Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think Is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis

Fears about climate change are fueling an epidemic of despair across the world: adults worry about their children’s future; thirty-somethings question whether they should have kids or not; and many young people honestly believe they have no future at all.

In the face of extreme eco-anxiety, scholar and award-winning author Elin Kelsey argues that our hopelessness—while an understandable reaction—is hampering our ability to address the very real problems we face. Kelsey offers a powerful solution: hope itself.

Hope Matters boldly breaks through the narrative of doom and gloom to show why evidence-based hope, not fear, is our most powerful tool for change. Kelsey shares real-life examples of positive climate news that reveal the power of our mindsets to shape reality, the resilience of nature, and the transformative possibilities of individual and collective action. And she demonstrates how we can build on positive trends to work toward a sustainable and just future, before it’s too late.

Praise for Hope Matters

“Whether you consider yourself a passionate ally of nature, a busy bystander, or anything in between, this book will uplift your spirits, helping you find hope in the face of climate crisis.”
—Veronica Joyce Lin, North American Association for Environmental Education “30 Under 30”

“A tonic in hard times.”
—Claudia Dreyguis, author of Scientific Conversations: Interviews on Science from the New York Times

“Beautifully written and an effective antidote against apathy and inaction.”
—Christof Mauch, Director, Rachel Carson Center for the Environment and Society

Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.