A Resource Kit to Transform Eco-Anxiety into Eco-Community

“Eco-Charge" is designed for, and with, youth to integrate and address eco-anxiety within their existing climate action and/or mobilization programs through 3 key areas: (1) awareness, (2) self-healing through local wisdom, and (3) creative placemaking involving mobilizing art and culture to make the quality of life better within communities affected by the climate crisis. As a well-being and behavior adaptation resource and movement-building tool, Eco-Charge supports young people to address some of the affective burdens and challenges of living on a burning planet. Aimed at cultivating and improving resilience and leadership among young individuals, this project seeks to further strengthen the ecological and climate action movement in the Global South, helping create more holistic and prepared climate leaders who can translate concern into constructive action, and promote sustainable, peaceful co-existence within diverse communities.

This project aims to pilot the resource kit in two countries; Cambodia and Nepal by leveraging existing climate youth networks and strengthening their ongoing activities contributing to the long-term project of movement building. The anticipated outcomes include increased awareness and integration of eco-anxiety in youth climate action, stronger and more sustainable youth-led climate movements, and policy interventions addressing the psychological impacts of climate change. Through these efforts, Eco-Charge aims to empower a new generation of empathetic climate leaders equipped to engage in advocacy and policy efforts to address climate crises in their communities, contributing to both environmental stewardship and mental well-being.