| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.57 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Collins |
| Submission Date | Dec. 14, 2023 |
Temple University
IN-47: Innovation A
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Caroline
Burkholder Senior Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
Climate Cafés are unique therapeutic models for individuals experiencing climate grief or eco-anxiety, creating informal, open, respectful, and a confidential space to safely share emotional responses and reactions to the climate emergency.
Climate Cafés prioritize an exploration of thoughts, feelings and experiences rather than planning action. Instead, participants support each other with a haven from usual busyness and activity via a reflective practice that helps relieve the burden of anxiety and grief. In the Spring of 2023, the Office of Sustainability EcoReps were trained to facilitate climate cafe's by the North American Climate Psychology Alliance.
Over 50 students of all different majors came together to share intimate feelings of grief, anxiety, guilt and helplessness. The Climate Cafés enabled deep connection and dialogue amongst like-minded peer facilitators and participants with similar struggles. Furthermore, they helped develop coping skills and strategies to promote and protect student wellness and engender resiliency.
Students themselves create an interdisciplinary and holistic experience where peers learn from each other, sharing their diverse perspectives and approaches to interacting with climate and the environment, coming together to work through and process shared climate grief intellectually, cognitively and emotionally.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.