Crowdsourcing Sustainability: Recent Episodes
Ryan Hagen
Our mission: To help reverse global warming as soon as possible and rebuild a safer, healthier, and more just world. How are we doing this? We're working to unleash the power of people (like you) all around the world by bringing you the info, resources, tools, ideas, and community to multiply our collective impact. On this show, you'll learn from sustainability leaders around the world and find ways to level up your own impact!
In line with Crowdsourcing Sustainability's monthly theme of organizing for climate action in your community, we recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jessyn Farrell!
Jessyn brings a unique and helpful perspective to community climate action as she has been involved with it from several different angles - first as an advocate, directing a transportation-focused nonprofit, then as a lawmaker for the state of Washington’s House of Representatives, and now as the Director of Seattle’s Office of Environment and Sustainability.
We covered a lot of ground in this interview including:
- The most effective ways for people to influence local politicians.
- How policy actually gets written (for better or worse).
- Advice for anyone running for office.
- The importance of meeting people where they are, listening, and addressing injustices.
- A story about the time she prevented fossil fuel lobbyists from destroying a multi-billion dollar bill by hiding in the bathroom…
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
- Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
- Join the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Community! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.community/
- CS Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep educating, inspiring, and empowering more people to act on climate where they live and work! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch as always for editing!!
Support the show
This episode is thanks to the good people over at Brighter Future who recently reached out to interview me (hi, Ryan here 👋) for their Origin Story series which, in their words, is about "highlighting the path that planet-driven leaders walk on their journey to create a Brighter Future".
So I had the tables turned on me in this one and had a fun convo with Sandra Gouveia!
Figured I’d share it here for those of you who want to hear more about my story and some of the thinking behind Crowdsourcing Sustainability. Hope you enjoy - let me know what you think :)
You can find the lightly edited text version of the interview here.
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
- Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
- Join the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Community! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.community/
- CS Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep educating, inspiring, and empowering more people to act on climate where they live and work! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch as always for editing!!
Support the show
In this panel discussion, we talk about why equity is critical to decarbonization and ways to center it!
If you'd like to learn more about the panelists and the great work they're doing you can find them/check out their work below:
- Jamal Lewis - Director of Policy Partnerships and Equitable Electrification, Rewiring America
https://www.rewiringamerica.org/about#leadership - Johanna Bozuwa - Executive Director of the Climate + Community Project
https://www.climateandcommunity.org/ - Carolina Paes - Geologist & Sustainability and Circular Economy Consultant
https://www.systemiq.earth/paris-effect/ - Dion Richardson - Founder & President of Community Dreams Foundation
https://cdreams.org/
Here are the resources that were discussed and shared throughout the panel:
- EU Corporate Responsibility Reporting: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en
- Climate + Community Project's report on Achieving Zero Emissions with Less Mining: https://www.climateandcommunity.org/more-mobility-less-mining
- Rewiring America's IRA Calculator (figure out how much money you can get to electrify!): https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator
- Report on coalition-led low-carbon economies in the Amazon: https://www.systemiq.earth/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Amazons-Report.pdf
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
- Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
- Join the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Community! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.community/
- CS Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep educating, inspiring, and empowering more people to act on climate where they live and work! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch as always for editing!!
Support the show
In this episode, we cover the ins and outs of sustainable investing and the impact it has with James Regulinski. James is the Co-Founder of Carbon Collective which is helping people to align their investments with solving climate change!
This was a fun one - James has quite the story and brings a refreshing, holistic perspective to investing and why it matters.
As I mentioned at the end of the episode, Carbon Collective can help your company to offer sustainable investment options for you and your co-workers. After this recording, Crowdsourcing Sustainability partnered with Carbon Collective as we're aligned on addressing climate change and getting more people to switch to sustainable investing options. Because of this partnership, if your company ends up making the switch to having Carbon Collective as their advisor (and let them know about how you found them!), our nonprofit will get a referral bonus. We see that as a mission-aligned win win win, and, quite frankly, every little bit helps our scrappy nonprofit!
