Sharing the Present: Organizing Across Generations for Climate Action

This is a reprint of an article published June 17, 2025 by Ecology Ottawa, an Ottawa-based organization that works to create a mobilized constituency of Ottawans who demand action and leadership on the environment. (see original post here). It is reprinted in the PEN with the permission of the organization. You can learn more about Ecology Ottawa—and sign up for their newsletter—at their website, here.

Ecology Ottawa and several members of its Youth Council recently participated in an intergenerational dialogue hosted by our friends at Climate Legacy. Following the event, we asked two participants, one on each "side" of the dialogue, to share their reflections. Please enjoy! We look forward to the next steps of this initiative: a discussion on intergenerational climate action and activism.

______________________________

I recently had the privilege of participating in an intergenerational dialogue hosted by Climate Legacy in Ottawa. The gathering brought together people of different generations, all deeply concerned about the climate crisis and committed to action for the future of life. I welcomed the invitation as an opportunity to “share the present” with others—a phrase that echoes in me from a similar gathering in Montreal some years ago.

Facilitator Rieky Stuart spells out the event's objectives.

At that event, an elder activist who had devoted her life to struggles against poverty and for international solidarity responded to the usual generational framing by saying, “Some people say the old carry the past and the young the future. But I don’t see it that way. I think we all share the present. I’m here to share the present.” Those words stayed with me—and inspired my desire to participate in the Climate Legacy dialogue.

We began the afternoon in two groups—“olders” and “youngers”—before coming together in a larger circle of the whole. In our smaller “older” group, we reflected on our many years of activism, especially our efforts to transform policy and build institutions. When speaking about how the different generations perceived each other, I was pleasantly struck by the shared expressions of sincere curiosity.  I heard curiosity about how people acted in the past and how people are naming the crisis now, organizing differently, sustaining hope and building solidarity in ways that often feel like completely uncharted waters, challenging our working assumptions and sacred certainties.

Curiosity is essential to sheltering hope and staying open to new ways of understanding power, possibility, and the sources of the dangers of our time. As older adults, we carry not just more lived years in our memories and in our bodies, but also deep imprints of the historical moments in which we came of age. Those imprints shape our paradigms: how we perceive change, where we place trust, how we respond to disruption. Many of us in the group had been raised to place confidence in national and global institutions as vehicles for cooperation and progress. That belief has been profoundly shaken by the stark failures of those same institutions in the face of ecological collapse and the related and very present catastrophes for humanity. 

The climate crisis is bringing all of us—regardless of generation—to a shared reckoning. It elicits many responses: grief, shame, fear, anger, apathy. But it also calls for humility—especially from those of us who have benefited over our lifetimes from systems that have exploited both people and planet for centuries.  It calls for the humility to admit that more of the same will likely bring more of the same—and worse. That our generation, for all its good intentions, failed to live for seven generations and failed to confront capitalism’s relentless, unyielding appetite for profit and ecological destruction.

And yet, here we are. Sharing the present. Rooted in what we’ve learned—whether from failure or success. Inspired by the radical act of listening anew—with curiosity, with humility, with wonder, and with an unwavering conviction that despair is not an option.

Molly Kane has worked for many years in Canadian organizations dedicated to social justice and international solidarity.

______________________________

This was my first time attending an event hosted by Climate Legacy, and one of the first things that stood out to me was just how many members the organization has! I hadn’t realized there were so many older adults actively involved in climate work. I have a passion for conservation and have been involved with several environmental organizations and youth advocacy initiatives. I signed up for the intergenerational dialogue because I was interested in hearing different perspectives on environmental issues, brainstorming solutions to the climate crisis, and meeting other like-minded individuals.

There were a few things that really stuck with me from the session. First, I was surprised by how many people, across all ages, experience climate anxiety. I used to think of that as something that mostly affects younger people, but hearing seniors talk about their own concerns and sense of responsibility was powerful. It reminded me that climate worry isn’t tied to age - it’s tied to care.

One part of the conversation that really stood out to me was the discussion about the role of the middle generation. Even though much of the focus was on youth and seniors, there was a clear recognition that people in the middle, often busy with careers, raising kids, and managing households, have a huge impact too. Their involvement in formal climate spaces might be limited by time and responsibilities, but their influence is still strong. They often shape how their children understand climate issues and can pass on sustainable habits without even realizing it. It was a great reminder that every generation plays a role, and that climate action can happen in small, everyday ways, not just through organized movements!

I also appreciated the openness across generations to learn from one another. That kind of mutual exchange felt really hopeful. Rather than focusing on differences, there was a sense of shared curiosity and a willingness to listen. That stood out to me as something we really need more of. If there’s a follow-up event, I’d love to see more time for cross-generational conversation. It would be great to have breakout groups that include members from both generations, paired with an activity or guided discussion questions.

Margaret Hanna is currently a masters student studying Biology at Carleton University and is a member of Ecology Ottawa's EcoYouth Council.