ABC Online > When environmental researcher Georgie Smith began noticing her sustainability peers lose steam for the fight, she realised the issue manifested similarly for many. “It seems to mimic the grieving process. First there’s denial, then people get really, really angry, before they move through the other phases like bargaining and despair. It’s despair where the real danger is, because at that point people can switch off and decide ‘I’m not going to fight’,” she says.
Those who have been lobbying on environmental issues for decades agree avoiding the emotional lows of activism is challenging. “It’s true there are some people who get depressed or can’t keep their energy levels up. It’s a long-term battle,” says Jeff Angel, Executive Director of NSW not for profit, Total Environment Centre.