"I couldn't date a climate change denier!" The couples who bond - and separate - for the love of the planet
When Mitzi Jonelle Tan first saw Jon Bonifacio at a student council meeting at the University of the Philippines in 2017, she knew she loved him. But it wasn't her good looks or her sense of humor that made her swoon: it was her interest in climate activism. "I watched it and knew we could be activists together," she says. They then spent four years together as a couple, and even after splitting earlier this year, they remained close.
For Tan and Bonifacio, both aged 24, who are climate activists for the Fridays For Future movement, finding a partner with shared values isn't an option, it's a must. "Of course, there are reasons I love him outside of our climate work," says Bonifacio. "But it's a fundamental part of our relationship." They are not alone.
As the climate crisis deepens, people around the world are changing the way they live to reduce their carbon footprint. From day-to-day choices like driving or eating meat, to more important decisions about whether to fly or have children, the crisis is increasingly influencing how people choose to live – and who they choose to live. love.
In 2019, dating site OkCupid saw a 240% increase in mentions of climate change on user profiles, with dating app Tinder reporting of a similar trend. The increase in people looking for partners with compatible climate views has led OkCupid to create a feature that filters out climate deniers.
"People are increasingly thinking about the climate when choosing who to go on a date with,” says Matthew Goldberg, associate researcher in Yale’s Climate Change Communication Program.
"For climate-conscious individuals, finding a partner who shares climate values can be very important," says Andrew Bryant, clinical social worker and psychotherapist specializing in climate mental health. "It comes down to questions such as: do i feel like i can relate to you? Do you understand?"
When Mitzi Jonelle Tan first saw Jon Bonifacio at a student council meeting at the University of the Philippines in 2017, she knew she loved him. But it wasn't her good looks or her sense of humor that made her swoon: it was her interest in climate activism. "I watched it and knew we could be activists together," she says. They then spent four years together as a couple, and even after splitting earlier this year, they remained close.
For Tan and Bonifacio, both aged 24, who are climate activists for the Fridays For Future movement, finding a partner with shared values isn't an option, it's a must. "Of course, there are reasons I love him outside of our climate work," says Bonifacio. "But it's a fundamental part of our relationship." They are not alone.
As the climate crisis deepens, people around the world are changing the way they live to reduce their carbon footprint. From day-to-day choices like driving or eating meat, to more important decisions about whether to fly or have children, the crisis is increasingly influencing how people choose to live – and who they choose to live. love.
In 2019, dating site OkCupid saw a 240% increase in mentions of climate change on user profiles, with dating app Tinder reporting of a similar trend. The increase in people looking for partners with compatible climate views has led OkCupid to create a feature that filters out climate deniers.
"People are increasingly thinking about the climate when choosing who to go on a date with,” says Matthew Goldberg, associate researcher in Yale’s Climate Change Communication Program.
"For climate-conscious individuals, finding a partner who shares climate values can be very important," says Andrew Bryant, clinical social worker and psychotherapist specializing in climate mental health. "It comes down to questions such as: do i feel like i can relate to you? Do you understand?"
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