Moving Beyond Despair About the Climate Crisis

Youth and Elders examine art created at an art workshop at Trout Lake Community Center on April 14. The participants drew picture s and created collages to express how they felt about the threats imposed by climate change. (Photo by Neale Adams)
Date: April 14, 2024

The Suzuki Elders are associated with the David Suzuki Foundation, and the Solastalgia Youth Group was formed recently to help young people deal with climate anxiety.

“Solastalgia” is a term coined by Australian environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht, which includes the words solace, desolation, and nostalgia, and references the distress caused by environmental change. The youth group seeks to understand the link between human and ecosystem health, and how to improve both.

Suzuki Elders and Solastalgia Youth joined together April 14, 2024, for a unique and inspiring intergenerational afternoon that united the wisdom of the elderly with the passion of youth in a creative exploration of emotions related to the climate crisis.

This creative experience engaged participants in conversation focused on finding ways to convey your feelings through visual art activities (drawings, collage, etc.). The art was displayed at Trout Lake’s Earth Day celebration on April 20.