My Own Philosophy of Climate Resilience: A Guide to An Adaptive Mindset

Climate change is already here, and impacts will worsen over time until governments can phase out fossil fuels and implement negative-emissions societies that can start to cool the planet. As we collectively journey through an epoch marked by dramatic environmental change and uncertainty, it is essential that we consider our individual roles and also adopt a resilient mindset to navigate the days ahead.

Consider your role in a historic period of history

We’re living in historic times where humanity’s collective actions will determine the course of our future. Understanding your unique role in this unprecedented era can be a source of empowerment. I believe all of us have a unique purpose and role that can help to stabilize the climate and ultimately cool the planet so that future generations can continue to enjoy a habitable biosphere. Every day, I reflect as much as I can as to what my own role might be, and I invite you to do the same. Maybe you feel a deeper purpose for what you can do to make a positive social impact in these times. Consider what your role might be, and how you might serve the planet and humanity more generally.

Connect with others who are conscious of the crisis

None of us, individually, has the capacity to stabilize the climate and cool the planet. Particularly in the USA, we have to overcome the sense that any single individual or the lone hero will have the magic solutions to the crisis. Those kinds of magic solutions simply do not exist. To stabilize the climate, we will have to work collectively to phase out fossil fuels, and to implement negative emissions societies so as to restore balance with nature. It is critical that in this era, we connect with others who are conscious of the crisis, not only to build the collective action we need but also to build the right kind of emotional support to remain resilient and to deal with trauma. Seek out and connect with others who are at your wavelength and who are not only conscious of the crisis, but feel compelled to take positive action.

Protect your mental health as much as you can

There is no precedent for the kinds of experiences that humans will encounter—either collectively or individually—in the coming years and decades. The trauma of extreme weather, heatwaves, displacement, and biodiversity collapse is literally without precedent for our species. In order to implement solutions, we must all guard our mental health. Climate anxiety is a real phenomenon and it can be overwhelming to confront the scale of the challenges we face. Find ways to decompress and disengage when you need to. This could involve spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, or just taking a break as often as needed. Without mental health, we will not be able to stabilize the climate.

Make plans, but be willing to adapt

Developing an action plan to address climate change impacts in your own life can provide a sense of control. This might involve thinking about how you might need to adapt to climate change impacts, including where you might need to go in the event of a climate-related disaster (either temporarily or permanently). It might also include things like changing your life in ways that permit you to engage in broader advocacy for positive social change. In each case, it is crucial to be adaptable. The climate crisis is multifaceted, with new information constantly emerging, and our responses must evolve with it. Stay open to new information, be willing to adjust your strategies, and embrace flexibility. Avoid “maladaptation”—things like sticking to a plan that isn’t working, or not adjusting to new information.

Work for balance with nature and the protection of human rights

Our social systems are not in harmony with nature, and the result is global warming combined with biodiversity collapse. Nature is generally resilient and natural systems can restore themselves if they are permitted to do so. In addition to working for balance with nature and balance with the planet, our societies must center the protection of human rights at their very core. Our socioeconomic systems are no longer serving us, and it is time to adopt ones that are regenerative, restorative, and which ensure the habitability of the planet for centuries to come. To the extent we need new kinds of technology to stop significant climate change impacts or forestall tipping points in progress, such technology should be developed through global cooperation and shared with all peoples. By working together as a species, and ensuring a dignified life for all, we can optimize the possibility of maintaining a habitable planet.

Originally published at https://www.daveindercomar.com on June 11, 2023.