Importantly, having higher levels of hope does not necessarily mean someone has lower levels of climate anxiety—they can often correlate with each other (with those who report high levels of climate hope also reporting high levels of climate anxiety). There is evidence that this combination of hope and anxiety can work together to engage—and sustain—our actions to combat climate change. Recognizing the actions that we have taken, or others have taken, to mitigate climate change can promote hope for the future, feeding the positive cycle of action → recognition → hope→ action.

Celebrations are often social—a time when we can be together to recognize a shared positive event. Connecting with others who care about climate change is another way to sustain our personal efforts. Celebrations with others can promote social cohesion and reinforce the feelings of collective action (as opposed to individual burden) to address complex problems like climate change. Celebrations could also increase the “social buffering” effect, which is observed when social connectedness reduces the impacts of stress on our body and mind.
 
When we celebrate, we permit ourselves to experience joy and gratitude. Celebrations can be for our accomplishments, for the achievements of others, or for events that are beyond our actions. By celebrating, we’re reinforcing our values and demonstrating our values to others, which can motivate future behaviors that lead to even more celebrating!
 
While it might feel inappropriate to celebrate climate change as a whole, it’s essential to remember that celebrating even small wins can help sustain actions towards mitigating climate change’s effects. Just think: this week, the Klamath Basin welcomed its first salmon in over a century—that’s just one of many environmental wins we could celebrate today.

About the author
Dr. Kate Mills is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon, where her research investigates how children and adolescents are navigating climate change.