In a world of compounding global crises, life can feel quite overwhelming. At the same time, it can be difficult to find the right moment or appropriate space to discuss our existential thoughts and personal feelings with others–especially in a way that is respectful and open to different perspectives and lived experiences. That is why Margot Lootens and Pavils Hawkins started Future Fold, a community project that brings together people of diverse backgrounds to discuss their thoughts, emotions, hopes and frustrations about what’s going on in this crazy world of climate change, biodiversity collapse and societal instability.
Pavils explains:
This community of practice serves as both a support group and project incubator for our evolving professional network. Sharing routine time together with peers who are independently working towards similar ends builds community across borders and allows for unique collaborations. As we navigate the global ecological emergency, there is value in creating more casual spaces for open discussion, developing ideas, and the genuine expression of emotions–and at times, some humour as well.
Upon completion of their urban resilience master’s program in Barcelona, Pavils and Margot decided to continue working together despite living on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Together they formed Future Fold, a regular meetup spanning 6000km and 6 time zones. With Margot’s background in architecture and the built environment and Pav’s background in social systems, the two urban resilience professionals continue to explore how they and their network can best address the needs of those working towards a more sustainable and regenerative future.
Up until this point, Future Fold has primarily focused on the theme of ‘eco-anxiety’, which refers to the mental burden of understanding the consequences of climate change and how we are headed towards a disastrous future–one that is already affecting our lives and will ruin the quality of life for generations to come. Through the development of an informal interview series, called Eco Anxiety Diaries, Future Fold has created a platform for people to share their stories, how they personally navigate eco-anxiety, and how this can even catalyze climate action at different levels.
Margot explains:
Sometimes I find it hard to keep positive and motivated when people around me seem to feel indifferent towards the environmental crisis. But when I get the chance to have deep conversations with people who share these concerns and try to make a change in their own way, it makes me feel so connected, hopeful and inspired. By cultivating this space for honest, open and respectful conversations, I hope we can encourage people to not only deepen their practice and inspire further climate action, but also to take these conversations home and become more empathetic. I believe that if we can be more empathetic and respectful towards our environment (human and other), we can come a long way in tackling the multiple challenges facing society today.
To find out more about Future Fold’s work and the broad topics we explore, you can check out our series: Eco Anxiety Diaries - Visualized, and stay tuned for some new projects emerging from and through this online community.