All the feels: understanding eco-anxiety with Jennifer Uchendu

Jennifer Uchendu is an ecofeminist and sustainable development advocate from Lagos, Nigeria. She is the founder of SustyVibes, a youth-led organisation making sustainability actionable and relatable for young Africans. Jennifer is also a pioneering researcher in eco-anxiety, and most recently launched The Eco-Anxiety in Africa Project.

In this episode, I speak with Jennifer about what eco-anxiety is, how power and anti-blackness shape our emotions of eco-anxiety and practical things we can do to safeguard our emotions of eco-anxiety. Grab a cup of tea, this is a powerful episode.

Episode timestamps

00:00 - Welcome to Black Earth podcast

02:13 - Jennifer’s relationship with nature

06:11 - What is eco-anxiety?

09:00 - Why the climate conference in Madrid (COP25) changed her

11:10 - How power shapes our emotions of eco-anxiety

14:52 - What eco-anxiety means for communities most affected by climate change

18:53 - Where’s the place of race in eco-anxiety?

28:55 - Four ways to safeguard eco-anxiety

31:07 - The power of hope and eco-anxiety as climate emotions

35:06 - Connect with us at Black Earth podcast

Support Jennifer’s work

Susty Vibes - https://sustyvibes.org/

The Eco-Anxiety in Africa Project - https://www.teap.sustyvibes.org/

Connect with Black Earth Podcast - https://www.blackearthpodcast.com/