Hope, Grief, and Climate Anxiety

Episode Three: Hope, Grief, and Climate Anxiety

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to love God, love our neighbours, and care for God’s good creation. But what does that look like in a world experiencing more frequent fires, floods, heatwaves, biodiversity loss, and other impacts of the climate crisis? In this four-part podcast series, we’ll explore what it means to live faithfully in a changing climate. We’ll wrestle with the theological questions climate change raises, make space for hope, grief and climate anxiety, and consider practical ways the Church can respond.

In this episode, we explore the difficult emotions that can come with living in a world experiencing climate crisis. What do we do with grief, anger, fear and anxiety? How can we process these emotions in healthy ways that acknowledge our reality without leaving us in hopelessness? We’ll also explore the complex idea of hope. What is a Christian understanding of hope that doesn’t just give us easy answers about the future, but empowers us to keep moving forward towards practical and loving action?

First up, Phil Walker-Harding speaks with ecological ethicist Dr Byron Smith and Common Grace National Director Gershon Nimbalker about grief, lament, hope and the role community can play in helping us carry these burdens together.

Next, Phil talks with Dr Jamie Dunk, historian and director of the St James Institute, about climate cafés, collective care, and why creating spaces for honest conversations about climate emotions matters.

Throughout the episode, we return to the idea that grief isn’t something we’re meant to carry alone. When we create space to acknowledge our climate emotions, listen to one another, and hold grief and hope together, we can start to find the strength to follow Jesus into meaningful responses to the climate crisis. 

You can also download the episode via this Google Drive link.

A transcript of this conversation can be downloaded here. 

	Dr Jamie Dunk is the Director of the St James' Institute. A historian and writer, his work explores environmental history, health, and the emotional and psychological impacts of rapid planetary change. Jamie is passionate about creating spaces for people to process climate grief and anxiety and to imagine hopeful, collective responses to the challenges facing our world. He is the author of 'Bedlam at Botany Bay', which won the New South Wales Premier's Australian History Prize, and continues to teach, research, and write across history, ecology, and public life.
	Gershon Nimbalker is the National Director of Common Grace. With over 15 years of experience in advocacy, policy, and research, he has led numerous grassroots movements campaigning on social justice issues. Gershon lives on Awabakal Country in Newcastle, NSW, with his family.
	Dr Byron Smith is an ecological ethicist helping churches connect the care of creation with Christian discipleship. He holds a PhD in theological ethics, exploring emotional responses to climate disruption and their relationship to faith and identity.
	Phil Walker-Harding is board and card game designer living and working on Gadigal land. With a Masters of Theology, he has worked in a number of local church and creative arts ministries, as well as volunteering with Common Grace. Phil and his wife Meredith run Joey Games where they make board games about Australia for kids and adults to play together.