Relevant Links:
Carbon Collective: https://www.carboncollective.co/
Fossil Free Funds tool to see your investment's grades: https://fossilfreefunds.org/
Invest Your Values: https://investyourvalues.org/
Lots more on this topic in our latest newsletter which you can always find on our website! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Additional Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
- Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
- Join the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Community! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.community/
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep educating, inspiring, and empowering more people to act on climate where they live and work! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch as always for editing!!
Support the show
This episode features an all-star panel we spoke with recently about climate-positive banking and investing, and how you can make sure your money is supporting climate solutions rather than climate collapse.
We specifically covered:
- How your and/or your organization's money is currently supporting fossil fuels through the mainstream banking and investing industry.
- What you and your organization can do to change your money's impact, and affect the financial industry overall.
- Why it all matters - the difference in impact between the status quo and climate-positive financial solutions so you feel clear about why making the switch is so important.
Our panel for this event:
Andrew Behar - CEO of As You Sow
Vanessa Fajans-Turner - Executive Director of BankFWD
Ravi Mikkelsen - Cofounder & CEO of Atmos Bank
Relevant Links!
- Find your banking climate footprint: https://bankfwd.org/toolkit/calculator/
- Questions to ask your bank (for individuals and companies): https://bankfwd.org/questionsforbanks/
- Find out where your 401K is invested: https://investyourvalues.org/
- The Clean 200 - list of the cleanest global public companies to invest in: https://www.asyousow.org/clean200
- Find values-aligned investment funds for issues including climate, weapons, prisons, and gender equity: https://www.asyousow.org/invest-your-values
- Atmos Financial: https://www.joinatmos.com/invite/crowdsourcing-sustainability
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
- Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
- Join the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Community! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.community/
- CS Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep educating, inspiring, and empowering more people to act on climate where they live and work! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch as always for editing!!
Support the show
In this episode, we got to chat with Saul Griffith about what it means to electrify everything, why it matters, and what people like you can do to help electrify your community!
Saul is an inventor, engineer, MacArthur Genius award winner and much much more. He probably knows more about the US's energy system than anyone and helped shape the Inflation Reduction Act with his teammates at Rewiring America .
(The graph mentioned can be viewed here! https://youtu.be/TxeD1Y68tLM?t=1627)
Timeline:
0:00 Intro & Saul's climate journey.
7:20 What electrification is and how much more efficient it is than fossil-fueled machines.
15:45 Committed emissions from existing fossil fuel infrastructure would take us to 1.9°C or 2°C.
18:20 IPCC's pathways to 1.5°C over-rely on negative emissions.
21:25 What the mobilization we need right now looks like.
23:35 Electrification is anti-inflationary.
28:25 Community-level activism.
35:30 Our laws were made for a fossil-fueled world. What regulations need to change? What should people invest their time and energy into to change these rules and laws?
42:00 Why we need climate loans.
47:45 Public vs. private infrastructure.
51:20 Final message and call to action!
Relevant Links:
- Rewiring America: https://www.rewiringamerica.org/
- Other Lab: https://www.otherlab.com/
- Diagram of how US Energy flows through society: https://www.otherlab.com/blog-posts/us-energy-flow-super-sankey
- 1 billion machines: https://saulgriffith.medium.com/one-billion-machines-48a7c3cf0694
- Personalized Savings Calculator for the Inflation Reduction Act: https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
- Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
- Join the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Community! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.community/
- CS Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep educating, inspiring, and empowering more people to act on climate where they live and work! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch as always for editing!!
Support the show
In this episode of the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Podcast, Bill McKibben shares his 30,000-foot view with us on the past, present, and future - How did we get here? Where we are now? And what do we need to invest our time and energy in going forward to co-create the best possible future?
