migrating populations.

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Global South Solidarity
We stand with the Global South and we understand the role that the US economy and political interventions have played in creating wealth disparities and climate impacts.

Establish visas for immigrants forced to migrate due to climate disaster, Cancel International Debt starting with nations on the frontlines of this new climate reality, without conditions, the US must recognize the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and begin the immediate divestment from the productions and transportation of Fossil Fuels globally.

Read More...Read Less...

Download this new report by Greenpeace USA, Movement for Black Lives, and Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy.

This is the most comprehensive analysis to date of fossil fuel racism and how fossil fuel production is creating a public health crisis for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities.

Download your Summit Toolkits

This ACTION TOOLKIT has been developed to support our partner's participation in the RBGND campaign launch and beyond.

Join the RBGND support network!
You will be updated on all of the work we are doing.

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A National Black Climate Agenda - The Red Black and Green New Deal

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Skip to content Your browser does not support video. A National Black Climate Agenda Join the Black Rising Seas: Sign up to attend The Red Black and Green New Deal Climate Summit 2021 Join the RBGND support network! You will be updated on all of the work we are doing.

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LIGHTING THE WAY : AN ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT CLIMATE CHANGE PLAYS

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LIGHTING THE WAY : AN ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT CLIMATE CHANGE PLAYS

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Lighting the Way : An Anthology Of Short Climate Change Plays

Edited by Chantal Bilodeau and Thomas Peterson, Lighting the Way: An Anthology of Short Plays About the Climate Crisis includes 49 inspiring plays by writers from around the world commissioned for Climate Change Theatre Action 2019, plus an introduction by Chantal Bilodeau and essays by Julia Levine, Charissa Menefee, Thomas Peterson, Triga Creative, and Brooke Wood.

Responding to a prompt asking them to "give center stage to the unsung climate warriors and climate heroes who are lighting the way toward a just and sustainable future," the writers offer a diversity of perspectives and artistic approaches to telling the stories of those who are making a positive impact.

We couldn't be more proud of this book and hope you'll like it as much as we do.

Writers include Hassan Abdulrazzak * Elaine Ávila * Chantal Bilodeau * Yolanda Bonnell * Philip Braithwaite * Damon Chua, Paula Cizmar * Hanna Cormick * Derek Davidson * Sunny Drake * Clare Duffy * Brian Dykstra * Alister Emerson * Georgina Escobar * David Finnigan * David Geary * Nelson Gray * Jordan Hall * Kamil Haque * Monica Hoth * Zainabu Jallo * Vinicius Jatobá * Vitor Jatobá * Marcia Johnson * MaryAnn Karanja * Andrea Lepcio * Joan Lipkin * Philip Luswata * Abhishek Majumdar * Julie McKee * Giovanni Ortega * Mary Kathryn Nagle * Lana Nasser * Yvette Nolan * Matthew Paul Olmos * Corey Payette * Katie Pearl * Shy Richardson and Karina Yager * Kiana Rivera * Madeline Sayet * Stephen Sewell * Lena Šimic with Neal and Sid Anderson * Caridad Svich * Elspeth Tilley * Peterson Toscano * Mike van Graan * Meaza Worku * Marcus Youssef * and Nathan Yungerberg.

Lighting the Way is also available from Barnes & Noble and your domestic Amazon store.

Green Rooms 2020 - The Earth is Watching... Let's Act Carbon Emissions Report

As part of its response to the escalating climate crisis - and in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic - NAC English Theatre in partnership with Festival of Live Digital Art (FOLDA), the Canada Council for the Arts, The City of Kingston, HowlRound Theatre Commons, National Theatre School of Canada and York University brought together participants for an extraordinary three-day/three-country digital experiment that reflected on the future of theatre.

The Green Rooms were fueled with spirited conversations with leaders in fields such as climate activism, ecological economy and environmental humanities, as well as with theatre artists and leaders who have found innovative ways to engage with the climate crisis.

A limited number of active participants joined the event on Zoom from eight cities across three countries: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, and Halifax, as well as London (U.K.) and New York. In addition, a livestream of the event was accessible to spectators everywhere.

Please note: If participants were not in one of those cities, they were still able to participate by joining the city closest or most meaningful to them.

