As climate change accelerates, "ecological grief" becomes catalyst for action

Terri Macey | Writers Group

The signs of serious, destructive climate change have been difficult to miss this year. Hurricanes Florence and Michael caused at least 98 deaths, billions of dollars of destruction, with tens of thousands of lives uprooted. In Iowa, we are seeing increased humidity, which is both uncomfortable and affects crop growth (increasing mold growth, insects, and hindering grain drying) as well as unprecedented rainfall (September saw 7.05 inches of rainfall in Iowa City, compared to the normal average of 3.35 inches).

Most scientists recognize that we are in the midst of “the sixth great extinction.” We are experiencing a dramatic loss of biodiversity throughout the world. Species extinction is a natural phenomenon; the normal rate of extinction is from one to five species per year, but recent studies report that there are now 26,000 species under threat of extinction. In October, the World Wildlife Federation reported that since 1970, animal populations across the globe have decreased by 60 percent and in Central and South America, by 90 percent.

But a recent poll found that while 70 percent of Americans believe that climate change is real, and almost 60 percent recognize it is caused by human activity, only 6 percent of Americans believe that we will act to successfully combat it. Why this disconnect? How can we know something so dangerous is happening and yet take no significant steps to prevent or mitigate it?

Recently some authors, in journals as reputable as “Science” and “Nature” have begun talking about “ecological grief”, defined as a profound sense of sadness created by the losses in the natural world. As we experience a changing climate and a changing world that affect our lives in both small and profound ways, grief and anxiety are normal reactions. Grief is a rational reaction to loss. Yet failure to acknowledge this sense of loss, and the profound emotional and mental pain it creates, leaves us feeling alone and isolated. We are paralyzed by the knowledge that the world as we know it is ending. Our refusal to acknowledge this leaves us powerless to cope. We try to ignore the irrefutable evidence that confronts us and pretend it isn’t happening,

One of the consequences of ignoring our grief is to throw up our hands in despair and to double down on global destruction. This is the rationale behind the current administration’s efforts to roll back ambitious targets for fuel economy and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The administration publicly concluded that since we are locked into catastrophic climate change, the benefits of increased fuel economy are not worth pursuing.

To acknowledge grief is to feel pain. It is easier to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that catastrophic climate change isn’t happening. In addition, we may feel we will be mocked for acknowledging our pain. I know in my own case I am reluctant to admit how often I lose sleep knowing that I will not be able to protect my children from the horrific consequences of climate change. I am their mother; my duty is to protect them, and yet I can’t. I am embarrassed by how often I am moved to tears knowing that animals are suffering and dying as a result of climate changes they cannot adapt to.

But writers as respected as Aldo Leopold have acknowledged this grief. Leopold wrote that ecological awareness means you “live alone in a world of wounds”. A recent article in an environmental journal, in which the author described his grief over the loss of the world he knew, earned derision by some. Yet one response said that acknowledging deep pain does not make you a snowflake; it makes you a badass. Only by courageously and openly acknowledging our deep sense of loss and grief will we be able to move past the pain and take the steps necessary to reduce the damage to our lovely planet.

Terri Macey is a retired faculty member in the Psychology Department at the University of Colorado at Boulder and a member of the Iowa City Climate Advocates.