Timeline
0:00 Intro
1:30 Bill's climate story
6:29 Why "the choices we made in those years around 1980 will turn out to be more important than any choices any nation ever made."
12:45 On the "non-trivial chance of civilizational collapse"
17:00 The good news is...
21:20 Bill's theory of change
25:50 Third Act & the important role of people over the age of 60
31:50 On threats to democracy
33:40 Effective organizing
35:40 The role of religious communities and how to shift the zeitgeist
39:40 Final thoughts
Relevant links!
Get Involved with Third Act! https://thirdact.org/get-involved/
Banking on our Future Pledge: https://thirdact.org/act/bank-on-our-future-pledge/
Check out Bill's latest book, "The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon": http://billmckibben.com/the-flag-the-cross-and-the-station-wagon.html
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep helping to educate and empower more people to act on climate where they live and work! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing!!
Support the show
In this webinar we were lucky to be joined by Mike Condon and Matt Schuler to walk us through how to go solar!
Mike and Matt both work at EnergySage which really is second-to-none when it comes to making the solar process easier, more transparent, and much cheaper for homeowners and renters alike in the US thanks to their free online marketplace and free unbiased energy advisors who are there to help you every step of the way.
See if solar is a good fit for you with the EnergySage calculator here and start getting free quotes! https://www.energysage.com/p/crowdsourcingsustainability/
Timeline
0:00 Intro
2:45 Where does the residential solar industry stand in the US?
7:15 EnergySage: Mission & what they do to help people
10:54 What it's like using EnergySage's online solar marketplace
19:00 How does someone determine what the right solar option is for them?
23:50 Community solar: what states it's available in & other useful info
30:05 Best practices & key things to consider in going solar
33:00 Vetting solar installers
36:25 Most common hurdles people face and how to overcome them
39:45 Q&A on energy storage, range of panel options in quotes, solar roofing, do you still get power if grid goes down?, calculating future electricity needed for EVs
52:35 Final thoughts & calls to action
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Crowdsourcing Sustainability is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider supporting us so we can keep helping to educate and empower more people on climate action! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
And a huge thank you to our volunteer, Diego Rentsch for editing!!
Support the show
For this Crowdsourcing Sustainability webinar, we are joined by Luis Aguirre-Torres & Rebecca Evans.
Luis and Rebecca are in charge of designing and implementing the Ithaca Green New Deal, which focuses on two main areas: city-wide decarbonization by 2030 and climate justice.
They are taking a unique, innovative approach to getting this done, leveraging public and philanthropic funds to unlock large amounts of private capital to decarbonize the city at low or no cost to citizens.
Timeline:
0:00 Intros
1:57 Luis & Rebecca's climate stories.
5:00 The story of how Ithaca passed its Green New Deal.
11:28 Where should people getting started focus their time and energy?
18:30 Vision & goals of Ithaca's GND.
24:50 Roadmap & elevating social capital.
33:20 Determining your community's greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
36:50 What types of organizations are needed for this to succeed?
43:30 The innovative financial model created to fund the initiative.
54:40 What this electrification & retrofitting initiative looks like from your average citizens' perspective.
59:36 What do people need to do/understand to replicate Ithaca's ambition and successes to date?
Q&A Section:
1:04:05 How can the average person get involved?
1:07:12 Challenges/strategies on securing buy-in from city staff.
1:11:14 Cornell's energy tool.
1:13:10 The transportation side of the plan.
1:18:52 Embedded emissions from consumption.
1:21:00 Building retrofit and electrification checklist.
1:22:45 Luis & Rebecca's call to action.
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
We're a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider investing in us so we can keep increasing our climate impact! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
Linktree with other socials: https://linktr.ee/crowdsourcingsustainability
And a huge thank you to our volunteer, Diego Rentsch for editing!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
Per the suggestion of our podcast and video editor, Diego Rentsch, I'm excited to share our first team podcast!
