Interview with Victoria, young journalist

With the environment and nature changing before our eyes due to the climate crisis, many people worry about the consequences for our future. This concern, when it takes on added urgency, is sometimes referred to as “eco-anxiety”. 

To discuss the issue, we reached out to Victoria, a 16-year-old FitSpirit who participated in the Laboratoire des jeunes journalistes en environnement (Laboratory for young environmental journalists). Is it possible to ease eco-anxiety through physical activity or outdoor recreation? Victoria has some answers!

Victoria, do you experience eco-anxiety?

From Secondary 2 to 4, or from the ages of 13 to 15, I felt eco-anxious almost every day. I got super stressed whenever I thought about the climate crisis. That anxiety is still there today, but it has decreased quite a bit since I took concrete action.

What do you mean by concrete action?

Before, I used to attend meetings and write articles about the environment for my school. It helped me feel better, but the feeling didn’t last. Now, I take concrete action every day, like reducing the amount of plastic I use and the amount of waste I throw out, and I cycle to school rather than driving there. I’ve also reduced my consumption of meat, while still being flexible.

Do you have any advice for girls on how to feel less anxious?

When my school gave me the chance to be a journalist and write about all this, I jumped on the opportunity. But even though I was learning a lot, and my friends shared the same environmental values, I was always under the impression that I didn’t know enough. To compensate, I would do research on the Internet, but the information on the degradation of our planet would just send me deeper into a black hole of despair, which only increased my eco-anxiety.

So, I changed my approach and began to search for positive information, including concrete examples of actions being taken to improve the planet’s health and make it greener. These new discoveries helped me feel lighter and took some of the weight off my shoulders.

My advice, in that case, would be to focus on solutions and positive news, and to surround yourself with people who share your values. I also recommend that people find ways to take action every day, like getting around on a bicycle or using public transit, reducing their consumption of plastic, and reusing what we already have. In a nutshell, I encourage people to adopt a more ecofriendly lifestyle.

Have you noticed whether certain actions that help reduce your eco-anxiety also provide other benefits?

Yes, cycling! It helps me feel more connected with people and with nature and the environment around me. In fact, I encourage my best friend to cycle with me, which I love because it brings us closer together and allows us to spend more time together.

Aside from cycling, are there other activities that allow you to get closer to nature?

There sure are. Whenever I can, I spend time at my best friend’s cottage by the lake. It lets me take time for myself, enjoy quality time with her, and get out for a walk or go kayaking or swimming. Walking on Mount Royal in Montreal is another activity I enjoy, as it helps me reconnect with nature and meet people.

Do you have any ideas for fun outdoor activities for families?

What I really love is walking the trails around my grandparents’ sugar shack and collecting the maple water. I also enjoy family walks on Mount-Royal and in downtown Montréal. In the wintertime, we go skating and skiing together, and I also enjoy sledding with my sister. 

Spending time outdoors with my friends or my family makes me feel good! They’re the people I care deeply about, and when I’m with them, I feel supported and a sense of well-being. Getting outdoors and doing an activity adds that little extra something. And the pretty landscapes that surround us give us even more to talk about.

What benefits do you feel when you practice an outdoor activity?

Nature brings me nothing but joy, and when you combine physical activity with nature, you get the best of both worlds!