How to cope with grief and find wonder as Earth's climate changes
2Digest
Kate Marvel, a climate physicist, explores the emotional journey of grappling with climate change in her book, "Human Nature." She challenges the notion of scientific objectivity as emotional neutrality, detailing her own emotional response to witnessing both climate model projections and real-world impacts. The book delves into nine emotions related to climate change, including anger, grief, fear, but also less expected emotions like wonder, surprise, and love. Marvel emphasizes the importance of these less-discussed emotions in motivating action. Addressing the common feeling of helplessness, she highlights real progress in emissions reduction and advocates for continued action at all levels. Ultimately, she argues that focusing on concrete actions, rather than relying on hope, is the key to effectively addressing the climate crisis. Personal experiences, particularly the power of love, are woven into the narrative, underscoring the human element in the fight against climate change.
Outlines
Understanding Climate Change: Emotions and Action
Kate Marvel's personal journey grappling with climate change, informed by her work with climate models and real-world observations, challenges the idea of emotional neutrality in science. Her book, "Human Nature," explores a range of emotions—from anger and grief to wonder and love—connected to the climate crisis.
"Human Nature": Exploring Diverse Emotional Responses
A deeper dive into the nine emotions explored in Marvel's book, "Human Nature," explaining the inclusion of less expected emotions like wonder and love, and their role in motivating climate action.
Combating Climate Helplessness and Promoting Action
Addressing feelings of helplessness and inaction surrounding climate change, Marvel highlights real progress in emissions reduction and emphasizes the importance of continued advocacy and action at various levels.
Keywords
Climate Change
Long-term changes in global temperatures and weather patterns, driven by increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Models
Computer simulations used to project future climate scenarios and inform mitigation strategies.
Emotional Responses to Climate Change
The range of feelings (anger, grief, fear, hope, etc.) experienced in response to the climate crisis.
Climate Action
Individual and collective efforts to mitigate climate change, including emissions reduction and policy changes.
Climate Anxiety
Feelings of worry, fear, or distress related to climate change.
Hope vs. Action
The debate on whether hope or action is the more effective motivator in addressing climate change.
Kate Marvel
Climate physicist and author of "Human Nature."
Human Nature (book)
Kate Marvel's book exploring the emotional responses to climate change.
Q&A
How does Kate Marvel's work with climate models inform her emotional response to climate change?
Witnessing devastating potential scenarios in climate models, coupled with real-world impacts, intensified her emotional response, challenging her initial belief in scientific objectivity as emotional detachment.
What are some of the unexpected emotions explored in Marvel's book "Human Nature" regarding climate change?
Marvel includes emotions like wonder, surprise, and love, highlighting the awe-inspiring aspects of Earth's systems and the power of love as a motivator for action.
How does Marvel address the feeling of helplessness often associated with climate change?
Marvel argues that progress is being made, emissions are falling in some areas, and focusing on actionable steps is more effective than succumbing to despair.
Why does Marvel believe that "hope" is not the most important factor in addressing climate change?
Marvel suggests that focusing on concrete actions and understanding what needs to be done is more effective than relying on hope. Action is key, not a feeling.
Show Notes
Kate Marvel watches the world end all the time. She’s a physicist who works with climate models, so it’s her job to run experiments in computer simulations, watching sea levels rise and temperatures climb.
But climate change isn’t happening just in models. It’s happening here, and now – and Marvel has some feelings about it.
In her new book Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet, Marvel explores the many emotions she has been feeling surrounding climate change – grief, fear and anger, of course, but also hope, wonder and love. In today’s Post Reports, she explains how we can all feel a little more empowered and motivated to change the world.
Today’s show was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter.
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