This is super informal, but we definitely had fun diving into some news stories as well as specific topics the team wanted to touch upon including the need to help and plan for climate migrants, the transition to clean energy, the lack of accountability from COP26 and politicians, and more.
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In today's episode with Mitzi Jonelle Tan we cover climate justice, climate change in the Philippines, climate activism, and much more!
Mitzi is a climate justice activist and organizer helping to lead the Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines which is the Fridays for Future chapter in the Philippines, as well as FFF MAPA (Most Affected Peoples and Areas), and FFF International.
Timeline:
0:00 Intro.
0:40 Mitzi's climate journey.
4:00 The Philippines is one of the most dangerous places for environmental defenders.
9:40 What it's like being an activist in the Philippines.
14:10 How the climate crisis is impacting the Philippines today.
17:50 What needs to be done to protect people most at risk.
24:30 How people in the global north can be good partners.
28:00 Takeaways from COP26
33:30 Defining climate justice.
36:45 What it means to be an activist.
39:50 The importance of love.
44:00 The best way for older folks to support youth activists.
45:30 Favorite climate chants and signs.
47:15 Ideas for better climate communication.
50:05 Message for people considering activism.
52:30 What's next for Mitzi.
55:00 Book recommendations.
56:20 Final message & call to action.
Follow Mitzi, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, and Fridays For Future MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas) on Twitter
https://twitter.com/mitzijonelle
https://twitter.com/yacaphilippines
https://twitter.com/FFFMAPA
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
We're a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider investing in us so we can keep increasing our climate impact! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
Linktree with other socials: https://linktr.ee/crowdsourcingsustainability
And a huge thank you to our volunteer, Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
The tables are turned in today's bonus episode! CS volunteer Macey Schondel interviews Ryan Hagen to learn more about his story and the origins of Crowdsourcing Sustainability.
Timeline:
0:00 Ryan's climate journey.
5:20 Catalyst or "A-ha" moments along the way.
8:30 What has this experience been like? Was it the path you imagined?
10:15 What does the future of CS look like?
12:45 Thoughts for people looking to find their place in the climate movement.
15:08 What Ryan likes to do for fun.
Big thanks as always to Diego Rentsch for editing!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In today's episode with Jamie Beck Alexander we cover what a company that's truly leading on climate actually looks like - and what employees can do to help them get there. As well as diving into climate migration, advice for parents, thoughts on net-zero, accelerators, and much more!
Jamie is the Director of Drawdown Labs which is the arm of Project Drawdown that’s helping corporations to maximize their positive impact on the climate using every lever of influence that they have.
Timeline:
0:00 Intro
1:15 Jamie's climate story
6:25 Project Drawdown & Drawdown Labs
9:35 Theory of change
12:54 Where are companies today and where do they need to get to?
21:05 Stories of companies taking effective climate action beyond direct emissions.
26:40 How many companies actually are looking beyond emissions right now?
30: 25 Advice for employees to get their employers to lead? What steps should they take?
34:35 Advice for people who are nervous to speak up at work.
37:20 How do you get buy-in from leadership as an entry-level employee?
41:30 How can Chief Sustainability Officers tap into help from motivated employees around the org?
45:00 What should people understand about net-zero?
50:25 Climate is pro-life. Trying to connect with people on core values.
54:38 Advice for parents raising kids and talking to kids when it comes to climate.
59:00 Jamie's family deciding to leave California because of wildfires. And mass migration in the future.
1:02:00 In a perfect world, what would we be doing to prepare for the coming mass migration?
1:04:45 Climate solution accelerators - what are they and why do they matter?
1:09:40 Favorite books.
1:12:00 Jamie's final message to folks!