We invite you to view the proceedings recorded and available on this site and read the reports too!

Co-curated by Sarah Garton Stanley and Chantal Bilodeau.

Where Is The Hope : An Anthology Of Short Climate Change Plays

Where is the Hope? An Anthology of Short Climate Change Plays is a collection of 50 short plays by writers from all over the world, commissioned for Climate Change Theatre Action 2017. A creative response to the question "How can we inspire people and turn the challenges of climate change into opportunities?" the plays offer a diversity of perspectives and artistic approaches in telling stories that may point to a just and sustainable future.

Included in this anthology are works by Hassan Abdulrazzak, Keith Josef Adkins, Reneltta Arluk, Elaine Ávila, Catherine Banks, Chantal Bilodeau, Philip Braithwaite, Jody Christopherson & Ryan McCurdy, Mindi Dickstein, Clare Duffy, Angella Emurwon, Kendra Fanconi, Lanxing Fu & Jeremy Pickard, David Geary, Mīria George, Jordan Hall, Vinicius Jatobá, C. A. Johnson, Marcia Johnson, Hiro Kanagawa, MaryAnn Karanja, Amahl Khouri, Catherine Léger, Ian Lesā, E. M. Lewis, Jessica Litwak, Kevin Loring, Abhishek Majumdar, Anita Majumdar, Kasaya Manulevu, Shahid Nadeem, Sharleen Ndlovu, Dave Ojay, Achiro P. Olwoch, Giovanni Ortega, David Paquet, Sarena Parmar, Katie Pearl, Elyne Quan, Lynn Rosen, Ian Rowlands, Lisa Schlesinger, Stephen Sewell, Saviana Stanescu, Caridad Svich, Jordan Tannahill, Elspeth Tilley, Meaza Worku, Nathan Yungerberg, and Maya Zbib.
Order from the York University Bookstore for $35 CAD
CSPA Sustainability Survey: Fusebox Festival

The Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts partnered with the Fusebox Festival for their 2012 program to creatively evaluate and explore both the environmental and cultural impacts of producing a festival. The project involved members of the festival's community, including the festival's directors, audience members, visiting artists, and staff. Data was gathered primarily to produce a dynamic data visualization to be accessible online and in tangible form at the festival hub.

Through surveys, direct observation, and box office data, we set out to examine the relationship between festival activities, cultural interest and infrastructure, and hints of economic effects of the festival. In short, we were interested in the idea of 'cultural off-setting.' Is producing an inter/national arts festival locally beneficial, both culturally and economically? And, what are the costs to the environment to produce such a festival?

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Lighting the Way : An Anthology Of Short Climate Change Plays Edited by Chantal Bilodeau and Thomas Peterson, Lighting the Way: An Anthology of Short Plays About the Climate Crisis includes 49 inspiring plays by writers from around the world commissioned for Climate Change Theatre Action 2019, plus an introduction by Chantal Bilodeau and essays by Julia Levine, Charissa Menefee, Thomas Peterson, Triga Creative, and Brooke Wood.

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People march through San Francisco's Financial District during a climate protest on Sept. 20. (Eric Risberg/AP)

Here is an incomplete list of things I left unfinished last week because America's boiling racism and militarization are deadly for black people: a policy memo to members of Congress on accelerating offshore wind energy development in U.S. waters; the introduction to my book on climate solutions; a presentation for a powerful corporation on how technology can advance ocean-climate solutions; a grant proposal to fund a network of women climate leaders; a fact check of a big-budget film script about ocean-climate themes, planting vegetables with my mother in our climate victory garden.

Toni Morrison said it best, in a 1975 speech: "The very serious function of racism ... is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being." As a marine biologist and policy nerd, building community around climate solutions is my life's work. But I'm also a black person in the United States of America. I work on one existential crisis, but these days I can't concentrate because of another.

The sheer magnitude of transforming our energy, transportation, buildings and food systems within a decade, while striving to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions shortly thereafter, is already overwhelming. And black Americans are disproportionately more likely than whites to be concerned about - and affected by - the climate crisis. But the many manifestations of structural racism, mass incarceration and state violence mean environmental issues are only a few lines on a long tally of threats. How can we expect black Americans to focus on climate when we are so at risk on our streets, in our communities, and even within our own homes? How can people of color effectively lead their communities on climate solutions when faced with pervasive and life-shortening racism?

