What to do when you feel powerless about the climate emergency? This is the theme for the thursday lunch at the Sustainabiblity Hub this World Mental Health Week. Together with the Hub we have made a reading list of books that adresses the subject of climate change and mental health.
Ok Boomer! And Other Things You Can Say to Your Uncle About Climate by N. J. Heyerdahl (2021)
This witty and insightful book offers tools to tackle climate denial and misinformation often encountered in intergenerational discussions. With a sharp sense of humor, Heyerdahl arms readers with arguments to challenge outdated views on climate change.
Turn the Tide on Climate Anxiety: Sustainable Action for Your Mental Health and the Planet by Megan Kennedy-Woodard and Patrick Kennedy-Williams (2022)
Kennedy-Woodard's guide offers practical advice on how to deal with the emotional toll of climate change. Combining mental health strategies with environmental activism, it empowers readers to find peace and purpose while tackling the climate crisis.
Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua (2023)
Solnit offers a hopeful narrative, shifting the climate conversation from one of despair to one of potential. By focusing on stories of possibility and resilience, Solnit encourages readers to imagine and work toward a better future.
A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet by Sarah Jaquette Ray (2020)
This practical guide teaches readers how to navigate the psychological impact of climate change. Ray provides tools for managing eco-anxiety and finding sustainable ways to stay engaged in climate action without burning out.
Earth Emotions: New Words for a New World by Glenn A. Albrecht (2019)
Albrecht offers a new vocabulary to describe the emotional responses to environmental change. By naming feelings like "solastalgia" (the distress caused by environmental loss), he helps readers better understand and process their complex emotions regarding the climate crisis.
Å tenke med Zapffe: Forfatteren, Filosofen, Pessimisten, Humoristen, Klatreren by Dag O. Hessen (2024)
A philosophical deep dive into the works of Norwegian thinker Peter Wessel Zapffe. Hessen reflects on Zapffe's pessimism, humor, and environmental concerns, offering a thought-provoking perspective on humanity’s role in a world facing ecological collapse.
Hope and Courage in the Climate Crisis: Wisdom and Action in the Long Emergency by John Wiseman (2021)
Wiseman presents a roadmap for how to find hope and take action in the face of climate emergencies. His book offers wisdom on staying grounded while remaining committed to positive change, no matter the challenges.
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis
Edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson (2020)
This powerful anthology features essays and poetry from 60 women climate leaders, highlighting the role women play in shaping a more sustainable future. It celebrates courage, truth, and collective solutions to the climate crisis.
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres & Tom Rivett-Carnac (2020)
Figueres and Rivett-Carnac offer a hopeful yet realistic vision of the future, showing how our choices in the present will shape the world for future generations. This is an optimistic guide for surviving and thriving in the face of climate challenges.
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (2020)
A speculative fiction novel that envisions the near future grappling with climate change. Robinson presents a global response to the climate crisis, weaving together politics, economics, and activism in a gripping and imaginative narrative.
Missing some titles?
Give us your best recommandation for literature on climate change and mental health.
Thursday Lunch October 10
Join the event at the Sustainability Hub Thursday at 11:30. More info on facebook.