As the world faces a series of environmental and justice emergencies, feelings of despair, hopelessness, grief, and fear are widespread. Terms like “climate anxiety,” “eco-grief” and “solastalgia” have increased exponentially in the past few years, demonstrating the growing attention to the psychological toll of the climate crisis, particularly among young people. To combat overwhelm, fatalism, paralysis and resignation, leaders who can transform climate anxiety into meaningful action are desperately needed.

In this seminar, open to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from all U-M schools and colleges, we will explore what research tells us about climate anxiety and action, particularly in the context of higher educational settings, and develop/implement an event or workshop in early Winter 2024. Through readings and guest speakers, we will assess best practices for leadership to turn climate anxiety into action, ones that can be implemented in a wide variety of organizational structures. Toward the end of Fall semester, the class will culminate in the preliminary planning for the Winter 2024 event/workshop. The event/workshop will present findings and recommendations for U-M faculty, students and staff to ensure future climate leaders will know how to turn climate anxiety into action.