I wanted to share with you my experience participating in the inaugural Communicating Climate Hope (CCH) Conference: Countering eco-anxiety and climate doomism in research and practice, which took place August 15-16, 2024, at the University of BC in Vancouver, Tilburg University (TiU) in the Netherlands, and online. This hybrid-distributed conference brought together academics, activists, and artists of all sorts, including musicians and theatre folks, through presentations and participatory artistic workshops. I was one of the featured artists, and although I didn’t present, I created an academic poster and answered many questions about my creative work and the work of Transition Kamloops.
It was energizing to engage with people from all walks who understand the absolute necessity of shifting the cultural narrative from the dominant mythology of limitless consumption to sustainability through stories and other forms of art. As the conference organizers have said, “A recurring theme through the conference was persistence and a continuing commitment to trying new things, for the sake of hope—failing a little, succeeding a little, and trying again. But there was also joy, creativity, and, we think, a whole lot of hope.”
I found a couple of the projects particularly inspiring. The Eco-voice Project, based at Loyola University Chicago, is planning to connect musicians all over the planet on a future Earth Day to share their environmental songs. Here is a little about them:
“The EcoVoice Project (The EcoVP) uses music and interdisciplinary collaboration to inform, connect, and inspire people to act for environmentally just causes. As an arts organization designed to bring awareness to climate change and environmental issues through musical performance, the EcoVP connects musicians, interdisciplinary artists, scientists, and community members through a series of concerts, guest speakers, outreach, and civic engagement.”
In B.C., we have the Left Coast Labour Chorus, who sang at this conference but also bring their musical support to social justice events, climate rallies and protests “to counteract the negative effects of climate anxiety.”
Members of the nonprofit My Climate Plan also presented. If you go to their website and enter your postal code, they can create “a personalised climate plan that links you to local and national solutions providers. Then, if you want, you can join as a member to get ongoing support, community, advocacy and benefits.”
You can explore the other innovative groups and ideas on the CCH conference website.
Overall, presenters from 19 countries, spread over 5 continents participated in this very first CCH conference, and there is a good chance there will be another. Updates will be provided as they become available.
(Header photo for this article taken April 2, 2023, when Mastermind Studios made a video of George Johnson’s multigenerational band, Intensive Care, performing their song Climate Crisis in Deadman’s Valley, which was devastated by wildfire in 2021.)