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Dustin Thiesen’s concerns about climate change escalated into serious anxiety and depression after his son was born. “Sometimes I fall back into that depressive state,” he says, “but I always find a way to pull myself back out.” Dustin shares his story of working with these difficult emotions, moving through the dark times, and finding the motivation to be part of the solution.

With the existential threat of climate change, it’s only natural to feel overwhelming emotions of anxiety, fear, or anger. But at the same time it is critically important to find sources of hope that can allow us to imagine a better future and work towards it. In this video, author and expert Dr. Elin Kelsey explains the importance of being hopeful and offers tips on where to look for motivation in difficult times. For Kelsey, hope is a “brave political act” that requires courage and commitment in the face of uncertainty.

More and more people around the world - particularly young people and those most affected by the impacts of climate change and related crises - are struggling to stay hopeful about the uncertain and changing future.[1] Living in this era of ‘wicked problems’ is impacting people’s mental health.[2]

For many years, the community of Lubicon Cree Nation has gathered on the land for a culture camp, which brings people together to share leadership, traditional knowledge and skills like drying meat and drum and bow and arrow making. Land-based education and teachings strengthens the community’s connection to their territory, ancestors, culture, and Indigenous values in the face of a changing climate. “It’s a type of re-empowerment and reconnection to who we are as Indigenous people,” says community member Melina Laboucan-Massimo.

“With an issue like climate change, it’s all hands on deck,” says Rajan Rathnavalu, founder and president of NEWO Global Energy. Rathnavalu’s not-for-profit social enterprise is at the heart of the energy transition in Canada - providing solar energy training and installation across the Prairies - in a way that creates healthy citizens and communities. Rathnavalu’s story shows that social enterprises like NEWO are playing a critical role in societal transformation that support climate mitigation and adaptation.

Wind-swept, remote, and jaw-droppingly beautiful. These are Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine. A narrow archipelago, surrounded on all sides by the unpredictable waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence, the islands are home to just under 13,000 souls who live mainly from fishing and tourism. Like many small islands around the globe, the consequences of climate change are altering life here dramatically. Islanders are coming together to grapple with this reality and find local solutions, and are asking hard questions about the future.

Aquaculture is just one of the ways that the Magdalen Islands’ residents make a living off the sea. Lisandre Solomon of the Merinov research centre explains how climate change is jeopardizing aquaculture, affecting species like oysters and scallops. But through research and development, Merinov is helping islanders adapt and move towards a sustainable future.

In Quebec’s remote Magdalen Islands, waste is responsible for a lot of fossil fuel emissions. The Matériauthèque is trying to change that. This innovative social enterprise project recuperates and promotes usable building materials to prevent them from going to the landfill. Join Mayka Thibodeau, from the Centre de recherche sur les milieux insulaires et maritimes (CERMIM), as she gives us a tour.

Fishing and hunting are not only a major part of the economy for the Magdalen Islands- they’re a way of life. But global warming is causing major changes on the islands, from coastal erosion to worsening storms, species distributions in the sea, and more. We met with three local fishermen and hunters, who told us about the changes they’re seeing firsthand, and how they’re adapting.

Cities, towns, and municipalities are on the frontlines of dealing with climate change and need tools to adapt. The City of Selkirk, just north of Winnipeg, is a national leader in climate change adaptation, and has developed a long-term strategy to assess risks facing the community and how to respond. Developed through a collaborative planning process with the Prairie Climate Centre, Selkirk shows that solutions are within our grasp provided that applied planning and a commitment to action go hand in hand.