Well-being in the Face of Change: Election Reflections on Climate Action & the Butterfly Effect

Elections always have winners and losers, and last week's U.S. elections were no different. The results sent a shockwave through the global climate action community. Since last Wednesday morning, around 3am ET, I've received texts, DMs, and emails from people across generations and chapters of my life looking for insights. 

As a non-profit, we are inherently nonpartisan, but every election outcome has a policy impact on environmental efforts. While the transition of Presidential power does not begin until January 20th, the upcoming administration's policies will put climate justice and environmental policies at risk, making it even harder to meet commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The likely stark policy shifts on clean air, clean water, and public lands means, we must immediately begin looking at our individual roles in climate action in our personal life and communities more closely. Over the weekend, while on a hike, a thought came to me. . .

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Think of your #onegreenthing -your daily practice of sustainability -- as the "Butterfly Effect" - but in reverse. The Butterfly Effect concept comes from chaos theory and is a common theme in science fiction. The idea is that if you go back in time, you could alter the course of history if you were to make a tiny change - and in a chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the concept that the fluttering of a butterfly's wings can impact global weather patterns. Ultimately, small changes can make a big impact.

Often we fail to apply this powerful concept to the impact of our present day decisions on the future and dismiss our individual actions as insignificant. Given the uncertainty ahead, it's time to fully embrace the power of your individual and community action. Your daily practice can ease eco-anxiety, green your community, and also create the culture change we need for climate solutions to scale.

For now, that is what I'm focusing on. And you know me - I want you to rest, process, feel all the feels, and be empowered. Resources and tools that can help you TODAY matter. To amplify YOUR butterfly effect in climate action, grab your digital versions of my book Eco-Anxiety: Saving Our Sanity, Our Kids, and Our Future. This book tackles the mental health impacts of climate crisis and is an action-oriented, hopeful guide to navigating our uncertain future through joyful daily action.

To calm your nervous system and keep focusing on a positive vision for the future, check out the OneGreenThing bullet journal and 2030 visualization exercise. And also, stay in touch! Our wide-reaching, intergenerational community is a place for joy, optimism, and action.

FOCUS ON YOUR WELL-BEING

Here's how to safeguard your well-being and floruish amidst climate change by Service Superpower (take the quiz to  find your superpower):  

• Adventurers:  Channel your inner Philanthropist and plan a day of volunteering at a local community garden, park, or food bank. Thinking "local" is key!

• Beacons: Lean into your inner Sage, get quiet, and journal about what well-being means to you. Check out this OneGreenThing webinar on "Cultivating WellBeing in a Warming World." 

• Influencers: Plan a hike or downtime outside with friends and come up with a plan to support local environmental efforts.

• Philanthropists: REST then make your plan for Giving Tuesday on 12/3/24 (the day of global online giving) to support your community.

• Sages: Listen and hold space for friends who are worried about what the U.S. election results might mean for climate action.

• Sparks: Join a local environmental education or food justice group.

• Wonks: Lean into your inner Adventurer, pledge not to use social media for a day, and instead, spend time outside.

ONEGREENTHING AT

HARVARD'S HEALTH AND HAPPINESS CENTER

Be sure to check out our conversation at Tomorrow, Nov. 12th, the OneGreenThing team will travel to Harvard University's Center for Health and Happiness to discuss how to flourish amidst climate change. This free digital and in person conversation will discuss well-being on the heels of a recent wide-reaching survey showing that 85% of Gen-Zers experience eco-anxiety and an historic election in the U.S.

I'll be joined by Wawa Gatheru, Rhodes Scholar and founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, as well as Dr. Elizabeth Pinksy, adolescent psychiatrist and pediatrician. We invite YOU to join as well.  

THANK YOU for your being part of this community that embraces the joy of climate action, recognizes the challenges ahead, and commits to individual and community action for a greener, healthier, more just future.