Storm Bert was in the headlines last week, at the same time as Hull had an unseasonably warm day. If the weird weather is making you nervous - you’re not alone. What can we do about it?

As storms become wetter and seasons shift later in the year, we’re left with this feeling of unease that things are changing in a scary direction, and there’s nothing we can do about it. ‘Eco anxiety’ is on the rise, but it seems it’s been written about online more than talked about face to face - with our friends, colleagues, neighbours.

With the expectation that storms will only become wetter and more severe, seasons more irregular, and crop failures on the way, what do you do when every other newspaper or internet article is likely to trigger feelings of panic? Bury it? Or find some other way through?

If you search “eco anxiety solutions”, you’ll likely see “taking action” is recommended.. Taking action is the most practical and reassuring thing we can all do in the face of a problem. But what action? And what do we do when the size of the problem seems bigger than any action we could take as individuals?

The answer to this, and so many of today’s problems, lies with each other.

Many of us in Cooperation Hull have found strength in community. Not only the collective strength to take impactful, meaningful actions (building better systems rather than signing petitions), but also to be surrounded by people we can turn to when the challenge seems too hard to bear.

So the next time we see that headline, we might still be afraid. But we know that we’re doing the real, historic work to build solidarity economies and real democracy which will get us through this mess. And we know we can rely on each other when the going gets tough.

We would love you to come and be an active member of our community. Sign up online or come to Waffle on a Tuesday evening and say hello.

P.S. Don’t believe in man-made climate change? We don’t blame you. Came here to leave a nasty comment? Well hold on a second! For sure, there’s lots of confusing information out there and it’s hard to know who to trust. We’re trusting 99.9% of the world’s scientists, as well as our own daily experience of the crazy weather. But whatever you think, you’re welcome in Cooperation Hull, as long as you want to build a better, more cooperative society for all.

Sources/research:

• https://www.climatesignals.org/climate-signals/storm-intensity-increase#more

• https://theconversation.com/how-climate-change-is-affecting-the-seasons-213590

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-activism-isnt-really-cure-eco-anxiety-eco-grief-britt-wray-phd-6xzic/

• https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30144-3/fulltext

09 December 2024

By Abi Nottingham