Two students share their perspectives on why you should teach about eco-anxiety at school
Climate Education and Eco-Anxiety: Two Perspectives
Author: Raquel Frescia and Eman Fatima
Editor: Sophie Palmer, Alejandra Arias
We're Raquel and Eman, and we're from Peru and Pakistan, respectively. Throughout this conversation, we will highlight our experience with climate education and eco-anxiety. You will find some evident differences between our train of thought and experiences, but one thing remains constant: our struggle with eco-anxiety. We hope you can not only relate to our experiences but find comfort and power within them.
What was your experience of climate change education growing up?
Eman:
In my school, we were made aware of climate change at a young age. In 8th grade, we took part in an inter-city science fair. There, my group and I addressed the effects of climate change through poetry and skits.
I am grateful for the education I got, but I believe we can do better. For example, we were told the facts listed in the syllabus but weren't made aware of the urgency that would have allowed us to understand its magnitude.
Raquel:
I have forgotten much of what I learned in elementary school. Still, I surely won't ever forget learning about the vulnerability of the Humboldt penguins that inhabit most of coastal Peru, and that there is no population recovery plan in place.
The Humboldt penguins are some of the best-looking penguins I've seen. They are no taller than 70 cm. They have a black head with a white border that runs from behind the eye and joins at the throat, and their bill has a fleshy-pink base. Their upper parts are dark grey, and their underparts whitish, with a black breast band that extends down the flanks.
The facilitators of this learning experience told us about the different threats the Humboldt penguins face – overfishing of schooling preys, fishing nets left behind, human presence, introduced feral species, coal-fired power plants, mining, over-exploitation of guano, and, of course, climate change.
I, and the rest of my class, were devastated to learn such facts. During our lunch break, we sat in groups to discuss how insensitive fishers, miners, tourists, and our authorities were for allowing these situations.
We felt distressed and powerless in the face of the Humboldt penguins' vulnerability and everyone else's. We needed to do something about it, we wanted to do something about it, but we didn't know we could.
When do you feel you began to understand the effects of the climate crisis?
Eman:
It wasn't until 10th grade, when I got exposed to social media, that I finally started taking in just how deep in this problem we are. I remember the anxiety hitting me with full force. I live by the seaside – the land my house is built on results from artificially pushing the ocean back. So the fact that if we let this problem escalate, my house might be underwater, is a terrifying mental picture.
Raquel:
Climate change has been in the back of my mind since I was young. At home and in school, we reused, repurposed and recycled as much as we could. So I was aware of the issue and, as a citizen of the world, it mattered to me. Still, it always seemed to be a distant reality —something that may happen a few thousands of years from then.
I'm unsure as to when I began to understand the magnitude and complexity of the issue fully.I believe that my eureka moment came when I moved to Sweden permanently and realised that what I thought was normal —like air pollution and water scarcity— wasn't normal at all
Being exposed to two different realities helped me connect the dots. I learned about causes, effects and tangible solutions. Suddenly, the words "climate change" didn't feel so foreign anymore. Instead, I think it was becoming aware of the urgency of it that made me go, "Shoot, we messed up."
How did this make you feel?
Eman:
Anxious. When you live in a country where about one-quarter of the population lives under the poverty line, struggling to survive, you can guess that climate change isn't their biggest concern. The typical Pakistani isn't worried about climate change; the typical Pakistani is concerned about the struggling economy, the corrupt government bodies, the rising prices of food, and so much more.
I don't blame them for worrying about these things. As human beings, we aren't naturally wired to plan for the long term. But it has now become essential for our survival to do just that. Eco-anxiety is something I still struggle with when I look around. All of my city's untreated sewage ends up in the sea, where the water is literally brown. At the start of July, a glacier surge in Naltar valley in Northern Pakistan led to the blockage of a nullah, creating an artificial lake in the valley. Four people were buried under debris, and emergency evacuations had to be carried out in the surrounding areas.
