Mission

This is arguably one of the most pivotal times in the history of the planet, and the future of humanity hangs on a few degrees. And yet people in their twenties to early forties are still being told that the same rules for being an “adult” that their parents upheld still applies: saving for retirement, buying a house, being “successful” at work, getting married, having kids, etc.

Adulting in the Anthropocene (AIA) is a community of exploration for anyone who feels like the same old story of what it means to be an adult feels irreconcilable with the reality of what the Gen Z and Millennial generations are facing. 

AIA’s mission is to provide a space for people to think critically about how to make some of the biggest personal decisions of our lives– from our finances to our family structures–within the context of the climate crisis and the systemic failures that have caused it. Some of the most pressing themes that will be explored through community events and online resources are: 

  • Personal finances: What does “financial security” mean in a world that is anything but secure? How can we make pragmatic and values-based choices about our financial future? 

  • Career: What does the Great Resignation and “quiet quitting” have to do with our climate? What role does a career play in our personal well-being and sense of dignity in the world? 

  • Community disaster preparedness: How can we take practical (but not totally prepper-y) steps to protect ourselves and our communities for the disasters that we know are expected in a changing climate? 

  • Dating/Partnering: How does one find [a] romantic companion(s) who “gets it,” aka provides understanding and emotional support and partnership in facing an uncertain future? 

  • Family planning: Is it ethical to bring a baby into the world? What does being a parent mean in a world dramatically altered by climate change? Are there alternative definitions of parenting and family structures that can be explored?

Principles

  1. We don’t have the answers. The Adulting in the Anthropocene project is not meant to dictate how people should live their lives. Rather, it seeks to build a community where we can debate, collaborate, and hopefully work together to find clarity on our life decisions, as well as resources that will express a range of opinions. This stuff is complicated, and we will not shy away from that. 

  2. We talk life choices, not lifestyle. AIA is not a place where people should go to find sustainability tips for everyday decisions like what kind of toilet paper to buy, since there are already plenty of resources out there for that. 

  3. We seek to complement, not replace movement work. AIA encourages as many people as possible to find ways to be involved in political and social justice campaigns, recognizing that while this project focuses on personal life choices, this is one facet of a constellation of critical actions.  

  4. We speak openly about structural inequity. It is impossible to have a dialogue about “adult” things like personal finances and careers without recognizing the injustices that have allowed access to a select few, and barred the door to so many. Our programming will reflect how to address this gap when considering big life decisions. 

Vision

Ultimately, our goal is to provide people with a community of practice, where one can find how to be an adult with integrity in the midst of great uncertainty.  And in so doing, we may build ways to be adults together, leading to greater personal and collective resilience.