Drawdown Labs links:
Drawdown Labs: https://www.drawdown.org/programs/drawdown-labs
Climate Solutions at Work: https://drawdown.org/publications/climate-solutions-at-work?_ga=2.152062330.296834754.1641235022-466128861.1629906324
All We Can Save/Drawdown Labs Workplace Circles: https://www.allwecansave.earth/starting-a-circle-at-work
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
We're a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider investing in us so we can keep increasing our climate impact! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
Linktree with other socials: https://linktr.ee/crowdsourcingsustainability
And a huge thank you to our volunteer, Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
A student (Monique!) recently reached out to me, asking for advice on how to change her university. We decided to record our conversation in case anyone else (student or otherwise - it's broadly applicable to any institution or orgs) may find it helpful!
As always, you can watch or listen - let me know what you think/if you'd like more of these or not.
Timeline
1:50 Ryan's story.
6:15 Persisting in the face of pushback.
13:35 How do you start? Where do you begin?
18:50 Universities need to prepare students for the climate-changed future.
24:10 How do you get leaders to act in siloed/hierarchical organizations?
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this episode with Nate Aden, we cover the importance of companies setting science-based targets, what employees can do to jumpstart the process, the role of the financial industry in climate action, net-zero, and more!
Nate is the Finance Sector Lead at the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
Timeline:
0:00 Intro
1:40 Nate's climate story.
5:30 The Science Based Target Initiative's origin story and theory of change.
8:20 SBTi's exponential growth.
10:00 Five high-level criteria for assessing targets.
14:30 What the process is like for companies and/or employees spearheading the effort.
20:00 What happens after companies set their targets?
23:50 What is the annual rate of emission reductions that the targets translate to?
28:00 Biggest hurdles companies are facing and how to overcome them
31:30 How to start collecting data on scope 3 emissions
34:15 Three tips for employees for getting your company to sign up/get on board.
38:25 Where does the financial industry stand today? And where do they need to get to?
46:15 Tools & tech that can help financial institutions integrate a climate lens for their investment and lending decision making.
57:00 Opportunities to build on SBTi's work.
58:50 Divesting vs. engaging.
101:30 Net-zero & greenwashing.
1:12:00 No more investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure. 2030 & 2040 investing deadlines for investing in existing FF infrastructure.
1:15:35 Book recommendations and Nate's final message!
SBTi links:
Website: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/
Net-zero for financial institutions: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero-for-financial-institutions
Scope 3 evaluator tool: https://ghgprotocol.org/scope-3-evaluator
Resources: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/?p=resources
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
We're a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider investing in us so we can keep increasing our climate impact! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/
Linktree with other socials: https://linktr.ee/crowdsourcingsustainability
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this episode with Eliza Nemser and Gabrielle Jorgensen, we cover the awesome work Climate Changemakers is doing, tips for crafting and personalizing your climate story, the reconciliation bill, eliminating fossil fuel studies, democracy reform, and more!
Eliza is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Climate Changemakers. And Gabrielle is the Advocacy Director.
Timeline
0:00 Intro.
1:00 Eliza's and Gabrielle's climate stories.
7:35 Climate Changemakers's theory of change.
10:30 Examples of work - what's it like to participate in action with Climate Changemakers?
15:20 Gabrielle's advice for people on how to craft and personalize your own climate story (super important!)
19:25 How can people get involved and what does that look like?
22:45 The reconciliation bill (aka the climate bill).
30:15 How can people help now? What actions are coming up and what's the strategy behind them?
33:30 Policy priorities! Eliminating fossil fuel studies, democracy reform, voting rights, keep it in the ground act, and the filibuster.
46:15 Final messages and calls to action.
Climate Changemakers Links:
Website: https://www.climatechangemakers.org/
Take action/Events: https://www.climatechangemakers.org/events
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theclimatevote
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
We're a 501c3 nonprofit. Investing in us enables us to keep increasing our climate impact! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate
Linktree with other socials: https://linktr.ee/crowdsourcingsustainability
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
I was fortunate enough to speak with someone who is a master storyteller. Someone who has thought deeply about societal narratives and telling a better climate story for years: Damon Gameau.