Even at its most benign, racism is incredibly time consuming. Black people don't want to be protesting for our basic rights to live and breathe. We don't want to constantly justify our existence. Racism, injustice and police brutality are awful on their own, but are additionally pernicious because of the brain power and creative hours they steal from us. I think of one black friend of mine who wanted to be an astronomer, but gave up that dream because organizing for social justice was more pressing. Consider the discoveries not made, the books not written, the ecosystems not protected, the art not created, the gardens not tended.

How peer pressure can fight climate change

It's hearing police sirens and helicopters in my Brooklyn neighborhood and knowing those who sound them do not always aim to protect and serve. It's walking the back roads near my mom's home Upstate New York and being more scared of the local white kids in the pickup truck with the Confederate flag on the bumper - in a state that was never part of the Confederacy - than I am of the local black bears. It's spending my weekend writing these words.

Here's the rub: If we want to successfully address climate change, we need people of color. Not just because pursuing diversity is a good thing to do, and not even because diversity leads to better decision-making and more effective strategies, but because, black people are significantly more concerned about climate change than white people (57 percent vs. 49 percent), and Latinx people are even more concerned (70 percent). To put that in perspective, it means that more than 23 million black Americans already care deeply about the environment and could make a huge contribution to the massive amount of climate work that needs doing.

I did get tiny tasks done last week - emails, (virtual) meetings. Because we are taught the show must go on, I mustered the composure to conduct an interview about the importance of planting trees. But none of the deeper work got done, none of the work that could be a significant contribution to how we think about climate solutions and how fast we implement them. Instead of working, I was checking in on my people, staying informed, doom-scrolling.

Now I'm totally spent. Not from the day, but from the week, the month, the year, this presidential administration, this country that keeps breaking my heart. We are resilient, but we are not robots.

Five myths about climate change

People of color disproportionately bear climate impacts, from storms to heat waves to pollution. Fossil-fueled power plants and refineries are disproportionately located in black neighborhoods, leading to poor air quality and putting people at higher risk for coronavirus. Such issues are finally being covered in the news media more fully.

But this other intersection of race and climate doesn't get talked about nearly enough: Black Americans who are already committed to working on climate solutions still have to live in America, brutalized by institutions of the state, constantly pummeled with images, words and actions showing just us how many of our fellow citizens do not, in fact, believe that black lives matter. Climate work is hard and heartbreaking as it is. Many people don't feel the urgency, or balk at the initial cost of transitioning our energy infrastructure, without considering the cost of inaction. Many fail to grasp how dependent humanity is on intact ecosystems. When you throw racism and bigotry in the mix, it becomes something near impossible.

Look, I would love to ignore racism and focus all my attention on climate. But I can't. Because I am human. And I'm black. And ignoring racism won't make it go away.

So, to white people who care about maintaining a habitable planet, I need you to become actively anti-racist. I need you to understand that our racial inequality crisis is intertwined with our climate crisis. If we don't work on both, we will succeed at neither. I need you to step up. Please. Because I am exhausted.

Watch the latest Opinions video:

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Perspective | I'm a black climate expert. Racism derails our efforts to save the planet.

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Here is an incomplete list of things I left unfinished last week because America's boiling racism and militarization are deadly for black people: a policy memo to members of Congress on accelerating offshore wind energy development in U.S.

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Climate and
Environmental Justice

Systemic racism puts
people of color in the
path of pollution

Approximately 68% of Black Americans live within 30 miles of a coal fired power plant

Black Americans are 75% more likely than others to live near hazardous waste facilities.

In 46 US states, people of color live with more air pollution than Whites.

People of color are
paying the price
of discrimination

The climate crisis also hits
poor families and people of color the hardest

The same inequity
is true
worldwide

Communities of color are leading the fight to end pollution and climate change.

If you're new to the justice fight in the climate movement, it can feel like there's a lot to learn.

To help, we've put together introductory explainers on some of the key issues and ideas in this fight. It's important to recognize that we're not the field experts here and our work draws heavily on grassroots partners and organizations who've been fighting this fight for many years and even decades.

