Climate Change Is Personal For All of Us Contributed by Aidan Sites, CCB4ME Colby Volunteer Spring 2021

 How does climate change make me feel?

When presented with this question, I felt overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the magnitude of this extremely complex issue. Overwhelmed with the emotions that I often have to keep buried deep within me just to keep some sense of sanity in life as a college student.

Climate change makes me feel terrified. Terrified of the unknown. Terrified of what might happen. Terrified of what is already happening. Terrified of how much of our country and the world still can’t seem to understand the gravity of this situation. Terrified of what will happen if we cannot get our acts together in time.

Climate change makes me feel frustrated. Frustrated when I think about how much our societal system has failed that has caused us to get to this point. Frustrated when I think about how difficult it has been to get the minimal amount of climate action that we have seen thus far. Frustrated when I think about how there are so many that are refusing to see how oil and gas corporations are spewing blatant lies about the severity of climate change in order to maintain their large amounts of profits. 

Climate change makes me feel sad. Sad when I think about all of the communities that have suffered at the hands of climate change. Sad when I think about all of those that have lost their lives because of climate change. Sad when I think about all of those that have lost their loved ones at the hands of climate change. Sad when I think about all of those that have lost their homes, possessions, and everything they know at the hands of climate change. Sad when I think about all of the people that continue to suffer today at the hands of climate change. Sad when I think about the animal and plant species that have been harmed, displaced, have been or will go extinct because the actions of human society. Sad when I think about future generations that will be born into a flawed and messed up world, not knowing how much longer our world will last, unless we do something about it.

With all of these overwhelming emotions surrounding climate change, it can sometimes be easy to fall into a pit of despair, feeling helpless as the world seems to come crashing down around you. While this might feel true sometimes, I have also found that there is hope.

Passionate individuals who engage in conversations about climate change solutions, so that mindsets and attitudes may soon change give me hope. The billions of dedicated youth activists who tirelessly call for radical change and empathy on the part of policy makers all over the world give me hope. The countless organizations proposing and implementing valuable solutions to the climate crisis that also take into account the needs of the people me hope.

There might not be one best solution to the climate crisis, and that's okay. All I know is that we cannot continue as we are. There must be radical change. Educate yourself on potential solutions, talk about these issues with those around you, support each other as we all grapple with countless difficult emotions, and work together towards a better future for our world, that's what I’m trying to do. I hope you will too.