Caregivers do better when they tend to their own physical and mental health even as they help others. So too will those who care for Earth’s climate gain strength by deliberately taking occasional breaks from bad news – and by feeding their spirits with some gratitude.
In honor of Thanksgiving, then, let us recognize some of the positive things that are happening. As you’ll see in the articles below, we don’t have to forget our concerns. We just need to balance them by remembering that the whole picture includes both bad and good.
Rebecca Solnit is very often a source of smart, thoughtful, informed, and engaged encouragement. This recent column (The Guardian) is terrific: “Ten ways to confront the climate crisis without losing hope.” Don’t skip #5, “Indirect consequences matter.” For another stirring example, see her “Letter to a young climate activist on the first day of the new decade” (Lithub).
Following the COP26 meeting, two veteran climate reporters (with wide knowledge of contexts) offer encouraging overviews:
This list focuses on the world of business: “8 Climate Week developments that can help ‘get it done’” (Deonna Anderson, GreenBiz).
The explosion of renewable energy is a particular cheering development:
You can dip into the Washington Post’s collection of stories about climate solutions any time here.
A few free newsletters that offer regular doses of solid and restorative good news:
- Future Crunch, which regularly includes climate news in its fortnightly compilations.
- The Upside from The Guardian, often contains climate stories.
- Chip Griller at Grist offers Fix, an update of the Shift Happens series and newsletter. This example followed the 2021 Climate Week.
- EHN, Environmental Health News, home of the essential Daily Climate emails, offers weekly Good News.
- Finally, from Harvard’s School of Public Health, the Climate Optimist monthly.
And remember: you can always do an internet search for “good news climate change”!
This series is curated and written by retired Colorado State University English professor and close climate change watcher SueEllen Campbell of Colorado. To flag works you think warrant attention, send an e-mail to her any time. Let us hear from you.
