The failure of COP 26 to reach agreements that will limit global heating to under 2 degrees means that communities around the world will be increasingly subject to climate driven disasters. Many communities are already undergoing unprecedented bushfire, floods storms, and coastal erosion with Governments that are missing in action on recovery and resilience building as well as climate mitigation. The speakers on this panel will reflect on the experiences of their own communities enduring climate catastrophes in Australia and the Pacific region. Together they will discuss personal and collective trauma and grief, place-based identity, changing social narratives, emergent forms of leadership, and supports and strategies for developing psycho-social resilience in the wake of repeated climate disasters coupled with Government denials and inaction. Out of this discussion, will come insights and directions for how helping professionals, agencies and volunteer groups can contribute to psycho-social resilience building in their communities.

A dialogue with young climate leaders that explores the impetus for taking action, and the developmental impacts of confronting the inaction of adults and governments. We will discuss how this situation affects young people’s mental health, how it shapes their identities, and their sense of becoming at this time. We will find out how young people are responding to the climate challenge post-COP26.

Beginning with Ngangiwumirr elder Miriam Rose Ungemerr’s short video Dadirri, the deep innerspring inside us, this experiential process will invite participants to make space for deep listening through meditation, artwork, and journaling to what is calling to them through place, others, and life. Participants will share what emerged in small group reflective conversations then feedback in a whole group discussion of emergent themes and actions.