What Climate Persona Are You?
You care deeply about the planet. But the weight of climate change is crushing. You push harder, take on more, but still feel like it’s not enough. And deep down, you wonder… Am I really making a difference?
There’s a reason you feel this way. And it’s not because you’re not doing enough. It’s because you’ve taken on a persona that’s keeping you stuck. Identify who you think you need to be, and it will help you break free.
Are you mostly a,b,c,d?
Make a note of your answers before scrolling down.
Question 1: Where do you find yourself thinking most about climate change?
............A: In the community
............B: At home
............C: At work
............D: I try not to think about it!
Question 2. You feel in control of your feelings around climate when you....
...........A. Join a protest march
...........B: Campaign on an issue you deeply care about, or for someone you love
...........C: Study the latest science or follow global news
...........D: I rarely feel in control
Question 3: The types of climate issues that feel most relevant to your life are:
............A: Anything that I can join a campaign group about
............B: Environmental issues that have impacted me, or those I love
............C: The big issues, like carbon emissions and policy
............D: I don’t know
Question 4: When someone wants to talk to you about climate change, you feel:
............A: Yes, let’s do this!
............B: I feel I should, but it doesn’t feel good
............C: Here’s an opportunity to educate and inspire
............D: Like I’d rather be somewhere else
Climate Personas explained - Let go of who you think you need to be.
Mostly A: The Activist
Frequently found on the frontline, the activist spends a lot of time and energy keeping up with the latest developments. The activist is knowledgeable, passionate, and not afraid to stand up for a cause.
Activists put a lot of pressure on themselves to keep taking action, becoming over-stretched. Fighting for a cause, internalising a sense of urgency, is stressful. Frustration and anger can lead to a sense of failure. Like what they do will never be enough.
The activist may identify very personally with a campaign. When the campaign comes to an end, they may experience a sense of loss.
Mostly B: The Invested
The Invested watches the news with anxiety and concern.
For The Invested, climate is personal. They are motivated by finding safety in their own situation or protecting others.
Their concerns are specific. Perhaps they have experienced loss or trauma as a result of climate change, and carry strong emotions associated with this. They feel very deeply, and take challenging climate conversations to heart.
Mostly C: The Leader
The leader lives and breathes climate action. They understand the bigger picture, and may find themselves in professional or community leadership roles. The leader tries to do everything in their power, to gain a sense of control in the chaos.
Overwhelm and burn-out amongst leaders is high. The leader is pulled in lots of different directions, holding multiple perspectives
For the leader, their passion for work can make it difficult to untangle their sense of self from everything that they do.
Mostly D: The Overwhelmed
Feeling overwhelmed is a natural response to a scary situation.
We can look upon denial and resistance with a bit more compassion when we acknowledge and understand its role.
The Overwhelmed might be experiencing resistance to a specific issue, rooted in fear. Not wanting to know, is a form of self-protection - effective in the short-term. In the long-term however it can lead to a disconnect from self, and lack of alignment with core values.
Is there an aspect of the climate agenda that you have been avoiding?