A New Narrative for Planetary Health in the Hybrid Era

"When people perceive a crisis as something outside their control, they feel helpless, and they disengage. A paralysing form of grief sets in, one that shuts down action rather than igniting it."

"Climate change and AI are not happening to us. They happen with us, among us, and because of us. This is the cornerstone of any credible new story about planetary health."

"When we tell ourselves that climate change is something the planet is doing and AI is something technology is doing, we end up with a story in which humans are spectators of their own future."

Perceiving crises like climate change and AI as external forces leads to feelings of helplessness and disengagement. This narrative suggests humans are mere spectators of their future. A more accurate framing emphasizes that these crises occur with and because of human actions. A sense of agency is crucial for positive outcomes and behavior change. Individuals need to find identity and meaning to engage effectively with these challenges, as the current language undermines collective resilience and well-being.

Read at Psychology Today