Putting the You in Community Resilience to Climate Change | Ned Gatenby | TEDxTeesside

Key Concepts

• Normal: Defined as a statistical concept, shaped by upbringing, culture, religion, institutions, and exposure to diversity.
• Queerness/Deviation from Normal: The speaker's personal experience of feeling different, which they later embraced as a source of compassion and self-understanding.
• Interconnectedness: The deep reliance of individuals and societies on global systems, particularly Earth's natural systems.
• Climate Change: Human-induced alteration of Earth's atmosphere and oceans, leading to extreme weather events and threats to life.
• Crisis of Compassion and Communication: The disconnect between abstract climate change discourse and the immediate "worst-case scenarios" faced by many.
• Community Resilience: The ability of local communities to withstand and recover from economic and environmental impacts, built through collective action and support.
• Empathy: A crucial tool for bridging divides, fostering dialogue, and building understanding, especially regarding climate change and social justice.
• Participation: The act of getting involved in community initiatives as a pathway to resilience and personal well-being.

The Subjectivity of "Normal" and Personal Identity

The speaker begins by exploring the concept of "normal," positing that it is largely a construct shaped by upbringing, cultural heritage, religious beliefs, public institutions, and exposure to diversity. They recount a personal feeling of being "different" from a young age, a feeling that persisted despite having what appeared to be a "normal upbringing." This sense of difference began to make sense in their 20s with self-discovery, including identifying as gay, experiencing parental divorce, being described as "quirky," navigating depression, managing anxiety, and being diagnosed with ADHD. The speaker argues that life doesn't adhere to a singular idea of normal, suggesting that "normal" may only exist in a statistical sense. They emphasize that many people experience feelings of difference related to health, finances, relationships, discrimination, or lack of opportunity, and that this shared experience can lead to questioning the validity of "normal" for oneself. Embracing their "queerness" and "deviation from normal" has led to greater self-acceptance, improved anxiety management, and increased compassion.

The Internet as a Catalyst for Connection and Understanding

The speaker highlights their coming-of-age experience with the internet, which served as a vital tool for connecting with queer individuals globally. This connection revealed a vast diversity within the queer community, fostering learning about queer history and observing the resilience of queer communities, particularly in more challenging environments. The internet is described as a "window to the world," facilitating a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of society.

Climate Change: A Global Threat and a Crisis of Connection

The speaker then shifts to the topic of climate change, learned about at university. They detail how human activity is altering Earth's atmosphere and oceans at an industrial scale, leading to increased greenhouse gases, heat trapping, extreme weather, melting ice caps, coral bleaching, prolonged droughts, and more deadly wildfires. The internet provides a view of the real-world impact of climate change on "normal people," emphasizing that despite differences, all are dependent on Earth's systems. The speaker notes the significant public concern for climate and environment policy in the UK, evidenced by voter influence, mass climate strikes, and international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement.

However, the speaker identifies a "crisis of compassion and a crisis of communication" within the climate movement. They argue that focusing solely on future worst-case scenarios fails to connect with individuals currently experiencing "worst-case scenarios" due to issues like food insecurity (over 14 million in the UK), unaffordability of heating homes (one in ten households), respiratory diseases exacerbated by pollution, and high youth unemployment. This disconnect can lead to frustration and anger among those who feel unheard or unseen, especially when climate activists appear to dictate their actions.

Empathy and Community as Solutions

The speaker draws a parallel between their personal experience of feeling different and the feelings of those left behind by politics and industry. They propose empathy as a "gateway tool" for opening dialogue with climate change skeptics and those concerned with social justice. Drawing on a quote about anger and hunger leading to blame, the speaker asserts that uncertainty breeds division, and those perceived as "most different" are often blamed. They emphasize that today's problems stem from yesterday's decisions, and tomorrow's from today's, highlighting the role of choices made by those in power and in everyday life.

The core argument for constructive choices lies in empathy and community. The speaker champions the "unseen and unheard voices" within local communities, often represented by volunteers dedicated to serving local needs. The key to unlocking community-level resilience to climate change impacts is found in "community infrastructure." The speaker's work involves strengthening these community organizations to enhance their resilience.

Real-World Examples of Community Resilience

Several examples illustrate how community initiatives, though not always explicitly labeled as "climate action," contribute to resilience:

• Volunteer-run community garden: Provides access to affordable, nutritious food, teaches growing skills, and fosters intergenerational friendships.
• Organization improving access to cycling and active transport: Builds confidence and independence in youth, improves physical and mental well-being for all ages, reduces traffic congestion, leading to cleaner air and better respiratory health, and less environmental impact.
• Local cricket club: Reduced energy bills through building fabric improvements and is now sharing its learnings on the energy transition with other community organizations facing similar struggles. This peer-to-peer sharing is deemed more effective than government policy or corporate jargon, shielding groups from energy price spikes and ensuring continued community services.

These examples, originating from communities within the UK's 10% most deprived, demonstrate that resilience can be built "from the ground up," often on a shoestring budget and without explicit intent to be extraordinary.

The Path Forward: Participation and Collective Strength

For these initiatives to thrive long-term, the involvement of individuals, businesses, and government is crucial. The speaker advocates for building resilience from the ground up and attracting necessary support. The cumulative impact of a network of caring individuals can create a system of resilient communities capable of withstanding and recovering from shocks.

Participation is presented as the route to resilience. Research suggests volunteering benefits health, and employers' social value objectives offer another avenue for participation. The speaker urges individuals to "involve yourself."

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for community resilience everywhere. While "thinking big" for climate change or community dedication can feel daunting, "big" can be local. When local actions are shared and replicated, the collective impact grows. This happens when people work with their neighbors. The speaker encourages readers to "think big but local" for their own well-being, for the sake of those in their community whose lives depend on community organizations, and to weather future storms. They assert that creating change often leads to being heard, and that supporting community organizations with skills, time, and effort strengthens collective resilience. Ultimately, "climate resilience is community resilience," and cohesive communities are built by putting an "empathetic foot forward."