Optimism is not a mood. It’s a courageous choice — and some weeks, it’s harder than ever to make.

Right now, as the devastation in Jamaica reminds us yet again of how climate change magnifies injustice and loss, it can feel almost impossible to hold on to hope. Yet that’s when it matters most. If we don't have hope, there is no reason to act: yet we know the science is clear that our actions matter.

In this week’s Talking Climate newsletter, I’m honored to feature kindred spirit Anne Therese Gennari — author of The Climate Optimist Handbook and founder of The Climate Optimist — who says that optimism isn’t naïve. Instead, she writes, it is “not merely a mindset or an attitude; it’s a lifestyle choice. In my opinion, one should choose to be radically optimistic or not be radical at all.”

When so much feels beyond our control, she reminds us that choosing to keep showing up is itself a radical act. Our actions, however small, make a difference: they build character, plant cultural seeds, and connect us to community.

Even on the hardest weeks, when the headlines break our hearts, choosing hope means choosing each other, and the future we still have the power to shape.

Find the Climate Optimist Cohort here.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate.

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

The Middle East is warming twice as fast as the globe thanks in no small part to its own oil + gas emissions—but from youth activists to engineers, people here are proving that even in the hottest places, change is happening.

Last week I was in Abu Dhabi for the IUCN World Conservation Congress, where thousands gathered to build a livable future for people, nature, and climate. This week's newsletter shares what I learned there!

🌞 Good News: The UAE has set a 2050 net zero target, plans to triple renewables by 2030, and is building a 5-GW solar plant. It’s also the first Middle Eastern country requiring companies to measure and reduce emissions, and is restoring its lands and oceans for conservation and climate resilience.

🌪️ Not-So-Good News: The Middle East is warming twice as fast as the global average, driven in no small part by the fossil fuels it produces. Floods and deadly heat are increasing, and migrant workers often bear the brunt.

🌱 Inspiration: From the Arab Youth Climate Movement to engineers restoring fragile ecosystems, people across the region are proving that hope and action go hand in hand.

Don't forget to share what you learn with others! Most people in most countries around the world don't even have a conversation about climate change once in a while. You can change that.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate.

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca

Adam Met, this week's guest editor, combines social science expertise with musical success to catalyze climate action.

Through his Amplify project at Planet Reimagined, Adam shows how artists can mobilize millions for climate action. On AJR’s 2024 tour, over 35,000 fans took real steps — from signing petitions to calling elected officials. Now they're expanding this initiative to include artists from Billie Eilish to Tyler Childers.

As Adam writes, solving climate change isn’t about individual acts alone, but collective action. Together with Planet Reimagined, he's drafted a blueprint for this new philosophy that proposes a new way of embedding collective actions into daily life.

Find Planet Reimagined here.

Thank you to Anne Cloud with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice Over for the Planet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for narrating this edition of Talking Climate.

Music by Bradley Myer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.talkingclimate.ca