Climate Café

Climate Café is a free space for people to gather and share their feelings around the climate crisis and other related crises created by global colonial and economic systems of oppression.

The aim is to process our emotions at the community-level and make time for connection, reflection and restorative activities to support resilience. It was set-up in response to the growing mental and emotional health challenges of existing in a time of huge planetary change, initially based on the Climate Psychology Alliance model, it’s structure has been creatively developed during a year-long research project supported by Enjoolata Foundation. ONCA holds intergenerational and youth-focused (18-30s) Climate Cafés, in-person and online.

ONCA asked attendees: how do you feel after Climate Café?

People said:

“Hopeful, inspired, revitalised, creative, more positive about future, nourished, better in touch with myself, before I felt like you can’t pour from an empty cup, more hopeful empowered, grateful for space, positive, nice to know people feel the same, renewed, strong sense of community”

The Mandala
In our first session, the group made a mandala out of natural and recycled materials. People used the different materials as anchors, they became things to fiddle with, grounding objects, or springboards for brave talking points.

In our first session, the group made a mandala out of natural and recycled materials. People used the different materials as anchors, they became things to fiddle with, grounding objects, or springboards for brave talking points.

Reflections
People dit around a table talking at ONCA gallery.
At an 18-30s session, people entered the space and sat gathered around the table with nerves and courage wondering what next. ONCA facilitators offered a meditation and journaling prompts.  People sipped tea, shared their feelings, tears silently fell and belly laughs roared. Young people acknowledged feeling fragmented existing in the world day-to-day.

At an 18-30s session, people entered the space and sat gathered around the table with nerves and courage wondering what next. ONCA facilitators offered a meditation and journaling prompts.  People sipped tea, shared their feelings, tears silently fell and belly laughs roared. Young people acknowledged feeling fragmented existing in the world day-to-day.

Collective Collage
a photograph of a collage showing different images and words such as 'connection, helping, relationships, union' written as comments.
In an 18-30s session, the group created collages together using images and words to develop conversations about how its feels to be young people living through climate breakdown.

In an 18-30s session, the group created collages together using images and words to develop conversations about how its feels to be young people living through climate breakdown.

A photograph of a hand gesturing towards collage they're making.
Collaging provided the opportunity for people to chat and make connections separate from earlier conversations guided by ONCA facilitators.

Collaging provided the opportunity for people to chat and make connections separate from earlier conversations guided by ONCA facilitators.

A photograph of people making collages and eating food.
Young people were able to co-create in a relaxed setting, the creative activity gave space for bigger feelings to metabolise in a community setting.

Young people were able to co-create in a relaxed setting, the creative activity gave space for bigger feelings to metabolise in a community setting.

Food
Food is a core part of the after-care process at Climate Café – vegetarian and vegan options are available. Sharing food is an important way to improve wellbeing. It’s offered as an act of care-giving to support people to stay nourished, connecting with their senses and bodies, as well as creating an environment for relaxed conversations to emerge.

Food is a core part of the after-care process at Climate Café – vegetarian and vegan options are available. Sharing food is an important way to improve wellbeing. It’s offered as an act of care-giving to support people to stay nourished, connecting with their senses and bodies, as well as creating an environment for relaxed conversations to emerge.

Alongside Climate Café, ONCA host talks and workshops focusing on eco-emotions, sustaining activism, mental health and wellbeing. You can hear from climate justice advocate Jennifer Uchendu here.