Nourishing Now

 

Background

In today's landscape, the bulging youth demographic holds immense potential to shape and build our nation. Yet, unlocking this potential necessitates the co-creation of conducive spaces, contexts, and narratives wherein young people (18-35 years) can exercise agency, make crucial decisions, and realise their full potential as change-makers in the world.

ComMutiny and the vartaLeap coalition[1] have been working to realise this mission that inspires ‘Every Youth a Jagrik [2]and Every Space Nurturing Jagriks’. This mission, though audacious, is achievable if we can co-create empowering spaces that transform young people into self-awakened, active citizens.

The Challenge

Today, we cannot talk of active citizenship without looking at climate change, which has emerged as one of the most critical challenges of our time, affecting every aspect of human existence. It would not be wrong to say that in our human quest to dominate the world, somewhere we have lost our connection and empathy for the natural world which sustains our very existence.

The uncertainty and fear associated with an increasingly unpredictable climate contribute to eco-anxiety, especially among vulnerable populations. However, even if a majority of young people realise that they stand to lose the most from climate inaction, it is still a far-away nightmare. It remains more intellectual than visceral. The few who do feel inspired often find themselves ill-equipped to take climate action. Moreover, popular narratives around climate action are often focused on the fear of a dark and gloomy future. However, this may not be the most enticing narrative to inspire us to act! While there is a growing urgency, the discussions and actions remain on the fringes.

So, how do we make climate action inspiring? We believe that compelling experiences that nourish the 'self' and build a connection with the 'climate' can inspire young people to turn this narrative around. We acknowledge that lasting climate solutions require a blend of individual responsibility, collective action, and deep empathy for the natural world. For climate action to become a movement driven by inspiration, our approach must be rooted in hope and nourishment in the present moment, by shifting our perspective to the ‘Nourishing Now’ rather than a ‘Frightening Future.’

For this, we need to:

• Move from a ‘frightening future’ narrative to a ‘nourishing now’ one.
• Influence other influencers who can convince their own communities about climate action as an imperative need from the vantage point of ‘inspired insiders’.
• Co-create norm-shifting actions and narratives that inspire producers and consumers to reimagine personal, social, and institutional pathways and change the usual ways of taking more climate-conscious actions.

Nourishing Now Narrative

The Nourishing Now Framework represents a paradigm shift in how we approach climate action. It is a movement designed to inspire and mobilise collective climate action. It shifts the focus from a fear-based narrative to one grounded in hope, empowerment, and shared responsibility. This framework not only encourages action but also fosters deeper connections—between individuals, their communities, and the planet.

The NOURISH Principles guide this transformation by addressing the intersectionality of climate issues, fostering collaboration, and inspiring long-term commitment to sustainability. By nurturing needs, uncovering mainstream narratives, realising both short- and long-term goals, and fostering hope and agency, the NOURISH Principles provide a blueprint for transforming climate action into an inspiring movement. These principles have been conceptualised to help various stakeholders integrate climate action into their daily lives, while promoting well-being, connection, and inclusivity.