Raquel:
My reaction was just like anyone else's: I was heartbroken. I was a small person learning about big issues, and, inevitably, I felt hopeless. But, unfortunately, Peruvian residents, although being affected by climate change daily, often fail to take action against it. This wasn't because of a lack of interest, but because of a lack of education, resources, support, and because it's easy to feel too small to make a difference.
I grew up with a very uncool amalgamation of mental illnesses, and it reached a tipping point in the face of the world crisis we still face. I spent sleepless nights feeling regretful for relatively trivial things, like using toothpaste instead of toothpowder, because I felt like I had to make up for the obliviousness of others. I was carrying the burdens of the world on my back, and I soon had no energy to keep going.
I felt, and sometimes still feel, immobilised. I often use a bungee-jumping analogy to illustrate my experience with eco-anxiety. Although I'm physically capable of jumping off the cliff, there is a force holding me back.
What has helped you to turn your eco-anxiety into action?
Eman:
Due to the lack of awareness in Pakistan, it is tough to find local resources that can allow you to do actual work towards solving the climate crisis. I have been trying to look for such services, but I am yet to find something in my area. On the other hand, ever since I joined FoN, I have been motivated to make a difference like never before. This is because I am now exposed to a fantastic group of people, learning new ways to expand my knowledge on the climate crisis. I wished I had this when I was struggling - I wouldn't have felt so isolated.
I wish I hadn't needed to grow up and expose myself to the world to realise that mental illness is not something to be ashamed of and that I can make a change in the lives of other humans and species and in the world around us. But I'm glad that I finally did.
Raquel:
Turning eco-anxiety into action was a long and complicated journey. However, one of the things that helped the most was seeing others take action at an individual level —I was astonished to realise how much change one determined person can make. I wanted to do what they did. The next step was to choose a target and area. So, I used the SDG targets as a reference, applied them to my community, and brainstormed possible actions until the answer became more evident.
Even then, it wasn't easy to overcome eco-anxiety. But, slowly, I learned to embrace my love for the world and build a healthier relationship with it. First, I started to place myself outside of the narrative and pretend I was advising a friend. Next, I began to break up the issues I cared most deeply about into more simple and manageable tasks . Eventually, I appreciated every positive action I took. Finally, I tried to analyse what I thought were failures and transformed them into opportunities to learn and improve.
I still experience eco-anxiety, but I no longer allow it to govern my days. Instead, I hold power, and I use eco-anxiety as a catalyst to get up every morning and work towards our common goals.
What is one thing that you wish your parents or teachers knew about to prepare you for the world you have inherited?
Raquel:
My parents and teachers did a great job in preparing me for the world. They provided me with resources and helped me develop abilities for me to be able to navigate the world with ease. Whenever I came up with a project idea, they supported my vision and provided me with a safe space to explore my solutions.
I was lucky. The adults I grew up surrounded by were also enthusiastic about the world. They were willing to teach me and learn with me. Honestly, I don't think I would've had the courage to embark on this journey without them.
But, suppose I were a parent or a teacher. In that case, I would prioritise ensuring that my children and students are not drowning in the world's problems by engaging them in open and honest conversations, allowing them to address their feelings but still enjoy their youth. I'd also let them know that they don't hold responsibility for everyone else's actions. Finally, I'd tell them that their voice is strong and that their efforts do matter.
So, if there's one thing I wish my parents and teachers would have done differently, it's that they would have understood my feelings, addressed them and offered me the opportunity to catalyse my thoughts into meaningful action.
Are you an educator or a parent looking to learn more about eco-anxiety and how to talk about it?
Join Force of Nature for a free 1 hour webinar with Q&A to talk about how you can mobilise the mindsets of young people at school and at home, to move from climate anxiety to agency.
Learn from youth experts on climate psychology including the rise of eco-anxiety;
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Get access to an eco-anxiety crash course in climate change and mental health to help you safeguard and support the young people in your life.
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