At The Climate Reality Project, we believe it's time for a new kind of climate movement.

It's time to listen to the expertise of frontline voices, Indigenous peoples, and activists of color fighting pollution and climate change in their communities and learn from their leadership. It's time to hear the young activists calling for intergenerational justice.

Most of all, it's time to fight for equity. To fight for a world where we all breathe clean air and drink safe water. To fight for a future where people of color and poor families no longer suffer the worst of climate change while the wealthy look away. To fight for good jobs and real opportunities for all. No matter what we look like or where we come from.

We're working to build this movement by focusing on five key areas:

Driving High-Level Policy Change:

Our Climate Moment™ brings together activists across the US to push Congress to embrace bold policies that clean up the pollution hotspots killing families of color and accelerate a just transition to clean energy that creates good jobs and opportunity everywhere from our big cities to rural communities.

Training Leaders and Empowering Activists

Since 2006, the Climate Reality Leadership Corps has recruited and trained over 31,000 world-changers of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life all across the planet. The program gives people ready to lead the fight for just climate solutions the understanding of climate science, organizing skills, and global network to inspire and mobilize their communities for action at critical moments.

Alongside the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, our Climate Speakers Network trains community leaders to be powerful climate messengers inspiring people of faith and frontline communities to act now.

Climate Justice Grants:

We support grassroots partners across the US fighting for environmental justice by cleaning up pollution hotspots, ensuring access to quality nutrition, and expanding clean energy in low-income communities, to name only a few areas. Apply for support today.

Elevating Voices of Color:

We work to amplify voices of color and build a more diverse and inclusive movement that draws on their leadership, innovations, and expertise and fights for equity.

International Branches:

Our 11 international branches and partnerships - in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Latin America, the Philippines, and South Africa - organize activists to raise awareness of climate injustice and fight for the solutions that can make a difference in their country or region.

Stories from the Front Lines

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many of our theaters recently have made public commitments to antiracism, and yet most of the field seems to miss the connection between racial justice & climate justice -- can either of y'all speak to that?

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many of our theaters recently have made public commitments to antiracism, and yet most of the field seems to miss the connection between racial justice & climate justice -- can either of y'all speak to that?

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We've long passed the point of writing off signs of climate change as simply another phase in the normal cycle of global warming and cooling. Human actions have altered Earth's climate, and the impact of this is becoming increasingly visible.

Most people realize climate change can affect physical health through pollution, the spread of disease, and food scarcity. Mental health professionals also point to one serious mental health consequence: eco-anxiety.

"Eco-anxiety" refers to persistent worries about the future of Earth and the life it shelters.

Related terms - "climate change distress," "eco-trauma," "eco-angst," and "ecological grief," to name a few - acknowledge that this concern often involves symptoms beyond those of anxiety alone.

Anxiety arises when your body responds to perceived threats with its fight-flight-freeze survival instinct. Often, we think of these perceived threats as being rooted in far-fetched, irrational fears.

But climate change is a real threat, however distant the outcome may seem. In this context, it's possible to see eco-anxiety as a rare case of anxiety working as intended. It functions as a motivator for survival, a unique emotional response propelling humankind to seek out solutions for climate damage.

If the thought of permanent changes to temperature, weather, and animal and human habitats alarms you, this fear is perfectly reasonable. Maybe you, like many others, feel deeply traumatized by the harm already done to some natural environments and species.

An increased sense of hopelessness about the planet's changes is just one way eco-anxiety might show up.

Other potential symptoms include:

anger or frustration, particularly toward people who don't acknowledge climate change or older generations for not making more progress

fatalistic thinking

existential dread

guilt or shame related to your own carbon footprint

post-traumatic stress after experiencing effects of climate change

feelings of depression, anxiety, or panic

grief and sadness over the loss of natural environments or wildlife populations

obsessive thoughts about the climate

These feelings can contribute to secondary issues, like:

Heightened stress can also fuel tension in relationships with friends, romantic partners, or family, especially if you don't hold the same views on climate change.

Concerns about climate change might become so overwhelming that you throw yourself into distractions to avoid those fears. Distracting yourself may not help, however, when it keeps you from working through your feelings or involves less-than-ideal coping strategies, like substance or alcohol use.

