Clinical narcissism is a psychological condition which stems from a lack of self-confidence, compensated by an overinflated ego. Collective narcissism expands this idea, arguing that our collective anxiety is rooted in a pervasive, societal narcissism, fostered by the Western capitalist notion of survival through individualist consumption. The alternative is reconnection, remembering that we are a part of the natural world.

What is modernity? The modern age is characterized specifically by capitalism, consumerism, and individualism as well as the destruction of the planet and natural world by human behavior. Rather than trying to escape the grief and violence we have caused, instead it’s necessary to face it, grieve it, and make space for the unimaginable potential that follows.

How do we become climate optimists? What is the relationship between optimism and climate action? By acknowledging that with change comes opportunity and there is a vast potential for large scale social change and individual behavior change. To sustain ourselves in this fight we must be inclusive, welcoming, and accept imperfection.

What are worldviews and why are they important in climate justice? Many of today’s contemporary worldviews of capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy create a sense of ‘power over’ the planet and other people. Instead, we must compost these worldviews to create a new worldview focused on respect, reciprocity and regeneration. Indigenous worldviews are fundamental to this work, as many root us in our relationship to the land, the living earth, and the cosmos.

Alarmist. Cost. Growth. ‘India and China,’ Innovation. Resilience. These words are all key vocabulary in climate conversations, but often are misused and weaponized to maintain our reliance on the fossil-fuel economy. This is the subject of Dr. Genevieve Guenther’s new book The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It. In the following interview, she shares the real history behind these mythic words, and new words and narratives through which we can collectively argue and fight to transform our economy, politics, and our planet’s future.