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Challenging Climate
Asking tough questions about the science, technology, and politics of climate change, two climate researchers challenge leading experts on one of the defining issues of our age. Every two weeks, they explore how we can fight global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, carbon removal, adaptation and solar geoengineering. Dr. Jesse Reynolds and Dr. Pete Irvine consider the roles of computer models and persuasive narratives, economics and public policy, and renewable energy and national security in the climate debate, and look beyond to issues such as biotechnology and international development.
Questions or comments? Email info@challengingclimate.org or tweet @ChalClimate
See more information on Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine.
music by Peter Danilchuk @clambgramb (IG/Twitter).
Challenging Climate
13. Britt Wray on Generation Dread and the rise of eco-anxiety
Dr Britt Wray is an author and researcher working at the forefront of climate change and mental health. She is currently a Human and Planetary Health Fellow at Stanford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Britt’s research focuses on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis and has published popular books such as Rise of the Necrofauna: The Science, Ethics and Risks of De-Extinction, and Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis.
In this episode, we spoke with Britt about eco-anxiety, how it can affect our mental health and daily lives, and how we can cope and find optimism. We began by diving into the trends in eco-anxiety across demographics and over time. We also discussed the role of media in propelling eco-anxiety and why sentiments of the general public differ from climate experts.
Links:
- Britt Wray’s website
- Britt's books: Generation Dread and Rise of the Necrofauna
- Gen Dread newsletter (free subscription!)
- The Hickman et al. (2021) paper on a global survey on climate anxiety in children and youth and their perception of government responses to climate change
