Fixing the environment is not a one-person job, it requires a movement — and millennials are at the forefront of it with optimism.

Know Tomorrow, a student-led campaign demanding action on climate change, had its first National Day of Action on Oct. 2. College students from across the country came together to compile more than 50,000 signatures to send to President Barack Obama. The petition will equip him with a list of young supporters before he attends the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Unfortunately, not all coverage of the news surrounding climate change focuses on the positive things being done for the environment, which some millennial movements are working to change.

Just last month, the Environmental Protection Agency exposed Volkswagen for cheating on emissions tests by programming its diesel engines to perform better during assessments than on the road. The company’s ethical blunder sparked a public relations nightmare. News coverage of the scandal focused on negative impacts on the brand and, more importantly, on the environment.

Volkswagen certainly deserves criticism, but the consistent focus in environmental discourse on destruction and permanent harm is counterproductive. With such depressing and ominous coverage, it is no surprise that people are quickly discouraged and disheartened at the thought of tackling climate change.

One step forward, two steps back. As millennials strive to help the environment, Volkswagen damages it and the media scare everyone. Articles claimed the company caused “irreversible damage” to the earth. A New York Times headline read: “How many deaths did Volkswagen’s deception cause in the US?”

Luckily, a new movement is underway. Filmmakers identified this negative attitude and formulated a clever response. The recently released film “Racing Extinction” expounds the fate of the natural world in a refreshing way.

The documentary is reportedly not a downer like many environmental flicks, and does not bombard people with reasons why the world is ending. Instead, it motivates moviegoers with stories of courage and bravery.

The film created a related campaign to harness millennials’ enthusiasm about climate change. To take advantage of inspired moviegoers, its “impact campaign” answers the question: “so, how can we help?”

Action items are well-suited to appeal to a young crowd. The campaign incorporates social media, allowing young people to discuss and share their sustainable efforts online. It reminds participants to start small and not to be overwhelmed at the idea of tackling a big issue, using the hashtag #StartWith1Thing.

The campaign even plays off of trendy juice cleanses, providing a plan for a five-day “carbon cleanse” on its website. The themes include changes such as eating vegetarian, unplugging unused electronics and avoiding the car for only a day.

Filmmakers are onto something. A more optimistic approach to climate change could be exactly what young people need to continue to combat climate change.

With good reason, talking about the earth’s fate can become a heavy discussion. However, the pessimistic way in which the media regularly talk about the environment discourages people, making them want to look away instead of inspiring them to act.

When discussing the future, we should focus more on what we can create than on what we have destroyed. We should think less about what’s getting worse and more about how to be better. The best things come from inspiration, not fear.

Alison Gala is a senior public relations major and Spanish minor. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at aegala@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @alison_gala.

Published on October 6, 2015 at 12:11 am