Ambivalence means being undecided about something or being able to see both the pros and cons of an action. Feeling more than one way about something in the climate crisis is understandable. If we live in a rich country then we are used to enjoying many activities that are environmentally destructive. We may want to continue to enjoy them, while at the same time, we feel bad about the environmental destruction and are very conscious of their negative impact on other people.
Further reading
In their podcast episode, Dr Thomas Doherty and Dr Panu Pikhala discuss their mixed feelings about flying and offer some suggestions on how to manage this.
Climate Change and Happiness. “Season 2, Episode 25: Flight Guilt and Other Emotions about Travel.” Accessed August 9, 2023.
UR3OK A model for taking action on something we feel ambivalent about from Dr. Thomas Doherty.
“I love the sun but climate change makes me feel guilty In this post Jacob Hawley, talks about his love of sunbathing and fears for the future over climate change. It’s a really good example of what it’s like to feel ambivalent, and an antidote to the narratives of sacrifice and us against them that we often find in the media.
Hawley, Jacob. “I Love the Sun – but Climate Change Makes Me Feel Guilty for Enjoying It.” Metro (blog), August 9, 2023. https://metro.co.uk/2023/08/09/i-love-the-sun-but-climate-change-makes-me-feel-guilty-for-enjoying-it-19298220/.