Damon is an award-winning actor and director widely known for "That Sugar Film" which is the all-time highest-grossing documentary in Australia.
But his latest documentary, 2040, may be my favorite climate doc to date. With a touch of humor, great visuals, and highlighting people scaling up today’s climate solutions, Damon paints a hopeful picture of what the world could be in 2040 - a world that his 7-year-old daughter, Velvet, will someday inherit.
Timeline
0:00 Intro
1:10 Damon's climate journey
4:45 Where did the idea for 2040 come from?
12:15 Damon's tips for talking about climate change with others
18:20 Behind the scenes: what it was like making the film & lessons learned
22:00 The unimaginable speed of climate action & meaningful jobs over the next decade.
25:00 Donut economics explained
30:15 (Much needed) advice for media and journalists on covering climate.
31:30 The importance of stories (we're all storytellers). How art & stories shape culture - which decides what ideas live or die
36:00 How Damon talks to his young daughter about climate
40:35 The 2040 community and impact campaign
45:00 How to join the 2040 community & make an action plan
50:45 Where/how to watch 2040
53:10 Book recommendations
56:20 Damon's final call to action
2040 links
Website: https://whatsyour2040.com/
Make a climate action plan: https://whatsyour2040.com/activate-your-plan/
Watch the film with the CS community on Wed, November 3rd at 7 EDT!
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter!
Website
We're a 501c3 nonprofit. Invest in us so we can keep increasing our climate impact! https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/
Linktree with other socials: https://linktr.ee/crowdsourcingsustainability
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing as alwa
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this interview with Dr. Elizabeth Sawin, we talk about systems change, Climate Interactive's influence on UN climate conference negotiations, multisolving, the importance of building relationships and networks, the emissions gap, cultural narratives & paradigms, and lots of advice for folks on their climate journeys!
Beth is the Co-founder and co-director at Climate Interactive which is a non profit think tank that specializes in making science-based tools to help people understand what actions are best for addressing the biggest challenges we face - like the climate crisis. Before Climate Interactive, Beth was a Program Director at the Sustainability Institute where she worked at the intersection of system dynamics and sustainability for 13 years.
Timeline:
0:00 Intro.
1:30 Beth's climate journey.
6:40 How much the climate space has changed over the decades.
11:00 What Climate Interactive is, how it got started, and their pivotal role at the UN climate conferences.
15:40 What it's like to be at/play a crucial role at COP, influencing government leaders.
23:15 How framing, short-term thinking, & not seeing the full picture has held back action.
28:00 Multisolving, solidarity, and core benefits vs. co-benefits.
34:00 Climate movement needs a strategy around funding a broad, diverse, and interconnected movement - this starts with building relationships.
38:45 Advice on how to accelerate multisolving where you live and work.
43:40 What the emissions gap is and how to start closing it faster. And why Beth is dedicating the rest of her career to strengthening relationships and building networks.
52:40 Systems thinking: climate change is a symptom of a giant misunderstanding about who we are and what we're a part of. Partnership vs. domination paradigms.
57:45 Society's narrative & human nature. Who is "we"?
1:02:00 Advice for people who are just starting their climate journeys.
1:05:35 Advice on how to find a mentor.
1:08:40 How Beth takes care of herself and where she finds strength.
1:12:10 Thoughts on building networks and strengthening relationships.
1:17:10 Defining systems change, systems dynamics, and why they matter.
1:20:40 Beth's book recommendation and final message to listeners.
(every investment decision is a moment of opportunity).
Follow Beth, Climate Interactive, and check out the resources she mentioned here:
- Follow Beth on Twitter
- Website & ENROADS
- Beth's Multisolving Ted Talk
- Climate Interactive's Systems Thinking training
- Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
- Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System
- Climate puppet show
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
- Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter!