Climate change is a global concern, but also a personal one. You may not spend much time actively considering your connection to the planet, yet that link exists for everyone.

You've heard of Mother Earth, certainly - there's truth behind this name. Earth is the original home, the original provider of resources.

Though you might feel pretty far removed from this reality, without Earth, you wouldn't exist. It's only natural to grieve as you witness the planet rapidly change.

Here's a look at some of the other driving factors behind eco-anxiety.

Lived experience

Hearing about the long-term effects of climate change is one thing. Living through them is quite another.

Perhaps you've faced some tough times as hurricanes or wildfires drove you from your home or destroyed it entirely. Maybe you've lost loved ones in those same disasters - lives that, unlike homes, can never be replaced.

Gradual effects, such as extreme heat and increased rainfall, might draw less immediate notice, but don't let that discount their significance. They can still affect you, in ways like these:

Beyond increasing stress and irritability, high temperatures also pose a danger to people taking psychiatric medications that affect bodily temperature regulation.

More rain (or dense, smoky air, depending where you are) means less sun. Sunlight promotes the production of serotonin, a hormone linked to reduced anxiety and depression and to greater overall well-being. Without sunlight, you're at greater risk of mood-related symptoms, including seasonal depression.

Expanding news coverage

On one hand, increasing media reports of climate change are a sign of positive progress, as greater awareness can lead more people to take action.

Yet doomscrolling and feeling unable to escape news of climate change may not always motivate change.

The steady barrage of stories on shrinking rainforests, coral reef destruction, and species down to double (or single) digits can worsen your shock and grief.

This deep despair can, in some cases, make it difficult to begin taking any action at all.

Regret for your own impact

It's easy to judge yourself harshly for lifestyle practices that contribute to climate change, like:

using plastic and Styrofoam

running your air conditioner

eating a meat-heavy diet

Feelings of guilt and shame for your impact may go hand in hand with feelings of powerlessness, driven by the clock ticking away your limited time to create change.

You can certainly take steps to reduce your carbon footprint - but no single person can resolve climate change alone. It's a large-scale problem that requires a global commitment to sweeping change.

Your own efforts, then, may seem like nothing more than a drop in an enormous bucket. This sense of powerlessness can play a significant role in eco-anxiety.

Everyone depends on the health of the planet, so eco-anxiety can affect anyone. Certain groups, however, face a higher chance of climate-related distress, in part because of their greater vulnerability to climate change.

Particularly vulnerable groups include:

Indigenous communities

people living in coastal or island regions, dry areas, or other regions with high geological risk

socioeconomically disadvantaged communities

children and older adults

people living with disabilities or chronic health concerns

Plenty of complex factors contribute to increased risk:

Families with lower annual income may have a harder time weathering the impact of a natural disaster, a fact likely to worsen grief and distress.

Native Alaskans, Inuit tribes, and other Indigenous people whose lives revolve around sea ice and other changing climates face losing not only their way of life, but also their cultural and personal identity.

Communities that rely on fishing, hunting, or farming face the loss of land, income, and their way of life. The link between long periods of drought and higher suicide rates among farmers illustrates just one devastating outcome of eco-anxiety.

Many travel destinations attract tourists because they feature beautiful natural environments. Alteration and destruction of these environments will likely lead to sharp drops in tourism and a substantial decline in community income.

What's more, many of the communities with the highest risk also contend with more barriers to medical treatment and mental healthcare. This lack of access prevents them from seeking the kind of support needed to manage climate-related stress.

Although climate change can seem like a concern of impossible magnitude, you can still take actions to protect your mental health.

Take a look at your personal habits

Adopting "greener" (more sustainable) lifestyle practices can often make a difference in your outlook, since living more in line with your personal values can help you cultivate your sense of self.

Plus, modeling climate-friendly behaviors may encourage others to do the same. Some ways to do this include:

Calculating your carbon footprint can give you a better idea of ways to reduce your impact.

Choosing physical commuting, such as biking or walking, over driving can improve your physical and mental health while reducing carbon emissions.

Reaching out to community organizations working toward climate protection can help you get involved in broader policy efforts to address climate change.

