Changemakers: Isaias Hernandez on Climate Change, Eco-Anxiety, and Going Vegan

On their Instagram account, QueerBrownVegan, Isaias Hernandez (he/they) breaks the cycle of online doomism with photos of bustling youth climate marches, recaps of mushroom foraging adventures, and minimalist, pastel infographics on every subject from toxic masculinity to ecomusicology. Through all of this content, Hernandez creates an online safe space that sparks real conversations on climate change and how it touches all different aspects of our daily lives—challenging viewers not to fall to doomism or complacency, but rise up and become part of a stronger, more unified climate justice movement.

Last summer, we got to know Isaias Hernandez for the first time as part of our Changemakers series. Since then, there have been big headlines and huge shifts in the environmental movement as a whole—including the United Nations’ 26th annual conference on climate change, COP26, which Isaias attended in Glasgow. We caught up with Isaias to talk about his experience at the conference, how he stays motivated and takes care of his mental health, and how veganism can be a stepping stone to a more sustainable food system.

Earlier this year, you attended COP26, the United Nations’ annual conference on climate change, where you gave a talk on “eco-anxiety.” Can you explain how eco-anxiety impacts you?

Isaias: At many points in my career and studies, I’ve felt stressed, anxious, uncertain, and afraid about the future because of climate change. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. Having language like eco-anxiety helped me to navigate and explain those feelings. I’ve learned it’s okay and important to be anxious about the climate crisis and that many others feel the same. When I allow myself to be emotional, it makes me more resilient as an individual and strengthens my connection with these issues.

Although lots of activists were hopeful about the countries coming together at COP26—especially given the “code red” the UN issued earlier this year—a lot left feeling disappointed. What was your COP26 experience? What positives and negatives did you take away from it?

COP26 is a PR stunt that features some amazing individuals. The real work doesn’t start or stop at these events, it happens in communities around the world every day. We needed our governments to understand this is a life-threatening crisis that will require drastic changes, but COP26 demonstrated that world leaders will remain committed to preserving their business models for as long as possible, no matter how many people have to die. Despite inaction from governments, COP itself remains an important place for indigenous communities to be heard and hosts many incredible activists.

If there was any positive, it was how many different communities were there that also understood how dire the situation is and the deep connections we all formed.

In addition to those glaring disappointments, discussion of agriculture was markedly absent from this year’s conference. How do you highlight the connection between our food system and climate change?

Our food systems are directly linked to climate, the same colonial mindsets that led to climate change underlie our current industrial food systems. The food systems of today are ruthless and primarily focus on economic efficiency over any other consideration. This approach to food allows for unparalleled food waste, water pollution, soil pollution, human rights abuses, animal rights abuses, emissions, and exploitation so that a handful of owners can get rich. The way of thinking that enabled these practices erased indigenous knowledge and cultures and is what led to the climate crisis.

A sustainable food system is one modeled after nature, built upon culture (place), reciprocity, regeneration, and restoration.

You’re open about the fact that you follow a vegan lifestyle. What inspired you to change your food choices initially? How do you stay motivated to stick with it?

Back in college, I took a course on global food systems and I discovered the horrors of industrial agriculture. It was so gruesome. I learned and saw how nonhuman animals were systematically murdered at an unfathomable rate and the farmworkers involved were often mistreated as well. It was all so unjust, and I was questioning how I contributed to these oppressive systems and was understanding more about how I valued nonhuman lives.

I went vegan to divest from that system and build relationships with nonhuman animals as equal sentient beings. I got to explore more of my environmental roots and start decolonizing my thinking. All of those factors make it easy to stay motivated. My passion originally came from my anti-oppressive beliefs and values, but having health and environmental benefits was an added bonus.

Something we talk a lot about at THL is how we can avoid burnout as animal activists and organizers. As an activist yourself, have you experienced burnout before? How do you deal with it (or prevent it)?

Yes, I have burnt myself out before and it can be unfortunately common in activist and organizer spaces. The truth is, a lot of social justice and environmental justice work is emotionally exhausting and even painful. The odds are usually stacked against you and when you don’t succeed it feels like you’ve let the world down. But that’s not true and no one should face that pressure alone. I burn out less frequently now because I have an amazing team that I can lean on, I make resting a priority, and I focus on having a healthy relationship with my work.

As we enter the new year, do you have anything that you’re optimistic about (for yourself or for the movement as a whole)?

There is so much I’m optimistic about. For myself, I’m transitioning to platforms outside of Instagram, like Patreon and YouTube, and continuing to explore the different ways I can make environmental education accessible. For the movement as a whole, seeing the rise of collective movements and their influence gives me hope. There is so much we can do together.

Thank you, Isaias, for sharing your thoughts and insights with us! Check out Isaias' Youtube and Patreon pages above, and follow them on Instagram at @queerbrownvegan.