Democratic View: Turn your climate change despair into your greater purpose

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of author Mike Hoffmann and are not representative of the thoughts or opinions of Tompkins Weekly. 

We are living in extraordinarily challenging times—inundated with health, economic, social, political, and environmental crises. And of the many challenges we face, climate change looms larger every day including here in Tompkins County.

Our air has already been fouled by smoke from the climate change-worsened wildfires in Canada, posing risks to human health. Even dairy cattle can be affected and New York is a dairy state. Locally and globally, last year was the hottest on record. Heat waves like the one that just hit the state are expected to be more frequent and last longer in coming decades. There has also been an increase in heavy rainstorms causing more flooding. Finally, we all pay more for our food because of climate change damage to crops, locally and globally. Climate change is affecting nearly every aspect of our lives. The peril is obvious.

With passage of the 2026 federal budget, the Trump administration is ensuring that we stay on this perilous path. One of the first steps was withdrawal from global action on climate change, an essential to tackling this extraordinary challenge. Clean energy programs are being decimated, millions of acres of wilderness in Alaska opened for oil and gas drilling, and budget cuts to the nation’s weather forecasting capabilities poses wide ranging risks, including for those growing our food.  Even the term “climate change” is being removed from federal agency websites, making it more difficult for us to learn about climate change and when and how we can take action. It’s difficult to absorb all the destruction.

It is very easy to become depressed, anxious, overwhelmed and wake up in the morning with a sense of foreboding when faced with the state of the world. I feel it, especially because I stay up to date on the deeply concerning climate change scientific reports. But there is an antidote to despair and its action—doing something about it. It’s not as hard as it may sound. It’s how I stay focused and survive.

We can step up from the sideline and create change — embracing a greater purpose in the fight against a changing climate.

Finding your greater purpose means latching onto something much bigger than just you. Climate change is a global problem that needs global solutions and requires innovations from our scientists who generate the objective knowledge we need, business people, communities, and individuals alike. 

Renowned primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall stresses the need to act. “The greatest danger to our future is apathy,” she said. And with climate change, apathy will spell a devastating future for generations to come.  

Every one of us can start by getting better informed about climate change. The United Nations  has what you need to help understand how we affect the climate and how it is affecting us, how to discern myths from facts, and make informed decisions. You can assess your own impacts on the climate by using a carbon footprint calculator. Be a model for others — fly, drive, light, heat, and cool less and consume less. Treating meat as a delicacy rather than a staple is also a big help. And tell others what you are doing since peer pressure has a big effect on the climate-friendly behaviors of others.

It can be uncomfortable, but start talking about climate change with your family and friends. Making it part of our daily conversations will help enormously.  It’s political, so get political. Support Democrats holding office and those running for office who back climate change legislation. Give your time— there are many ways to volunteer—and your money to those who believe in the science, and can lead. Engage those at the pulpit if they are not saying anything about it.

There are many paths to take. Find what you do best, your strength, but make sure it makes a difference. Recycling may make you feel good, but it’s not nearly enough given the enormity of the challenge. Environmentalist Bill McKibben urges us to “push for changes big enough to matter.”

I sought a greater purpose during the Vietnam war. I quit college and enlisted in the Marines who promised me pain, extreme challenges, and sacrifice. It’s time for all of us to dare, persevere, and face danger, fear, and difficulty. We need to be courageous. And today I feel enormously grateful to be writing this piece, it’s part of my greater purpose. Telling the climate change story in every way possible. 

Now it’s your turn. Don’t sit this one out and expect others to do it—no matter your age, income, location, faith, or education. Greta Thunberg who started her environmental activism at the age of 15 once said, “I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” None of us are too small.

You may never be a hero. But your children, grandchildren, and life-long friends gathered around you during your final days will know that you tried. You made a difference. You found your greater purpose – helping tackle climate change.

Mike Hoffmann is professor emeritus at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is lead author of “Our changing menu: Climate change and the foods we love and need.” He has done a TEDx, “Climate Change: It’s time to raise our voices,” and teaches an eCornell climate change leadership course.

This is an updated and revised version of an article originally published in the Syracuse Post Standard, Syracuse.com, on Oct 12, 2020.