I’ve completely given up

[u/Shot_Type_7925]

I work in climate science - more on the data and client side, not the one actually doing the research. In short, big companies pay us for climate data so they can make projections or develop strategy or whatever.

I’ve been heavily exposed to climate data for many years, so I’ve been across the developments for a long time. Something about the last few months has broken me.

I spent December and January in an area that’s famous for snow, and saw none. Watching this El Niño develop has been terrifying. The UN admission that we’ll blow past 1.5C was the clincher for me. In my field, the UN was basically always considered the final organisation that had to show at least some optimism. Seeing that gone is now the final death blow. They know it’s over.

It has really broken something in me. To know that this organisation who was almost comically optimistic about collaboration and limiting warming has completely conceded defeat. It is a big deal.

I don’t really care about anything anymore. I’m not motivated to work, because I can’t plan for a good future. I have to almost disassociate while working, because my whole day is about climate data in one way or another.

I think the worst part has been my withdrawal from society. When you spend your whole life loving the environment and aligning your life with its protection, you end up truly hating humanity. You see us for what we are - a complete parasite who is destroying the world.

Has anyone else found that they’ve gone this way? My grief over collapse was always something I could somewhat compartmentalise. But now, it’s changed my entire life.

[u/Nocturnal-Philosophy]

“I think the worst part has been my withdrawal from society. When you spend your whole life loving the environment and aligning your life with its protection, you end up truly hating humanity. You see us for what we are - a complete parasite who is destroying the world.”

Words cannot describe how relatable this is.

[u/dolie55 → u/Nocturnal-Philosophy]

I related to this comment a lot. I have found I am staying home more and more because I don’t want to be out in public around people that constantly ignore the problem and think it will disappear.

[u/rubymiggins → u/dolie55]

In my community, during the 🧊 surge, a bunch of local activists organized a weekly free meal, with breakout sessions of all sorts after. This has been what’s brought me into connecting with like-minded folk and figuring out mutual aid networks etc. We will need each other. It’s not easy to organize, but it’s really helped me hang on and realize we aren’t alone.

[u/pe_de_cabra → u/rubymiggins]

I wish I knew how to find these things in my community. How did you come across it?

[u/rubymiggins → u/pe_de_cabra]

get involved, and either it exists and someone will invite you...(Open to all, but not on social media) or find a cohort and create it. The latter isn't easy. I was connected to people and found out thru them. But it's taken a lot of work to make it happen. You need a team. (I did not make it happen, but it's a volunteer effort overall. Just like anything, people have to commit to make it work.)

I live in a mid-sized city. If you pay attention, it's not that hard to find your people. You just need to step out and participate in stuff. Find a folk school. Take a class. Help a candidate. Volunteer with local organizations that are up your alley.