I Am Hope talks climate anxiety

BY MINOU JONATZKE

“I was a climate change denier” isn’t something you expect to hear from the key speaker at a talk about youth anxiety and climate change.

However, the statement turned out to be the perfect gateway into Mike King’s speech about his journey from a sceptic to someone who is currently travelling 5000km across the country on an electrical motorcycle to raise awareness for one of our generation’s most pressing issues.

Youth mental health advocate I Am Hope launched the ‘I Am Climate Hope Tour’, which visited Nelson on Friday, in response to a New Zealand-first study it commissioned that revealed that climate anxiety is severely affecting young New Zealanders.

Conducted by truwind-Research First and Dynata, the online survey of 600 people aged 18 – 25 years old, found nearly 60 per cent of respondents consider climate change the most important issue facing the world and 42 per cent see it as the major problem facing Aotearoa New Zealand.

“This research paints a disturbing picture of the mental health crisis brewing among our rangatahi, driven by climate anxiety. It’s clear that their wellbeing is deeply intertwined with the health of our planet. Our Climate Hope Tour is about acknowledging these fears and offering hope and tangible solutions for a sustainable future,” Mike says.

Mike, along with guest speaker and climate advocate Lucy Byrne, shared personal stories, including how Mike did a mental health course in a primary school and was baffled by how strongly the kids already feel about climate change.

He says it made him realize that it does not matter what he thinks, but the people who will live on this earth long after he is gone face huge climate change anxiety and therefore his mission is to do right by young people.

Lucy pointed out that it‘s not their goal to judge people‘s engagement with the topic, but that they aim for an open community that tackles the issue together.

As the room at Mahitahi Collab filled, more chairs were dragged out, a sign of just how many are concerned. Worried parents used the opportunity to raise their concerns and seek advice on how they can best help their children deal with the stress.

Nelson Deputy Mayor Rohan O‘Neill-Stevens shared a few words with the audience to highlight how seriously Nelson takes this issue.

And while we do have problems to address, like private transport taking up 90 per cent of total household emissions (Stats NZ), our emissions are still on the lower end compared to other cities in Aotearoa, and Mike pointed out the pristine nature he saw on his ride in to the region.

Mike ended the talk with a strong statement: “Don‘t get caught up in the problems, try and get caught up in the solutions.”

Head to I Am Hope and  Take The Jump to learn more about how you can make a difference for Nelson’s future.