Our species has created the Anthropocene. Significant planetary changes are underway, including climate change and mass extinction. The intensification of extreme weather, and the daily flood of bad news, are contributing to ‘climate grief’ (Scher, 2018), ‘ecological grief’ (Ellis, & Cunsolo, 2018) and ‘solastalgia’  the grief and homesickness we experience over the loss of a healthy place or once-thriving ecosystem, while still living in that place (Albrecht et al, 2007). Core to this grief is the realisation that humans’ relationship with our supporting and surrounding ecosystem is deeply out of balance (Weintraub, 1984). Buffeted by constant technological change, post-9/11 existential anxiety and living conditions that foster disconnection and alienation, our emotions could become a liability. Yet Aboriginal leaders have long known that caring for Country strengthens psychological wellbeing (Mosaic Science, 2019).
Community leaders are especially vulnerable to despair and burnout. As we attempt to make sense of our changing world on behalf of others, we either deny or push down overwhelming anger and grief, thereby pacing ourselves at risk of succumbing to hopelessness and depression. Environment conference programming typically does not provide collective opportunities for participants to go deep into their emotions and emerge with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.
More than ever, it is crucial that we allow ourselves to feel potentially debilitating feelings such as anger and express them constructively. Learning about the importance of using ‘negative’ emotions is not only crucial for stepping out of numbness: it helps us to energise the democratic process, experience learned hopefulness (Zimmerman, 1990), and address the urgent issues that concern us all.
Featuring a panel discussion, this experiential workshop explores how to turn solastalgia into community resilience. We will seek feedback about ways to strengthen the workshop offering and forge a community of practice for building future iterations.