According to The American Psychological Association and Eco America, eco-anxiety is “a chronic fear of environmental doom.” It can be triggered by past experiences related to climate change. But today, what I want to share with you is that this feeling extends beyond fear—it’s about hopelessness.
People around the world are tirelessly working to save the planet, advocating for new policies to ensure a sustainable and fair world. Yet, many feel powerless and impotent when it looks like nothing is changing.
This feeling might resonate with you in your day-to-day life, where your voice can feel drowned out amidst tons of trash. But you are not alone.
Across the globe, thousands of individuals are coming together to achieve the goals outlined in the 2030 UN Sustainable Development. Recently, in Mexico City, on May 6th, the final round of the National Contest “Climatón,” sponsored by Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), took place.
Over 100 teams from across Mexico participated in this contest throughout March and April. Their challenge was to develop solutions addressing a wide array of climate change-related issues: water scarcity, urban heat islands, plastic pollution, and more. Guided by highly qualified mentors, these teams refined their ideas to bring them to life.
I was fortunate to embark on this journey alongside my siblings, creating our project “AgroNatura.” Our initiative targets Mexico’s agricultural crisis by providing a platform for farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices. methods not only enhance crop yields and quality but also sequester CO2 underground, safeguarding their land and revitalizing depleted soils. While our project didn’t win the opportunity to implement our solution, the true victory was witnessing the collective effort of young people innovating and collaborating to make our world a better place—all fueled by a message of hope.
Andy Gomes
