This year marks the 20th anniversary of the sci-fi disaster film "Tomorrow After," and it seems like we are getting closer and closer to the apocalyptic disasters depicted in the movie due to extreme weather events. The anxiety and unease within the people of this generation continue to ferment and expand. The emergence of the "Climate Café" aims to bring together those who share similar anxieties, providing a space for mutual healing and support.

 

Expressing Anxiety Caused by Extreme Weather: The Climate Café as a Healing Platform

 

According to the non-profit organization Force of Nature, there have been Climate Cafés held in 49 countries, totaling over 190 events. The earliest recorded Climate Café may have been organized by Jess Pepper in Scotland in 2015. The initial inspiration came after Pepper concluded a community talk, where attendees expressed a desire to know what they could do to combat climate change. This realization led Pepper to understand that, instead of advocacy campaigns or one-time conferences, what people truly needed was a platform for sharing and listening.

 

Inspired by the concept of death cafés, Rebecca Nestor from the non-profit organization Climate Psychology Alliance organized the first Climate Café in Oxford, UK, in 2018. Drawing from the model of death cafés, Climate Cafés provide a space for people to openly discuss and express their emotions regarding climate change issues, as well as the various feelings evoked by the impacts of extreme weather on the environment and human existence.

 

Many participants have mentioned that in their regular lives, they often struggle to engage in meaningful discussions about extreme weather with family and friends, let alone have them respond adequately. This frustrating situation has left some participants feeling even more anxious, uneasy, and worried. It has also deepened their sense of guilt over feeling powerless to effect change, impacting the mental well-being of some individuals.

 

Lauren Bondy, an organizer of Climate Cafés with a background in therapy, expressed that rather than psychological therapy, Climate Cafés resemble more of a group catharsis. Bondy believes that allowing people to express themselves in a group setting helps them confront the uncertainties brought about by extreme weather. Additionally, harnessing the collective strength of the group helps transform the initially low spirits into motivation to continue addressing this issue.

 

Discussing serious issues can paradoxically become a relaxed gathering.

 

Initially, Climate Cafés often started as private gatherings, with invited individuals discussing topics behind closed doors. However, over time, there has been a growing trend towards more open events accessible to the public. Anyone who sees the event information is welcome to attend. Additionally, there are both online and in-person options available for participation.

 

For in-person Climate Café gatherings, the aim is often to create a comfortable, warm, and relaxing atmosphere where individuals can speak freely without pressure. These events frequently take place in the homes of the organizers. Some hosts may light scented candles, play relaxing music, and offer snacks like fruits, pastries, chips, and sparkling water, making it feel like a Friday evening gathering among friends.

 

The formats and methods of hosting Climate Cafés are incredibly diverse and often vary depending on the organizer. Some sessions may target specific professions as participants, while others may focus on discussing future action plans. However, the majority of Climate Cafés are open to participants of all backgrounds, and there is no requirement for attendees to propose conclusions or advocacy directions after group discussions. The emphasis is solely on providing a platform for individuals to share their feelings of sadness, fear, anxiety, or any other emotions stemming from facing extreme weather. This helps participants realize that they are not alone in caring about this issue.

 

Lauren Bondy captures the essence of Climate Cafés by saying, 'If we can't even heal ourselves, we certainly can't heal this planet.' 

 

How can I organize a Climate Café?

 

To expand the reach of Climate Cafés, many non-profit organizations or individuals concerned about the impacts of extreme weather utilize their own experiences organizing such events to train or share relevant information with others interested in hosting Climate Cafés. If you want to execute a Climate Café, the first step is to decide on the venue, which can be a café, community space, or someone's home. Next, determine the audience you want to invite, whether it's friends, neighbors, strangers, a specific age group, or open to all. Then, personalize the space to make it comfortable, including providing food and drinks that participants will enjoy. Finally, prepare to initiate discussions on climate issues. The duration and frequency of Climate Cafés are entirely up to you.

 

For a more detailed approach, the non-profit organization Climate & Mind recommends that a Climate Café should ideally last around 90 minutes. The process can be divided into 15 minutes for welcoming participants and getting to know each other, 30 minutes for listening to each other's thoughts, 30 minutes for discussing possible future actions, and finally, 10 minutes for summarizing the day's discussions. Climate Café, as an informal gathering and a platform for mutual healing, is highly flexible in its format. The key is to ensure that participants feel comfortable, as this is the driving force behind the success of Climate Cafés.

 

※ This text is authorized for reproduction from "Social Enterprise Flow", original title "Sharing Fears of the Apocalypse: The Emergence of Climate Cafés." It does not apply to CC co-creation license terms.

 

Reference:
*The Guardian（2021.9.4），Anxiety and biscuits: the climate cafes popping up around the world
*The New York Times（2024.3.20），Can Climate Cafes Help Ease the Anxiety of Planetary Crisis? 

*CLIMATE & MIND
*Force of Nature climate cafés

 

Source: Environmental Information Center