Climate Café
Held at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global for Global Health Research
August 24, 2023
Climate change can trigger complex feelings. Our aim is to support giving voice to these emotions, experience that we are not alone, and enable conversations about ways to take action. The Dahdaleh Institute is widely acknowledged for its work in advancing global health.
Our Wellness Impact Lab aims to promote integrated health and wellness practices for fostering resiliency and managing stress. A key focus is strengthening our personal capacities for skillfully turning toward climate distress and eco-anxiety as a basis for moving to collective action. Holding climate café conversations is an important strategy for accomplishing this.
Core Objectives:
1. Open dialogue and exploration of complex emotions related to climate distress
2. Creating a sense of responsibility and collective commitment for a sustainable future
During the event, we will guide discussion and facilitate an interactive activity to encourage participants to share their feelings and thoughts about climate distress. The goal is to explore the profound connections between human beings and nature, inspiring collective responsibility, and action for a sustainable future.
Our notes from our Climate Café
Why are we hosting a Climate Cafe?
Our aim is to conduct evidence-based initiatives for fostering resiliency and managing stress. A foremost project is addressing ‘Climate Distress to Action’ by engaging people through a series of Climate Cafés at York University and the local community.
Climate distress is the natural emotional and mental distress that arises when people are faced with the climate crisis. Many people experience a ‘double bind’ not wanting to contribute to climate warming but finding it difficult to change. To help us understand our feelings about climate change and find out what helps, a Climate Café dialogue series is being initiated, drawing on the latest research on climate distress, especially strategies for removing barriers to action. Join our conversation and share!