Several partners attended the Cascadia Climate Conference held at Whidbey Institute in April.
Here are a couple reflections about their experiences.
Meg Chadsey:
Anyone whose work compels them to face the reality of climate change on a daily basis—whether they are a scientist seeking to understand the ecological ramifications, an activist striving to convey the urgency of the problem, or a policy maker coming to terms with looming social and political realities—is vulnerable to despair. So we train ourselves to compartmentalize, stay focused on the work, and above all, keep our hearts out of the picture.
By creating a safe place to explore the emotions we usually hold at bay, the Whidbey Climate Conference allowed us to examine the wisdom of this approach. I was surprised by the amount of grief and frustration—both my own and others’—that emerged over the course of two intense days of presentations and workshops. Acknowledging and sharing these feelings was incredibly comforting and empowering, however. Accepting our own very human reaction to climate change made it easier to understand that others’ reactions—even the impulse to deny the problem—are grounded in the same fear and sadness. We realized that empathy is the key to engaging others in positive change. While it’s unlikely that we will be able to solve the problem of climate change in our lifetimes, or avoid many of its tragic outcomes, we know that we can chart a better course and—to paraphrase keynote speaker Kathleen Dean Moore—“…it is our moral imperative to do so.”
Steve Dubiel:
I attended the Cascadia Climate Collaborative hosted at Whidbey Institute thanks to support from Sustainable Path Foundation. The conference provided a valuable opportunity to strategize, network, and reflect. I was most surprised by the opportunity for reflection. As somebody who checks email 24/7, ‘unplugging’ is a challenge. In hindsight, unplugging provided one of the greatest benefits. The participants were caring and passionate. The format of the conference provided time to listen, think, and reflect without interruption. This provided me space to think broadly about climate change and how it relates to my work at EarthCorps and beyond.
After committing to the conference, I learned that I needed be in Tacoma Friday afternoon to receive a $4.9 million check to launch the Commencement Bay Stewardship Collaborative, the first of its kind stewardship fund in the nation using superfund settlement funds. The intent is for EarthCorps to monitor and steward a portfolio of restoration sites in perpetuity. I was disappointed to miss part of the conference, but obviously excited to see years of hard work turn into reality.
On the ferry back to Whidbey Island, my mind was buzzing with excitement thinking about ‘what’s next.’ As I returned to the Institute late Friday night, I reflected on EarthCorps’ commitment to stewarding Commencement Bay sites in perpetuity and on the impact that climate change and sea level rise will have on this sites. The action we take to confront climate change now will profoundly impact the health of these sites for generations to come. I left the Conference more inspired and more motivated to do everything in my power to address climate change.