Language and hope at a time of environmental crisis

The rhetoric surrounding environmental issues and sustainability is inevitably subjective. Science tells us that we are, and will continue to be, in an environmental crisis. Yet many cultural texts and discussions paint a more optimistic picture. There is a persistent societal need for hope. English professor Andrew McMurry examines how everyday habits of language and thought can either undermine or support sustainability. How can we mix the concepts of fear and hope to elicit action?