The Five Stages Of Grief Climate Change
- James Ihlenfeldt
James is the second runner up winner of the Climate Change and Me essay competition.
In his essay, he encourages climate change to be taught in all schools at an early age.
As we face an uncertain future due to the ever-increasing concern about climate change
As we face an uncertain future due to the ever-increasing concern about climate change, I have noticed our reaction as a general population mirrors the five stages of grief. These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. According to psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, (who originally proposed the framework) these five stages occur in individuals who have gone through significant loss or change. This is exactly what we, as a population, are enduring with climate change.
The first stage is denial. There have been many forms of denial. Some individuals simply attribute it to conspiracy theories. Deniers will often cherry-pick data in support of their point of view. Some argue that climate change is natural and that the climate change models are too sensitive in their calculations. Furthermore, large industries sometimes push against the view of climate change to protect their industry. This primarily includes the fossil fuel industry. However, deniers are fighting a losing battle. As more and more evidence arises and as the continual disparagement of the deniers claims continues, the reality of climate change is becoming more widely accepted.
The second stage is anger. This is where individuals blame others for climate change without considering their own doing. The large debate is about who should be responsible for climate change, developing countries or developed countries? Developed countries have been established and industrialized for a longer period and have caused a significant portion of the overall greenhouse gas emissions in the past. In addition, developed countries have contributed to 70% of the total greenhouse gas emissions over the past two decades due to fact that fossil fuel production is primarily in developed countries. In contrast, developing countries are also to blame. There is rapid industrialization as the countries try to build their economy up which contributes to the overall greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, large scale deforestation occurs to accommodate the industrialization, agriculture, and increased population growth. It is important to note that systems and communities often blame each other, even though this is a time where they should set differences aside to address climate change collectively.
Now we enter the stage of bargaining. This is where we as a population come together to bargain and discuss our future. The United Nations hosts annual meetings that discuss the matters and concerns of climate change. In the most recent discussion, COP28 of the United Nations, there has been a worldwide acknowledgement and cooperation to navigate away from fossil fuels. This was the focus of the meeting as fossil fuels have been a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. We aim to limit the global heating to 1.5°C. However, talk and discussion are most often just that. The real proof of the efficiency of these discussions will be whether the countries truly adhere to the plans discussed at COP28.
We then enter the stage of depression where we realize the possible outcome of our future if we do not change now. There are currently five scenarios presented if the planet’s global temperature rises above a certain temperature. The most alarming of the five is the “avoid at all costs” scenario. This would occur if the global temperature rose by 4.4°C by 2100. This scenario would be the end-all scenario for humanity. If we continue to exploit fossil fuels and increase CO2 emissions, we will live in a hellish environment. In contrast we have the “most optimistic” scenario which would occur if the global CO2 emissions were cut to net-zero by 2050. This means relying on renewable forms of energy. We would bypass the worst effects of climate change, but extreme weather conditions would still be more common. Regardless of the path we choose, our future generations will experience an Earth either vastly or minimally altered compared to our current situation.
Lastly, is the acceptance of climate change. This is where we acknowledge our current situation and begin to adapt to it. Adaptation involves adjusting our current behavior, infrastructure, and systems to cope with the changing climate. Communities prepare for flooding, heatwaves, and extreme weather. In addition, there is mitigation, where we reduce our carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using renewable energy, and aiming to minimize the impact we will have on the global climate.
In totality the cause of concern that surrounds climate change is just and warranted. The way humanity has processed climate change mirrors that of the five stages of grief. This tells me that we had and have a difficult time with climate change but if we apply what we discuss in the annual discussions and actively mitigate, adapt, and bargain we can endure the lowest possible repercussions of climate change.