1 of 35

Climate Ready Counseling: Addressing Eco-Anxiety and Climate Trauma

San Mateo County Counseling Community of Practice - Nov. 2021

Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative (ELSI)

2 of 35

Initiative Overview

Mission

Provide "backbone support" to San Mateo County schools in prioritizing environmental literacy, and integrating environmental sustainability and climate resilient practices across a school's campus, curriculum, community and culture.

Vision: K-12 school communities are models of sustainability and climate resiliency.

This initiative was launched in Fall 2017

3 of 35

Initiative Goals and Key Framework

Strategic Goal: Every district has a baseline assessment, and developed and begun implementing a strategic plan for sustainable and climate resilient efforts
Strategic Goal: Every student graduates environmentally literate

SITE STAKEHOLDERS:

Students

Faculty & Staff

Administrators

Community Partners

Whole-School Sustainability/Resiliency Integration Framework *Adapted from Sustainable Schools Project & Plymouth University: Andra Yeghoian (ayeghoian@smcoe.org) - 2013
CAMPUS	CURRICULUM	COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Facilities & Operations that model a sustainable and resilient future and serve as a lab for learning	Curriculum that integrates Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE) and Climate Literacy	Evidence within the “talk” and the “walk” of the school community for prioritizing sustainability

STAKEHOLDERS

4 of 35

Initiative’s Theory of Action

Capacity Building Programs	Developing knowledge, skills, and values for environmental literacy and sustainability Teacher Fellowship Administrator Fellowship Youth Leadership
Networking Stakeholders and Elevating Change Makers	Scale-up change by fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and strengthening communication channels AND Catalyze innovation with leading edge exemplars
Customized Technical Assistance	- Support with green facilities and operations, as well as climate ready adaptations - Professional development and training for environmental and climate literacy in curriculum - Coaching and training for community and culture integration of environmental efforts

5 of 35

How does the environmental and climate crisis impact physical and mental health of our students?

6 of 35

Trauma Overview

Trauma is the response to a distressing or disturbing event (or series of events/factors) that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences.

7 of 35

Chevron Oil Refinery Flaring in Richmond 2020

CA Cities Have Worst Air Pollution in U.S. - San Joaquin Example 2019

Trash Pollution in Oakland 2020

Santa Barbara Oil Spill 2015

CA Water Pollution Hot Spots

2018

Connecting the Environment and Trauma

What emotions do these images bring up for you?

8 of 35

Chevron Oil Refinery Flaring in Richmond 2020

CA Cities Have Worst Air Pollution in U.S. - San Joaquin Example 2019

Trash Pollution in Oakland 2020

Santa Barbara Oil Spill 2015

CA Water Pollution Hot Spots

2018

Connecting the Environment and Trauma

Which populations bear the brunt of these environmental injustices?

9 of 35

Chronic Unhealthy Environment = Trauma

10 of 35

How Environment Impacts Health

11 of 35

Assessing Impact in California

CalEnviroScreen 3.0

https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-30

12 of 35

Connecting Climate Change and Trauma

What emotions do these images bring up for you? Which populations are most vulnerable to these impacts?

CA Drought in 2015 and

High Heat in 2019

CA Wildfires and Subsequent Air Quality Issues Annual in Fall

CA King Tide Flooding Bay and Coastside in San Mateo County 2020

13 of 35

Local Climate Issues

13

Wildfires

Drought

Extreme Precipitation

Sea level rise

Ocean impacts

Habitat Loss

Air Quality

High Heat

Biodiversity

34 Schools Vulnerable this Decade

Least amount of Air Conditioners Per Capita in the State

Fires Contribute to the Most School Closure Days in CA

Canceled Activities and Adjustments to Routines

Schools Experiencing Flooding

Our districts and schools are already dealing with the impacts of climate change - this will increase in frequency and intensity throughout this decade.

Climate Issues in San Mateo County

14 of 35

Acute and Chronic Issues = Trauma

15 of 35

Climate Risk Index and Intergenerational Equity

Currently, almost every child on earth is exposed to at least one climate shock
Children born in 2020 will experience a significant increase in disaster compared to older generations

A report released in Sep 2021, The Climate Crisis is a Child’ Rights Crisis, provides the data for understanding the impacts of the climate crisis on today’s children and youth in the Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI). This report measures the likelihood of climate and environmental shocks or stresses leading to the erosion of development progress, the deepening of deprivation and/or humanitarian situations affecting children or vulnerable households and groups. The findings show that almost every child on earth is exposed to at least one climate shock, with 1 billion living in 33 countries that have ‘extremely high risk’ due to a combination of multiple climate shocks and high vulnerability due to inadequate essential services.

An additional study released in Oct 2021, shows that children born in 2021 will on average live on an Earth with seven times more heatwaves, twice as many wildfires, and almost three times as many droughts, river floods and crop failures as people born 60 years ago (see USA Today summary).

