As the natural environment is changing with an increasing number of extreme weather events, combined with “doom scrolling” on social media and news outlets, many young people experience a phenomenon called “eco-anxiety”. Eco-anxiety is defined as the chronic fear of impending environmental doom and extreme concern of how climate change will impact future generations. Diya, Ruby, Jasleen and Bhavika noticed that there are a lot of youth in their community who are experiencing eco-anxiety and climate grief, but had no outlet or resources to process and work through their emotions. The team created “Climate Canvas”, an interactive art workshop focused on sharing climate knowledge and providing a safe space for young people to express themselves in through painting.

The team collaborated with the University of Calgary’s Office of Sustainability to run monthly Climate Canvas workshops at the Sustainability Hive on campus. These workshops fostered a sense of community and understanding among young people while sharing climate knowledge and tools. Students were given the opportunity to learn and talk about various climate topics, while being provided with supplies to create their own piece of art.

The inaugural Climate Canvas focused on the individual personal journeys and feelings towards the changing world. The team provided a safe and inclusive environment for students to voice their own perspective on dealing with eco-anxiety and how they cope. The students were encouraged to express their feelings through painting on a plant pot or on canvas. The first Climate Canvas was a major success, so the team decided to host another workshop the following month during Campus Sustainability Week. The second Climate Canvas took a different approach – Eco-Education hosted a screening for the film “Our Earth, Our Business,” which highlighted innovative approaches to environmental stewardship in business. Students were then encouraged to paint their feelings and thoughts about the film on canvas.

Many students expressed that these workshops provided a safe and relaxing space during the chaos of midterm season. The Climate Canvas workshops became so popular on campus that the Office of Sustainability is supporting the team to run more monthly workshops in the future.

To learn more about how Eco-Education is empowering youth in their community to become eco-conscious leaders and environmental stewards, follow them on Instagram @ecoeducationcalgary.

YCI’s Climate Futures Lab is funded by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps.

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