The modern experience of a Canadian summer is tinged with a seemingly inescapable feeling of dread and often a crushing sense of grief. As the weather dries up and the sun burns brighter, it's normal to feel anxious, anticipating the fires and the subsequent barrage of headlines outlining the resulting losses, which, despite the best efforts of journalists and scientists, are incalculable in scale. For many in this country, summer has become a season of acute grief.
That grief has a name: climate grief. It’s the feeling of sadness and loss about the ongoing global climate crisis. For myself and many others, the partial destruction of Jasper, Alberta, last week by a fire believed to be the park’s largest in a century was a moment when the constant hum of climate grief became a deafening bellow that was impossible to ignore.
On a human scale, the fire has been devastating. One article from Global News cites a Parks Canada estimate that “30 percent of Jasper’s structures were damaged by the wildfire, with 358 of the town's 1,113 structures destroyed.” Livelihoods, family homes, and places of childhood memory have been lost, and it’s a story that repeats itself several times every year.
Beyond the human impact, the destruction by wildfires on the ecosystem surrounding Jasper is hard to comprehend. The loss of animal life and the destruction of millions of trees, grasses, flowers, and other organisms will have drastic consequences on the environment for years to come. I encourage you to take a moment of silence or allow yourself to hold space for grief in the face of this tragedy in whatever way is most healing for you.
It is important to acknowledge that First Nations people of Turtle Island and around the world have faced climate grief for centuries. In Canada, Indigenous peoples are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change including the emotional toll. According to the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, "[Indigenous peoples] tend to live in geographic regions experiencing rapid climate change and because they have a close relationship to and depend on the environment and its natural resources." While it is important to care for oneself in times of grief, settlers must recognize this truth and acknowledge colonialism's role in the climate crisis.
In the wake of the Jasper wildfire, and knowing that there will be similarly devastating fires to come, it is crucial to build and maintain climate grief coping skills. Taking care of your mental health is an essential element of playing an effective role in climate action.
Climate Anxiety Coping Strategies:
Take Action
Action is the best antidote to anxiety. No matter how big or small, getting involved in climate action will help alleviate the feeling of helplessness, a hallmark of climate grief. Whether you're volunteering on weekends or working in climate action full-time through one of our Youth Climate Corps BC programs, taking action is key to addressing climate grief.
Practice self-care
As with any form of grief, it is important to practice self-care when facing climate anxiety. Get enough sleep, exercise, and make time for meditation or mindfulness. You will be better equipped to face hard emotions if your cup is full.
Engage in Creative Expression
Art can be a valuable way of working through grief and trauma as it allows you to express your emotions, practice mindfulness, and connect with others. You can attend a climate circle and art-making session on July 30th at Legacy Art Gallery
Build Community
Talk to your friends, family, or larger community about your feelings. If you feel like your support system doesn't share your values or concerns, try searching for community online. For Example, The Climate Awakening offers online climate emotion conversations. Groups like YCCBC's youth committee can also be a great place to find support.
Keep a Balanced Perspective
While the climate crisis is a real and serious threat, it is important to balance your consumption of climate change news with awareness of climate wins. Regularly expose yourself to stories about successful community and government action to ensure you keep hope. Here are some great places to find positive climate news: Good News - The Daily Climate and @Itsthegarbagequeen
Finally, if you would like to support the people of Jasper following this devastating fire you can find out how at the links below.
Canadian Red Cross: https://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/alberta-wildfires-2024
Banff Canmore Foundation: https://banffcanmorecf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1528
Any companies, individuals or organizations that would like to offer support to those impacted by the wildfires can email their offers to EmergencySupportOffers@gov.ab.ca.
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