16 of 35

WHO: Health Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change affects social and environmental determinants of health for all species – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter. The overall health effects of a changing climate are overwhelmingly negative for environmental, social, and economic systems.

- World Health Organization (WHO)

17 of 35

CDC: Health Impacts of Climate Change

18 of 35

APA: Health Impacts of Climate Change

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

19 of 35

Youth Experiencing Eco-Anxiety

Three-quarters of youth said they thought the future was frightening
Over half say humanity is doomed
Many of those questioned feel betrayed, ignored and abandoned by politicians and adults

Unicef Youth Climate Movement Video

NGSS Rollout #6 Video: Youth Call to Action

A) Youth Climate Movement Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjrnJG4Y-TY

B) NGSS Rollout #6 Video - Youth Call Teachers to Action: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PeuY1bLf9jbyn31gPFDXv6Fxar37NJLN/view?usp=sharing

In September 2021, a global Study was released that documented how when youth are surveyed about climate change, three-quarters of youth said they thought the future was frightening. Over half (56%) say they think humanity is doomed. Many of those questioned feel betrayed, ignored and abandoned by politicians and adults. The authors of the study say the young are confused by governments' [and other decision makers] failure to act. They say environmental fears are "profoundly affecting huge numbers of young people". Articles covering this study include:

20 of 35

Pause and Reflect

What environmental issues and climate crisis issues are most relevant to your community?

What emotions and concerns come up for you as we look at the data and frameworks?

What questions do you have that you want to explore for learning more?

A) Youth Climate Movement Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjrnJG4Y-TY

B) NGSS Rollout #6 Video - Youth Call Teachers to Action: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PeuY1bLf9jbyn31gPFDXv6Fxar37NJLN/view?usp=sharing

In September 2021, a global Study was released that documented how when youth are surveyed about climate change, three-quarters of youth said they thought the future was frightening. Over half (56%) say they think humanity is doomed. Many of those questioned feel betrayed, ignored and abandoned by politicians and adults. The authors of the study say the young are confused by governments' [and other decision makers] failure to act. They say environmental fears are "profoundly affecting huge numbers of young people". Articles covering this study include:

21 of 35

How can schools integrate trauma informed practices with sustainable and climate ready schools practices?

22 of 35

Trauma Informed Practices In Schools

23 of 35

TIP: Compassion and Dependability

Youth Sue the Government for Inaction on Climate Change

Youth Protests Inaction All Over The World

Trauma can leave people feeling isolated or betrayed.

Compassion

& Dependability

Page 5: What can educators do in their campus, curriculum, community and culture to show repair trust between generations?

24 of 35

TIP: Compassion and Dependability

YES

AND...

Page 5: What can educators do in their campus, curriculum, community and culture to show repair trust between generations?

25 of 35

TIP: Compassion and Dependability

Page 5: What can educators do in their campus, curriculum, community and culture to show repair trust between generations?

26 of 35

TIP: Safety and Predictability

Safety & Predictability

Trauma unpredictably violates our physical, social, and emotional safety, resulting in a sense of threat and a need to focus resources on managing risks.

Page 5: What changes can be made in planning and operations in order for school to become safe and predictable?

27 of 35

TIP: Safety and Predictability

Page 5: What changes can be made in planning and operations in order for school to become safe and predictable?

Understand the Data and Prepare

28 of 35

Impacts of Climate Change

EPA - Climate Change for Kids: Clues of Climate Change

Where can you anticipate potential acute and chronic trauma in your community?

29 of 35

TIP: Solutionary Practices

Empowerment

& Collaboration

Trauma involves a loss of power and control that can make us feel helpless and hopeless.

Page 5: What can schools do to give meaningful opportunities to empower students and staff to bring forward an environmentally sustainable and just existence?

September 2020: Teen Survey on Climate Change

57% say climate change makes them feel scared
52% say climate change makes them feel angry
Only 29% feel optimistic

30 of 35

TIP: Solutionary Practices

Page 5: What can schools do to give meaningful opportunities to empower students and staff to bring forward an environmentally sustainable and just existence?

31 of 35

What can you do Someday, and what can you do Monday?

32 of 35

Trauma Informed Nature Connection Activities

Monday: Nature Connection Time

Which activities could work well for your counseling practice?

33 of 35

Monday: Advocate and Prepare

Share resources and what you learned in this session and advocate for the school to prioritize addressing the climate crisis and eco-anxiety.
Help school invest in solutionary books that address the environment and climate change.

34 of 35

Someday: Climate Ready Counselors Pilot Program

Interest Survey: https://forms.gle/P29X8Uz5tXAyHEXi9

Goal: Capacity Building Program to support Counseling Staff to address eco-anxiety and climate trauma.
Process:
Workshop Trainings
Support to develop a campus based initiative

35 of 35

THANK YOU!

Questions???

Andra Yeghoian - ayeghoian@smcoe.org