Turning Down the Doom, Turning Up the Solutions: Elin Kelsey

In this episode of Teach Outdoors, Lauren is joined by hope and climate communication expert Elin Kelsey for a powerful conversation about how we understand and talk about climate change—and what shifts when we focus on possibility instead of only crisis.

Elin Kelsey's website

Elin shares the idea of solutions-based journalism, a practice that intentionally highlights responses, innovations, and progress that are often left out of traditional news cycles. Much of what we regularly see and hear leans toward doom and overwhelm, but she reminds us there is also a growing body of real, measurable action happening globally. Even simple shifts—like including positive climate news in school morning announcements—can begin to reframe how young people and educators engage with environmental issues.

A central theme in this conversation is the importance of updating the information we rely on. Elin challenges listeners to consider the “expiration date” of what we think we know, especially in a rapidly changing world where new research and solutions are constantly emerging.

She also invites us to widen our sense of agency beyond humans alone. Climate response is not only a human story—every species is adapting, responding, and demonstrating resilience in its own way. This broader ecological perspective helps shift learning outdoors from despair toward curiosity, observation, and interconnectedness.

The episode also explores the work of Project Drawdown, a major data-driven initiative identifying the most impactful climate solutions available today. Elin highlights examples such as reducing chemical refrigerants—an issue that has already seen meaningful global progress through coordinated scientific and political action, similar to the successful response to the ozone crisis.

To close, Elin emphasizes the importance of hope as a practice, not a passive feeling. She is also a prolific author of children’s and adult books that center hope, climate awareness, and possibility. If you are interested in having Elin speak in your district, she welcomes outreach—and her work offers a range of entry points for educators looking to bring more hopeful climate conversations into their classrooms and outdoor learning spaces.