Munirah Kaoneka is a Marketing & Communications Volunteer here at The Resilience Project. A storyteller and digital content creator, Munirah has a science background and a passion for narrative-driven media. When she isn’t volunteering at The Resilience Project, she works in Zanzibar, where she leads climate communications for a local NGO, creating human-centered stories. On World Environment Day, she shares her thoughts about turning climate anxiety into hopeful action.
Half a century ago, the world came together and agreed that the home we all share — Planet Earth — needed protection. That is how World Environment Day came to be: a global reminder of the importance of environmental awareness and action.
Every year, this day highlights the urgency of the climate crisis, but it also creates space for conversations, campaigns, and collective action. We see organisations, activists, and communities come together to promote sustainability and advocate for change. But for those whose entire year is already dedicated to climate action, the day can also trigger anxiety, grief, or helplessness.
Am I doing enough?
Do people truly care?
Or will everything go back to normal once this day passes?
Working in climate communications, I have asked myself these same questions too. And the truth is, climate anxiety is not something to be ashamed of. In many ways, it is a natural response to witnessing environmental destruction and uncertainty about the future. The important thing is learning how to transform those feelings into hopeful, sustainable action.
But before we can care for the planet, we need to care for ourselves and each other. Here’s how we can do it.
Take Small Steps
It might surprise you, but you do not have to do everything at once.
A local conservationist once said something that completely changed my perspective: “Start with the problem you can fix, no matter how small, it will make a difference.”
That reminder matters. We often feel pressured to “save the world,” but real change takes time. Instead of trying to solve everything, focus on small, consistent actions within your community. Volunteer at a tree-planting event. Advocate for environmental awareness at your school or community centre. Support local conservation efforts.
These actions may seem small, but they create ripple effects that matter.
Discover Pointless Joy
Another important part of resilience is allowing yourself to rest.
Remember when hobbies were just hobbies? When you painted, journaled, gardened, or took photos simply because it made you happy? Let’s go back to that. Doing things for joy’s sake, not as a side hustle, not for your CV, but simply because they bring you happiness.
For climate-conscious people, there can be constant pressure to always be productive. But you do not need to earn rest. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is reconnect with joy.
If you have not mindlessly coloured in a colouring book recently, I highly recommend it. You get to completely zone out and somehow colours always seem to lift the mood.
Joy is not a distraction from climate action — it is what sustains us for the long journey ahead.
Find Your Community
And most importantly, do not try to carry this alone.
We have established that climate action is a long-term commitment. For resilience you need community. Connecting with people who understand your concerns can help you feel grounded and hopeful again.
Whether it is through local environmental groups, online spaces, climate cafés, or conversations with friends, community reminds us that change is possible when people work together.
Hope is powerful, and it is contagious.
This World Environment Day, let us remember that resilience is not about ignoring difficult emotions. It is about acknowledging them, supporting one another through them, and continuing to take action anyway.
Change takes time, and no one person can do everything. But together, through care, community, and consistent action, we can create meaningful impact. Caring for the planet begins with caring for ourselves and each other.
If you found this article useful, we created a free resource to support you with practical tools to activate resilience, keep going and keep changemaking for the long-haul.
