Climate Anxiety
Resources and events about climate anxiety for the PCC community
Connections
Connecting with others who share your concerns and commitments is widely recognized as the best antidote to climate despair.
Connecting with others is also the foundation for actions to address the climate crisis. The words of anthropologist Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
PCC resources for students
- Student Sustainability Hub"Explore sustainability, build community, and strengthen your skills with the Student Sustainability Hub. Our programs are designed for students who want to create positive change on campus and beyond. Choose your own adventure and thrive!"
- Nature for All: Environmental Club"Want to share your love for sustainability and the environment, need volunteer hours, or just want to learn more about the world that surrounds us, then come join Nature for All." Based at the Rock Creek Campus.
- PCC CounselingPCC offers free, short-term counseling to currently enrolled students (excluding Community Education) as well as workshops on a wide range of topics. Two PCC counselors have been trained in climate aware therapy.
National and international climate anxiety networks
- Good Grief NetworkA peer-to-peer support space for people overwhelmed by collective injustices and eco-anxiety/climate grief/eco-distress
- Gen-DreadA newsletter about staying sane in the climate crisis
- The WeekThe Week is a group experience for engaging with the climate crisis. Groups get together three times in a week for a documentary and a guided conversation.
Advocacy resources
I know so many people who feel hopeless, and they ask me, “What should I do?” And I say: “Act. Do something.” Because that is the best medicine against sadness and depression.
—Greta Thunberg
- Activist ToolkitThe Activist Toolkit provides the basic tools to run strong campaigns and win victories for students and the public interest. From Student Public Interest Research Groups.
- Community Climate Action ToolkitFrom the Schumacher Institute, a downloadable set of easy-to-use tools and resources to develop a group, understand your local situation, and move into meaningful action.
- Inside the MovementThe Climate Movement Newsletter & Action Toolkit
- Talk like a human—lessons on how to communicate climate changeGuide with 8 principles of climate communication, from Potential Energy (potentialenergycoalition.org).
- What Can I Do about the Climate Emergency?From Rebecca Solnit, "Everybody’s practical guide to what they can do against climate
chaos and for a just and thriving natural and human world." 14 page pdf
Portland area organizations working towards climate solutions
- 350PDX"Our mission is to build a diverse grassroots movement to address the causes of climate disruption through justice-based solutions by inspiring, training and mobilizing people to act."
- Climate Reality Project"Our mission is to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every sector of society." "Get the tools, training, and network to fight climate change and together build the world we want." International organization with a branch in Portland.
- Divest Oregon"We are a statewide grassroots coalition of individuals and organizations representing unions with PERS members, racial and climate justice groups, youth leaders, and faith communities with the goal of calling the Oregon State Treasury to account for its funding of climate devastation rather than prudent investing in a sustainable future."
- Families for Climate - Portland"Families for Climate brings parents and youth together to take action for climate justice—in ways that are accessible, inclusive, informative and inspiring. We are building collective “parent-power”, advocating for policies and solutions to address the climate crisis, and nurturing the next generation of climate activists & leaders."
- Oregon Just Transition AllianceFrontline communities organizing for racial, economic, and climate justice.
- Portland Youth Climate Council"The Portland Youth Climate Council is a youth-powered group defending our right to a stable climate and sustainable future by shaping policy and advocating for change."
- Sunrise PDX"We're building a movement of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people."
- Verde Northwest"Verde serves communities by building environmental wealth through social enterprise, outreach, and advocacy."