- Crowdsourcing Sustainability's website
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this interview with Blair Beasley and Lisa Lilienthal, we hear their climate stories, talk about how the climate crisis is impacting Georgia today, what Drawdown Georgia is and how they're helping accelerate climate solutions, and advice for anyone who wants to get involved or start a drawdown initiative in their own state!
Blair is on the core research team for Drawdown Georgia and is also the Director of Climate Strategies at the Ray C. Anderson Foundation which is funding Drawdown Georgia. Previously, Blair worked on the Georgia Climate Project leadership team, the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Energy Project, Resources for the Future, and Net Zero Solutions.
Lisa is a Principal leading the Purpose Practice at a company called Dialogue which is an engagement strategy firm for organizations on a mission. Lisa is heavily involved with Drawdown Georgia’s content and community and helped bring Drawdown Georgia and Groopit together to launch a crowd-solving platform which I personally am very excited to hear more about.
Timeline:
0:00 Intro.
2:00 Blair's climate story.
3:30 Lisa's climate story.
7:45 How Drawdown Georgia came to be & how they got involved.
9:30 What "drawdown" means and what Project Drawdown is.
14:20 How the climate crisis is affecting Georgians today.
17:20 The often overlooked social benefits of climate solutions.
20:30 Drawdown Georgia's theory of change & menu of solutions.
31:00 Exciting initiatives and collaborations so far.
33:30 How can Georgians get involved? How is Drawdown Georgia crowd-solving?
41:30 Advice for individuals to start a Drawdown initiative for their own city, state, or region.
49:15 Setting statewide goals that are ambitious and achievable.
53:50 Researchers at GA Tech are building a map to track GHG emissions in real-time for every county in GA.
55:30 Favorite solutions?
1:00:00 Book and podcast recommendation.
1:02:00 Final thoughts and advice for listeners!
Links mentioned for Drawdown Georgia!
Newsletter sign-up and social media links at the bottom of the homepage!
Drawdown GA Research
Solutions
Take action with Drawdown GA!
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter!
Website
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this interview with Jon Leland, we talk about climate psychology, climate action, and then dive into the wide-ranging benefits of the 4-day workweek (it could simultaneously benefit people, the companies they work for, the communities they live in, and the climate!)
Jon is the Vice President of Insights & Head of Environmental Impact at Kickstarter. He has also launched two projects on Kickstarter that I really like for their tough-love approach to awareness-raising. They’re stickers saying “This place will be water” and “This place will burn” that you put in public places that are at risk according to science-based projections. These projects give people the tools to understand and communicate the local, near-term impacts of climate change and mobilize their community to take action on the crisis. Most recently, Jon has turned his focus towards the 4 Day Week campaign as it'd be a major win for both people and the planet.
Timeline:
0 Intro
1:10 Jon's climate journey.
9:27 Motivating communities to speak up and act with "This Place Will Be Water" & "This Place Will Burn" projects.
14:40 Jon's favorite stories that have come from the projects & thoughts on climate action.
21:35 History of the 5-day workweek.
24:50 Movement for a 4-day workweek.
25:55 Results from Iceland's 4-year study on a 4-day workweek.
27 The numerous benefits of a 4-day work week for people/employees & how they spend their time.
31:13 4-day work week from an employer's perspective.
36:15 The 4-day work week as a climate solution.
41:20 It seems impossible to achieve this - how could we make it happen?
46:10 Will this work across industries?
48:20 Short and long-term goals of the 4-day work week campaign.
50:30 We need a shift in mindset.
51:30 Jon's book recommendation and final message for folks.
54:40 The economy grew when it switched from a 6 to a 5-day workweek.
56:10 What should employees do if they want to help make this transition where they work?
