This page was created for the participants in one of our Climate Conversations. Responses are edited for clarity and anonymity. These response represent the personal feelings and opinion of participants around that topic. These are not intended to be used as a source of factual information, they are not fact-checked and there may be errors and inaccuracies.
Where are we at?
“The grief is very concrete and tied up with nostalgia.”
“Small things breaking reminds me that everything is breaking. It’s upsetting and it happens all the time. It feels a bit overwhelming. For example, where will all the plastic go? Production of he stuff is endless.”
“I recognise that too (being affected by seeing things breaking). I think about entropy in physics and how everything is laws coming apart.”
“Grief is a very strong emotion. It’s overwhelming. Ot’s outside the normal way of being. Grief makes you more sensitive to other people. It can also make you angry at things. It’s complex.”
“The planet isn’t dead, but it is dying. Can you grieve for something before it is dead? Or grieve for a part of it? (We agreed we could). With the planet it’s multiplied so much more.”
“Anticipation. Disasters are happening. Maybe not to me, but they are already happening.”
“I feel despair for those who are suffering already.”
“I feel sadness for the next generation.”
“I’m grieving for the lifestyle I enjoyed and know isn’t sustainable. I acknowledge this is selfish.”
“Anger is part of the grief. People who have the means to do something don’t.”
“When I went to see The Herd in town, I suddenly felt very sad that all these animals could go extinct, but I also pushed the feeling away. I tend to suppress my grief.”
“Maybe you suppress your emotions because you’re British!”
“It’s such a strong feeling. I don’t know where it will go.”
“Would other people around me understand if I let my grief out?”
“It’s not a very nice feeling. Maybe if you can avoid feeling it, that’s not a bad thing.”
“Although it does open you up to receiving kindness if you make yourself vulnerable.”
“Is it about letting go?”
“Acceptance.”
“Grief gets easier over time.”
“Bargaining. For example, not flying, but maybe allowing myself a little more.”
“Maybe I’m reluctant to accept the full reality. Uncertainty about exactly what the future will be makes it difficult.”
“Denial.”
“Fear and uncertainty. It’s difficult facing our lack of control.”
“Should I grieve? Am I really facing reality?”
“Ithink of grief as a place outside of reality. But is it healthy to spend too much time outside of reality?”
What do you think or feel at the end of the session?
“It’s funny how you can have two conflicting ideas.”
“I’m a bit confused. I’m not sure what I think. Does it matter if I suppress my grief?”
“I worry the grief could be paralysing an if I let the grief get out of control I’ll struggle to find a way back.”