In the first episode of Growing Pains Season 3, we chat with Steph Dickson, founder of Green is the New Black. We want to learn more about eco-anxiety – what it is all about, how it affects kids, and what can be done to alleviate it.
About our guest – Steph Dickson
Steph Dickson used to work in fashion (it was her dream job!) before leaving the industry and founding Green is the New Black in 2015. She launched The Conscious Festival, which has been held in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Paris, and a media platform that supports those on their sustainability journey. Now, Steph’s on the next phase of her journey on Earth…
Key points we covered in this episode to take a listen to…
03:22 – What is eco-anxiety? Steph lists the disorder’s symptoms, elaborates why it is not a medical condition or mental illness, and shares her experiences with eco-anxiety. Ange asks if parents should be concerned about it and what can be done to alleviate eco-anxiety. They also touch on ecological grief.
16:51 – What has the Covid-19 pandemic taught us about climate change? Steph shares her true feelings about this topic and what she had to do to realign herself with the cause. Steph then highlights a few easy key things everyone can do to slow climate change and make a greater impact.
28:16 – Nowadays, kids are leading the way regarding sustainability. So how can they bring the family together to be environmentally friendly? Steph shares her top tip on where to start and how families in Singapore can play their part in living consciously. (Psst, according to Steph, recycling is the last thing everyone should do!)
34:59 – After everything that Steph and Ange have talked about in the episode, did it affect Steph’s decision to have kids? “This is a very big topic for my husband and me, and it’s something that we’ve battled through the last couple of years,” she prefaces. (Since this episode’s release, we’ve learnt that Steph is pregnant with her first child. Congratulations, Steph!)
Want to know more? Check out these resources…
Tackling climate change is a huge undertaking, but don’t despair! We got you covered with tips on teaching sustainability to kids (if they’ve not started teaching you, that is), going green as a family, and recycling in Singapore.
If you’re considering changing up your diet, you can try plant-based meals at home, swap out regular milk for plant-based milk, or eat at vegan restaurants, if you’re planning to dine out. Here’s one mum’s account of her decision to raise a vegan family in Singapore, if you need more convincing.
Watch this space for Episode 2, dropping next week!