Are emotions a renewable resource? What if eco-anxiety is actually the energy needed to catalyze change? Most climate discussions are focused on policy, data, and optics… but information does not move people, emotions do. At Climate of Emotions young leaders from UNICEF & SE4All, emotion scientists, storytellers, and activists of all ages in a youth-centered join an interactive session developing tools for inner sustainability to transform feelings into fuel for allyship, advocacy and action.
Why Climate of Emotions? Young people stand in a moment of despair about the climate crisis. They are disillusioned by inaction on climate, and are locked out of most conversations governing the future despite being disproportionately affected by these issues. Passionate, impatient, hyper-connected and loud, young people are ready to take decisive action but how do they get their voices heard? How can they participate in solution-building as allies and stakeholders? How can they harness their despair to create the change they wish to see?
UNICEF-USA’s report, From EcoAnxious to EcoOptimist, found there is an important gap where people concerned about climate change do not feel able to take action. Climate of Emotions equips young people with intersectional, intergenerational support to bridge this gap. Engaging with these emotions is crucial for sustaining long-term climate activism.
September 23 Program Overview
Participants, including UNICEF Youth Advocates (present for the UN Summit) plus youth climate activists (present for Climate Week), will engage in interactive sessions designed to foster intergenerational collaboration, develop emotional resilience, and build a shared commitment to climate action.
The 3-hour session will center youth voices in a series of experiential / interactive exercises.
Agenda:
Opening Session
Welcome and introduction to the Climate of Emotions concept.
Review of the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing that we use as a baseline for community agreements at Climate of Emotions.
Interactive Session 1: Taking Stock – Our Current Stories & Feelings
Sharing and reflecting on personal stories and emotions related to climate change.
Engaging in key activities that promote awareness
Interactive Session 2: Looking Ahead – Radical Reimagination
Envisioning and exploring positive futures in the context of climate action.
Engaging in key activities that promote resilience and systems thinking
Interactive Session 3: Commitment to Growth – Feeling Our Shared Purpose
Building a collective commitment to growth and understanding our shared purpose in climate activism.
Recognizing “self care is a radical act”
Identifying needs and opportunities in the Climate of Emotions space to codesign the 2025 agenda
Closing Remarks
Summary of key insights and takeaways.
Call to action and next steps for 2025.
Partners Involved:
Multiple organizations are working together to support the Climate of Emotions goals, working in collaboration with UNICEF and other UN agencies:
Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network: Six Seconds is the world’s largest network of emotional intelligence practitioners, working in over 200 countries and territories in partnership with organizations like UNICEF. They launched the Climate of Emotions initiative in 2020 to integrate emotional intelligence into climate activism and leadership.
Unthinkable: Unthinkable is a nonprofit tackling the mental health crisis within the climate crisis. Founded by author and researcher Dr. Britt Wray, they are building the movement towards public awareness of how to cope, connect, and make change amid escalating climate distress.
Narrative 4: Narrative 4 uses storytelling to build empathy and foster emotional connections, helping individuals and communities address and heal from the impacts of climate change.
SEE Learning: SEE Learning is a research-based curriculum and framework from the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-based Ethics at Emory University. SEE Learning has over 60 international affiliates around the globe. This program pioneers education focused on compassionate and ethical development through building inner resources focused on emotional development.
Wangari Maathai Foundation: The Wangari Maathai Foundation is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to championing the legacy of Wangari Muta Maathai (the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize) and developing courageous and responsible leadership amongst children and youth.
The September 23 Program will:
Highlight the importance of emotional intelligence in driving effective and sustainable climate action.
Engage with and transform participants’ stories about themselves and climate, “restory” to see new possibilities
Develop skills and habits of mind that promote awareness, resilience, systems thinking, and compassion in youth leaders.
Deliver a transformational experience for 50 youth leaders to move from eco-anxiety to eco-optimism with measurable change through pre- and post-event surveys.
Foster a stronger intergenerational collaboration so the youth and older participants walk away with a stronger sense of shared insight and commitment to support.
Provide a pathway for youth leaders to continue their development and capacity for climate action – as we co-design the 2025 agenda for Climate of Emotions and build alignment to continue these efforts as described on the Implementation Timeline, below.
For more information about Climate of Emotions: 6seconds.org/climate