Buddhist Climate Activists: How Emotions Drive Action

Climate change is a big problem, and understanding how people feel about it can help us find solutions. One group that's been looking into this is Western Buddhist climate activists. These are people who follow Buddhism and care a lot about the environment. Their feelings about climate change, like anxiety and hope, can influence what they do to help. For instance, some feel deeply for nature because of Buddhist teachings on compassion and interconnection.Others use teachings on impermanence to deal with sadness or anger about climate change. But it's not always easy. Some activists struggle with guilt or feel that their religion tells them to avoid anger. They also sometimes turn inward to cope with stress, which can make it harder to take action. By studying these activists, we can learn more about how emotions and beliefs shape our response to climate change.