DeSmog and the Pocket Project are hosting the Climate Consciousness Summit 2024 to address psychological barriers to climate action. The online event will feature over 30 speakers, including prominent figures in climate activism and trauma healing, and aims to provide resources for individuals struggling with climate-related anxiety. The summit will take place from November 15 to 21, coinciding with the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan.
In a significant initiative aligning with the upcoming COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan, DeSmog has entered a partnership with the Pocket Project to host the Climate Consciousness Summit 2024. This online event, scheduled for November 15 to 21, will convene a diverse array of prominent advocates in climate justice and trauma healing to examine the psychological obstacles hampering proactive responses to the climate crisis. The summit will feature over 30 esteemed speakers, including former U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres, Tzeporah Berman, chair of the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty, and Melinda Janki, a notable attorney opposing ExxonMobil’s drilling initiatives in Guyana. Additional notable guests include Goldman Environmental Prize recipient Makoma Lekalakala; psychotherapist Francs Weller; Greenland Indigenous elder Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq; psychologist Steffi Bednarek; and trauma facilitator Thomas Hübl. Kosha Joubert, CEO of the Pocket Project, commented on the summit’s significance, stating that it reflects a growing recognition within the climate movement regarding the necessity of addressing underlying issues such as unresolved trauma. The event will be free of charge and will incorporate live discussions, insights from affected communities, on-the-ground reporting from DeSmog journalists at COP29, as well as practices aimed at fostering embodiment, poetic expressions, and community discussions through Global Social Witnessing. Sonita Mbah, another co-host of the summit, highlighted its role as a resource for individuals grappling with the overwhelming nature of climate change, facilitating personal and collective pathways toward a cohesive global response. In addition to live discussions, the summit will present a comprehensive video interview with Lindsey Gulden, a former climate scientist at ExxonMobil. Gulden now utilizes her extensive knowledge of the oil and gas sectors to expose strategies employed by these industries to undermine climate action, asserting her heightened responsibility: “Knowing what I do about the inside of the oil industry, knowing what I do about climate change and the existential threat that it poses to us, to our children, to our grandchildren, I have much more responsibility than the average person to stand up and speak out.” Other individuals featured during the summit on DeSmog include Immad Ahmed, founder of Empower the Future; Lucy von Sturmer, creator of Creatives for Climate; and Duncan Meisel, executive director of Clean Creatives. DeSmog’s global investigations editor, Matthew Green, posited that the summit will delve into how understanding the effects of collective and intergenerational trauma informs more effective climate advocacy. He noted: “The climate crisis can be seen as the manifestation of generations of unresolved trauma accumulating in humanity’s collective psyche.” DeSmog’s commitment to revealing the fossil fuel industry’s efforts to impede climate initiatives has established the nonprofit newsroom as a credible facilitator of crucial dialogues among climate activists at the summit. Meanwhile, the Pocket Project strives to foster a “culture of trauma-informed care” through training and consultancy, augmenting its efforts through this collaborative endeavor with DeSmog, building upon their previous successful event focused on combating fossil fuel infrastructure in the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Climate Consciousness Summit 2024 represents a significant intersection between climate activism and mental health awareness, responding to the escalating psychological stressors associated with climate change. This event reflects the growing recognition that addressing the emotional and psychological impacts of environmental degradation is essential for fostering effective climate advocacy. By uniting climate justice advocates with trauma specialists, the summit aims to dismantle psychological barriers that hinder collective action, thereby enhancing overall resilience and community engagement in response to the climate crisis. The collaborative efforts of DeSmog and the Pocket Project underscore a concerted commitment to weave together knowledge, community support, and innovative practices to foster a holistic approach to climate challenges.
The Climate Consciousness Summit 2024, organized by DeSmog in collaboration with the Pocket Project, aims to address psychological barriers to climate action by interlinking climate justice advocacy with trauma healing. By featuring numerous influential speakers, including former U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres and others, the summit seeks to provide valuable resources and community support to individuals confronting the challenges presented by climate change. The event highlights the necessity of recognizing and addressing the emotional dimensions of the climate crisis, reaffirming that fostering resilience within communities is critical to achieving effective climate action.
Original Source: www.desmog.com