Say no to denial

Climate change is a terrifying thought. It's perfectly understandable to want to avoid eco-anxiety by shutting your misery out entirely.

But putting your head in the sand makes it harder to take action. It also won't help you feel any better, since masking unwanted feelings generally only intensifies them.

It's easier said than done, but these tips can help you stay on the path forward:

Instead of denying the reality of climate change or pushing aside fear and grief, allow yourself to fully acknowledge those feelings.

If you feel guilt over past behaviors that fell short of climate-friendly, forgive yourself and commit to better choices moving forward.

Have compassion for yourself and others. You're only one person, and there's only so much a single person can do.

Spend time on those beaches, hiking trails, and mountain lakes you want to protect. Nature, imperiled as it is, offers healing benefits that can help you feel more at peace.

Connect with your community

Participating in neighborhood gardening, trash pickup, or waste reduction efforts can also reduce feelings of eco-anxiety.

Working with others who also want to protect the environment can increase your sense of connection and ease the sensation of struggling alone. Emotional and social support can help boost resilience, increasing your optimism and hope.

Many voices ring louder than one voice alone. Efforts to protect community green spaces - including parks, nature preserves, and forests - may have a higher chance of success when you stand together as a community.

Children experience eco-anxiety, too, though younger children might struggle to understand and process these complicated emotions.

Older children might express distress, even resentment, at the bleak image of their future as adults pass down a world on the brink of collapse.

These strategies can help you cope together.

Talk about it

You might worry that discussing climate change will make your kids feel worse, but talking through fear often helps dull its intensity. Making space to discuss something that may alter their future allows them to begin expressing and coming to terms with their concerns.

Validate their distress, and let them know you're feeling it, too. Listen to their questions and offer age-appropriate, fact-based answers. If they ask something you can't answer, do some research instead of giving vague responses.

Start with these helpful guides:

Open, honest conversation leads to a more conscious and informed generation. Talking about climate change can empower children by providing them with a sense of agency to explore actions themselves.

Take action as a family

Just as committing to environmentally friendly practices can help lessen your eco-anxiety, a family effort can make a difference for your children.

Spend some time discussing feasible options to conserve energy and resources in your household.

You might, for example:

adjust the thermostat by a few degrees and dress more warmly indoors

get creative with leftovers to reduce food waste

choose to cycle or walk to school and work

shop at thrift stores instead of purchasing new items

start a backyard garden

Once you develop a family plan, encourage everyone's participation and make it an ongoing effort.

Appreciate nature together

Providing children with opportunities to enjoy nature from an early age helps them become more familiar with the natural world.

Children who experience what nature has to offer through activities such as forest bathing, stargazing, or studying the array of life found in tide pools and ponds will likely develop a stronger resolve to protect and repair natural environments.

They'll also learn how nature can promote well-being and emotional health - knowledge that can offer protection against eco-anxiety.

Though eco-anxiety isn't a specific mental health diagnosis (yet), therapists and other mental health professionals agree it can have a heavy emotional impact for many.

Even efforts to address climate change sometimes worsen distress, since trying to do too much can leave you with little energy for self-care.

If you're struggling to cope with the effects of eco-anxiety or feeling burned out by activism or news exposure, therapy can help.

All therapists can provide a safe space to:

Ecotherapists may have even more to offer in the way of guidance and support for eco-anxiety.

Ecotherapy, an emerging approach to mental health treatment, makes use of the healing benefits of nature and emphasizes the importance of nurturing not just the environment, but the connection you share to the planet.

Emotional turmoil related to climate change may seem less pressing than the tangible, serious damage many people already face around the world.

But it's still essential to take notice of these feelings instead of blocking them out. Awareness, after all, is the key to change.

We only get one planet. We don't have a way to leave it, so quelling eco-anxiety means we'll have to fight for it instead.
Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she's committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.

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Eco-anxiety: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Cope

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Representative Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Green New Deal Resolution to recognize the scale of the climate crisis and provide a roadmap to evaluate policies that can protect our planet and uplift our communities. It is for this reason that Representative Ocasio-Cortez introduced House Resolution 109, 'Recognizing the Duty of the Federal Government to Create a Green New Deal.'

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