#152 To hope or not to hope

Or is that even the right question?

When I first became involved in climate action, I thought that hope was essential - that without hope we couldn't keep taking action. But lately, I've been questioning whether this relentless pursuit of hope might sometimes hold us back. It’s a lot of pressure to constantly be hopeful and it can become exhausting, a bit like an emotional tightrope walk where we fear that one moment of doubt might shatter our resolve. Sometimes, this desperate search for hope leads us to downplay the gravity of the climate crisis or chase after quick fixes that promise easy solutions.

And let’s be honest, when we pin everything on hope alone, we set ourselves up for heartbreak. Each setback, each climate disaster, each failed policy initiative can feel like a devastating blow to our carefully constructed fortress of optimism. And there's another danger: when we cling too tightly to a single hopeful vision of the future, we risk ignoring the fact that not everyone shares the same vision. What inspires one community might not work for another.

So why do we keep fighting? Is it because we’re certain we'll succeed? Or is it because we simply cannot bear to do nothing while our planet heats up? Lately, I’m starting to believe that the real fuel for climate action isn’t hope: it’s something deeper. It’s choosing to fight not because we're hopeful, but because it aligns with our deepest values. Like a parent who protects their child without calculating the odds of success, we act because it's who we are and what we believe in.

Perhaps true courage in climate action isn't about maintaining constant hope. It's about showing up, chipping away, doing something and continuing to act with integrity and purpose even when hope feels distant - not because we're certain of victory, but because standing up for our planet and its people is the only way to live.

What can we do today?

The most-clicked link last week was the Free Fares petition to stop the proposed public transport fare hikes.

🐝 5 minutes: Let’s not take our Pacific grants for granted

• Right now, our politicians are deciding whether New Zealand will keep funding climate action in the Pacific. Oxfam Aotearoa is asking our Government to keep up the good work.
  Action: Add your voice to the petition

🐇 15 minutes: Every job is a climate job

• We spend so much of our lives at work - and even if your job doesn’t have climate in the title, you can still contribute to reducing emissions in your role!
  Action: Print out the job function action guides for yourself (or a colleague!) and choose one of the actions you can do. (Scroll down to the coloured circles and look for your role, then download the ones you want. Promise it’s not spam!)
  Action: Read the WorkForClimate Climate action at work article and take an action

  • Bonus points: there is also a study on what motivates people to work in the climate space (you have to give your email to get the report though): https://workonclimate.org/reports/

💃🏽 It's kind of an event!

• Online, Monday 3rd of March at 6pm: Looking for a climate group with a great community to get involved in? Join 350 Aotearoa to learn a bit about what they do and ask questions about volunteer life.

  Action: RSVP here for the 350 Aotearoa Welcome Webinar

• Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington, Tuesday 25th Feb, 6.30-8pm: This coming week 5 climate defenders go on trial at the Wellington District Court, which will be the first of six trials. Join us in Pōneke for a discussion about climate justice and opposing the global increase in criminalisation of peaceful protest.

  Action: Event link here, Two/ Fiftyseven, 2/57 Willis St

• Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland, 12th March: Feeling more worried about climate change and want to hear more about how to tackle it?
  Action: Head along to this talk

Wins!

• Consumer Guarantees Amendment Bill (Right to Repair) passing first reading! When you think about all the things that get thrown out because they’ve been designed to become obsolete and broken, and all the resources we use up and all the emissions we emit to replace those items, it becomes clear why the right to repair is not only great for the wallet, but also for the climate!

---

That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this nerdy and solutions-focused guide which shows just how many possible solutions there are out there!

See you next week,

Cathy & the Climate Club team

Linktree | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Climate Job Board