{"id":7917,"date":"2019-11-08T16:34:22","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T00:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/?p=7917"},"modified":"2019-11-08T16:34:22","modified_gmt":"2019-11-09T00:34:22","slug":"climate-change-and-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/climate-change-and-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change and Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thank you to Rockridge counsellor, Mr. Robert Broughton for his insights into how to encourage and support young people concerned about climate change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c2018 now worst fire season on record as B.C. extends state of emergency\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 CBC, Aug 29, 2018<\/p>\n

\u201cWild orcas may not survive climate change\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Salon, Jan 5, 2015<\/p>\n

“Sockeye salmon at risk of overheating due to climate change: study”\u00a0 Globe and Mail, March 31, 2011<\/p>\n

In BC, we are no strangers to alarming news regarding the possible impact of climate change. The smell of smoke in the air seems to now be an almost permanent feature of summer, and news about impacts on wildlife and on the oceans is a regular item in the news.\u00a0 Consequently, some adolescents may express concern about the possible impact on their future, and what they perceive as lack of action on the part of adults.<\/p>\n

Regardless of one\u2019s views on the climate crisis, there is one fact that cannot be denied: the changing climate, and environmental degradation generally, are causing feelings of grief, sadness, anger and fear –\u00a0 especially in young people.\u00a0 An emotional response is normal, and even negative emotions are part of a healthy, fulfilling life.\u00a0 But when these feelings become stuck, they can have a negative impact on young people\u2019s general well-being, and on their ability to experience life as they want to.\u00a0 This blog post looks at some ways that we can support young people in managing these feelings, and encourage them to use these feelings in ways that will enrich their life.<\/p>\n

Talk About It<\/u><\/p>\n

All of us need to talk about the things that are important to us.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need others to agree with us all the time, and it\u2019s not reasonable to expect this, but we need to feel heard and understood by those around us.\u00a0 Sometimes teens seem to prioritize independence and autonomy over pretty much everything, but they highly value being understood and listened to by parents, teachers, and other adult role models.<\/p>\n

Talking gives young people (and older people) the opportunity to express their emotions, and to let them move through them.\u00a0 Without this, it is easier to become stuck in a feeling, and have it bleed into other areas of our lives.\u00a0 Most young people would likely say that talk is not enough when addressing this particular issue, but it is an important part of the whole, and something in which adults can play a key role.<\/p>\n

Take Action<\/u><\/p>\n

Most people, when in a state of anxiety, go into avoidance mode. However, our emotions provide important information about what our lives are meant to look like, and what is important to us.\u00a0 For example, fear tells us they may be a threat to address, and confusion tells us that we need more information.<\/p>\n

The feelings that young people experience regarding climate change have a message also.\u00a0 For many youth, they are a call to action.\u00a0 Using these feelings to inspire one to engage in personal change that supports the environment, or advocacy work that does the same, can create a sense of purpose and agency.\u00a0 It also combats the despair many young people feel when they think about the size of the problem, and allows them to feel connected to others who share their views.<\/p>\n

Take a Break<\/u><\/p>\n

There are, and will always be, issues that represent an existential threat to humanity.\u00a0 The spread of fascism before WWII, or the threat of nuclear conflict during the Cold War, are both examples.<\/p>\n

Our challenge is the same as it was for folks then: to live a fulfilling life, while at the same time embodying our values and helping make the world a better place.\u00a0 This requires a commitment to self-care.\u00a0 We have to remember to both live our vision for the world, but to also enjoy the life we have.\u00a0 Though it might seem counter-intuitive, playing sports, spending time with friends, and doing other activities that we enjoy is critical to our ability to improve the world for ourselves and others.\u00a0 If we care for ourselves, we will have more to offer others as well.<\/p>\n

It is possible to acknowledge the pain, loss and danger that the climate crisis may represent while also preserving one\u2019s courage, resilience and compassion.\u00a0 I hope that in presenting these ideas, I am able in some small way to help you do this.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thank you to Rockridge counsellor, Mr. Robert Broughton for his insights into how to encourage and support young people concerned about climate change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":7925,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7917"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7917\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westvancouverschools.ca\/rockridge-secondary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}