The first self-proclaimed climate nomad
Nomadism allows you to spend an entire year in cold or warm destinations
In Rome last December, I had one of those encounters that I will remember forever. I met Eliane Brum, one of the most prestigious Brazilian journalists and the founder of SUMAÚMA, the journalistic outlet I work for covering human rights, Indigenous populations, and climate change.
I spent a month in Rome as part of this nomadic life, and she was launching two of her books in Italian at a book fair. I had been working with her for seven months, but we had never been together in the same city.
We met briefly at the book fair and arranged coffee the next day. For an hour and a half, we talked about nomadism, travel, career, and journalism.
The highlight of the conversation was when I casually mentioned to her that I had escaped all the heatwaves in Brazil. Family and friends were toasting in temperatures close to 40°C, while I was in cool or cold cities. It wasn't planned, since it's impossible to predict heatwaves that far in advance. However, I would love to be able to do that more often.
"You can become a climate nomad", Eliane told me.
"That's it, I'll become the first climate nomad", I replied jokingly.
Since then, this concept has been on my mind. Indeed, nomadism allows you to spend an entire year in cold or warm destinations. I don't choose solely based on this, but I obviously prefer freezing places.
With the recent tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul, a state in southern Brazil devastated by floods in May, I have been thinking a lot about the subject because of the climate-displaced people. Tens of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes and even their cities for reasons of life or death.
With the climate crisis, there will also be climate inequality. A few can leave regions prone to climatic adversities and live wherever they want. Others, in increasing numbers, will lose their homes and belongings and will have to move forcibly and rebuild their lives precariously. Nomadism is also a privilege.
It does not mean that all nomads can live wherever they want. With my salary in reais, I can stay for very little time in Europe or any other colder place with a stronger currency. My nomadism has mainly occurred in South America, with plans for Central America. And that's okay: there are fabulous destinations that are hot, cold, and warm on my continent. As I wrote in one of my first texts in this newsletter, you don't need to travel the world to be a nomad.
It also doesn't mean that all nomads are heirs. I am proud to have achieved the possibility of being a nomad through my work, which is a luxury. Still, I know I had a more privileged education at home and school than much of the Brazilian population.
The climate crisis is a reality. The year 2023 broke records for heat and extreme events worldwide. Scientists have warned for decades about the changes, but governments and society, including us, have not listened. We are on the brink of a point of no return.
May this edition of No Direction Home inspire nomads, travelers, and remote workers to think about how we can, individually and collectively, deal with the climate crisis from now on besides being a climate nomad.
I’ve been thinking lately about the privilege of nomadism in the light of climate change, too. I think of how much I’ve learned about adaptability and going with the flow and awareness of natural rhythms by living life on the move. Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Mateus.