We know what a future of climate apocalypse looks like, but for so many it is difficult -if not impossible – to imagine a future of hope or solutions. In the face of climate change, the scale and severity of this global crisis leaves students, faculty, and activists alike overcome with a sense of despair and impending doom. This overwhelm is called climate anxiety, and can manifest as paralysis, panic, apathy, and hopelessness. The climate movement requires organizing for global action, yet the narrative of large-scale intangible solutions leaves many people feeling burnt out and unable to make change.

Inspired by the works of Sarah Jacquette Ray on climate anxiety, as well as Naomi Klein, adrienne maree brown, and bell hooks on tangible actions for transformative social change, “From Climate Anxiety to Action: Cultivating a Radical Imagination for the Future” presents a framework for teaching and tackling these wicked problems through understanding the root causes of climate anxiety and grounding climate solutions through a lens of participatory design.

In this workshop, participants will:

Kat Davis, Sustainability Director, Boise State University
Kat Davis is the Sustainability Director at Boise State, leading the department of Campus Sustainability to educate, empower and engage students, faculty, and staff in building a more sustainable future. Kat started at Boise State in 2017, and since then has grown outreach and engagement programs with a team of student staff, facilitated the creation of the Sustainability Governance Council, and led the campus in completing its first STARS Report – achieving a Silver rating. Currently, Kat is coordinating the development of a campus-wide sustainability action plan to make progress towards the University’s Presidential Carbon Commitment. Kat graduated with a BA from University of Colorado, Boulder in 2015 with a degree in Environmental Studies and Geography and a certificate in public health, and completed her MA in 2021 from Boise State University focusing on Sustainability in Communication, Planning, and Design with an exploration of user research and climate anxiety. In her day to day work, Kat operates by collaborating across departments and disciplines to imagine together the best future possible, and then turning that vision into tangible action to move the campus forward in climate solutions and community resilience.

Any questions about the workshop?
Please contact Daita Serghi, education@aashe.org