Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and people respond to it in very different ways. Some feel anxious or powerless, while others disengage due to the scale of the problem. What impact does climate change have on our lives today, and how does climate anxiety vary across generations? How can we move from a sense of powerlessness to meaningful action?
The discussion program ends at 14:00. It is not possible to leave the room earlier.
This panel discussion is part of a larger symposium organised by AEGEE-Eindhoven, the local branch of a European student network active in over 100 cities. The panel discussion is followed by two workshops and free dinner; check AEGEE for more info and registration.
Climate change can affect almost every aspect of a person's health and wellbeing, either directly through exposure to climate events, or through news and social media coverage of subjects like environmental devastation and government inaction. This can lead to anxiety, depression and a lack of hope for the future, as highlighted by organisations such as UNICEF, Harvard and others.
When feelings like these persist and become difficult to control, we speak of climate anxiety. This raises the question: how can we turn this anxiety into action? And is taking action the only way to address it? Not everyone experiences anxiety in the same way; some may feel it intensely, while others might not even recognize it in themselves. In this discussion, we will explore these ideas with three experts, and share best practices for overcoming anxiety and moving forward with purpose.
Lena Hölzle is a PhD candidate in Environmental Psychology at the University of Groningen. Her research focuses on understanding the stress and strong emotions people feel about environmental problems. She studies why people experience this eco-distress and when it becomes overwhelming and affects people's well-being. She is particularly interested in understanding how eco-distress differs across generations, and why it seems to affect young people the most.
Mewis Breij, Education Manager at Youth Climate Movement, was once disconnected from the climate crisis, but is now dedicated to telling a new story about a sustainable world, in which humans become part of the web of life again and life matters more than endless economic growth. He creates learning spaces to encourage as many people as possible to engage with this new story.
Dr. Judith Lammers is the faction chair for Partij van de Dieren at the Dommel Water Board. She is the former Climate, Energy, and Environment Program Manager for the city of Eindhoven and served as the city’s climate mayor for two years. In that role, she launched a variety of climate initiatives, including the organization of two national climate marches.
This panel discussion is part of a larger symposium organised by AEGEE-Eindhoven, the local branch of a European student network active in over 100 cities. The panel discussion is followed by two workshops; participants of the two workshops will receive free dinner and can join the social drink afterwards in Hubble. You can sign up here. The symposium is part of an international project called Europe on Track, in which young ambassadors travel by train through 20 European cities to engage with people about Eco-anxiety.
Ticket reservation recommended
To be assured of a seat, we recommend reserving a ticket (black "order" button).
SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.