Chasing the North Star in a Dying Climate: A Fight for Hope and Survival
In my second year of university, I took a class on environmental conservation as an elective. At the time, its sole purpose was to fulfill my credits, and my motivation to take it was because it was a “GPA-booster.” Unfortunately, the instructor was a great professor. We learned about human-caused global warming, wildlife extinctions, climate change, environmental degradation and everything else in between. It was a moment of contemplation for me in which I mourned our dying planet and wallowed in hopelessness.
There were numerous times in that class that I would pause the online lectures, close my laptop and try to hold in the barrage of emotions—regret, grief, horror, pain. I remember that when I’d begin those lectures, all my daily burdens would feel like nothing compared to the ocean of obstacles that the wildlife and natural world of our planet face today. And every time, I would ask myself, how did we get here?
Being a young person on this planet is hard in the face of a global crisis. While we balance work, homework, extracurriculars, volunteer work, hobbies and family, it’s hard not to become burnt out. And, on top of that, with the looming climate crisis, hopeless is not a strong enough word to define the impending burden of the future we have to build. We’re the new generation, aren’t we? We’re the ones who will be left to clean up the mess for our children.
For many of us, the responsibility to nature is not only a duty, and the guilt and fear we have for the planet is deeply personal. We love hiking through forests, camping under the stars or exploring new landscapes. We are bound together by a shared passion for the outdoors. The idea of losing those precious places to rising temperatures, pollution and deforestation is enough to trigger negative emotions—and even make us give up trying to create change.
A few weeks ago, Ryan Stuart wrote an article on managing the guilt of being an adventurer while in the midst of a climate crisis. He encourages his readers to find a North Star—an image of the future we want—and follow it. Although he offers a very hopeful perspective, I can’t help but wonder: how do you get there? How do you gain enough hope to even create a North Star?
While taking the environmental conservation class that semester, I was in a pit of despair and consuming guilt. It wasn’t until I watched the last lecture of the semester that I gained something much more powerful than fear: hope. That final lecture was about encouraging others to create change without fostering hopelessness. Ironic, right? But it was that final lecture that taught me an important lesson.
I’m not an expert, but as an avid adventurer and lover of nature, let me share my number-one tip on overcoming climate guilt. It’s a two-step equation: first, know that you’re not alone, and second, know that change is underway, and there are ways—small and big—to make a difference. I decided, from there, to no longer give way to the hopelessness and guilt, but to take action.
The Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at Cardiff University and the University of Bath did a study in the UK which determined that Gen-Z experiences a higher levels of fear for the climate compared to older generations. So, no, you’re not alone in this obstacle. There are plenty of us out there who are worried and scared. And if there’s one thing worry and fear lead to—it’s action.
In response to this crisis, some young people are turning to activism and environmental movements. In fact, studies find that younger generations are more willing to work towards change, especially by giving up fossil fuels. Whether it’s Greta Thunburg or other activists, our generation is not looking back. We are a powerful generation fueled by passion, energy and optimism, and we refuse to accept a bleak future.
For those ready to push away the worry and embrace hope, here are five (of my favourite) ways to give back to our planet:
- Make your voice heard. Simply talk about it, and don’t stop talking about it. As a writer, take it from me—our voice makes a big difference. It educates, empowers, reminds and makes people pay attention. Have a conversation with someone, or go bigger and protest!
- Vote for change! Exercise your right to vote and elect those willing to make a change. Don’t let history repeat itself. Instead, vote for a future you want to see.
- Apply your skills into the climate fight. If you’re an artist, make art about climate change. If you’re studying to be an engineer, create an innovation that will help combat greenhouse gases. If you’re a writer, like me, write stories or article just like this one!
- Take action, however big or small. Bike to work instead of driving. Use less water during your showers. Carpool to school. Plant a tree. Use sporks instead of plastic forks. Use reusable containers and water bottles. And the list goes on. These seemingly small changes in our lifestyle directly impact our environment by keeping the trail we hike, parks where we camp and the lakes that we paddle clean and healthy.
- Be positive. Hopelessness fosters defeat. Instead, look at the bright side. Acknowledge all the ways people around the world are trying to create change. Understand that change is a slow process, and it will be done one step at a time.
There is hope in the small victories—reducing plastic use, planting trees, holding companies accountable for their carbon footprints. And there is hope in the growing global awareness that now, more than ever, climate action is not just a necessity but an obligation. It’s essential that we, as young people, don’t allow the weight of the crisis to extinguish our optimism. Instead, we should use it as a catalyst to spark change. Yes, it’s okay to feel guilt, overwhelmed and a sense of moral responsibility, but we should never allow those feelings to rob us of our potential for positive change.
Acknowledging these moments and channeling them into action—that’s how the future begins to look a bit more hopeful. That’s how we find our North Star.
What a pile of BS! Enough of the woke nonsense already!