Follow Jon, sign the petition and learn more about his campaigns here:
Sign the 4-day week petition: https://www.action.4dayweek.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JonathanLeland & https://twitter.com/4dayweek_global
This Place Will Be Water: https://www.thisplacewillbewater.org/
This Place Will Burn: https://www.thisplacewillburn.org/
Uncharted guide to a 4-day workweek: https://medium.com/this-is-uncharted/how-we-designed-a-4-day-workweek-experiment-cbdd80b88bab
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this interview with Nyombi Morris, you'll hear Nyombi's story and learn how climate change is already making life very difficult for people all over Uganda. We also dive into the Rise Up Movement, what it's like to be a climate activist in Uganda, oil pipelines (EACOP), climate justice, and more.
Nyombi Morris is a youth climate activist from Luzira, Kampala in Uganda, and the social media manager of the Rise Up Movement.
Timeline:
0 - 9:14 How climate change is affecting Uganda and has made life very difficult for Nyombi and his family.
9:14 Vanessa Nakate & the Rise Up Movement
11:50 Nyombi's challenging experiences with police and government as a climate activist. Plus bravery and determination to keep going.
19:45 Stopping the destructive East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
26:20 How climate is negatively affecting girls' education, gender equity, and justice.
33:00 Educating girls & empowering women has positive ripple effects for the climate.
34:05 Gratitude for youth activists & encouraging more to join.
35:07 What's the difference between a climate denier and someone who believes it's happening but doesn't take action?
38:1j0 The Greta speech that continually inspires Nyombi (https://youtu.be/TMrtLsQbaok).
39:00 Nyombi's final message for folks.
40:30 Nyombi's tree planting project with primary students.
You can follow and get in touch with Nyombi and the Rise Up Movement on social media here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mnyomb1 & https://twitter.com/TheRiseUpMovem1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NolanQ13 & https://www.facebook.com/TheRiseUpMovem1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mnyomb1/ & https://www.instagram.com/riseupmovement1/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mnyomb1/
Crowdsourcing Sustainability links:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
And a huge thank you to Diego Rentsch for editing as always!!
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this interview with Ian Monroe we discuss sustainable investing, ESGs, greenwashing, divesting vs. engaging with fossil fuel companies, what the average person’s investments look like through a sustainability lens and much more.
Ian is the Founder of Etho Capital which is working to create the world’s most sustainable investments. Prior to this, Ian consulted on sustainable solutions in over 30 countries for nonprofits, the UN, the World Bank, and the US Department of State. He’s currently a professor at Stanford in the Earth Systems Program, and he founded Oroeco which is an app that helps individuals reverse climate change.
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this interview with Bill Weihl we discuss how to “mobilize the voice of the workforce to urge companies to go “all in” on climate, both in business practices and policy advocacy.”
Bill was in charge of sustainability at Google and Facebook starting back in 2006. He recently founded ClimateVoice to help employees everywhere exercise their power for corporate climate action.
Useful links from ClimateVoice:
https://climatevoice.org/
https://climatevoice.org/resources/
https://1in5for1point5.org/#sign
https://twitter.com/ClimateVoiceOrg
Useful links from Crowdsourcing Sustainability:
Sign up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter: https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In the latest Crowdsourcing Sustainability Podcast episode, Ryan speaks with the Keeling Curve Prize's Executive Director, Jackie Francis about her story, this year's prize, and all the different ways the KCP is helping climate organizations.
$250,000 for climate solution initiatives!
The 2021 Keeling Curve Prizes will award $25,000 apiece to 10 winning projects that will help bend the Keeling Curve (CO2 in the atmosphere) down the fastest.
Applications will be accepted through February 10th.
Timeline:
- 0 - 1:40: Intro
- 1:40 - Important moments in Jackie's climate journey
- 3:20: What inspired you to start the Keeling Curve Prize?
- 5:45: What is the Keeling Curve? And how does the KCP work?
- 9:25: How do you evaluate projects/applications?
- 12:00: Who is eligible? How else are applicants supported?
- 16:30: Who are the orgs who have won the prize in the past and what are they doing?
- 20:20: Benefits of joining the Troposphere (KCP network)
- 23:20: Jackie's top 3 book recommendations
- 25:15: Key takeaways & final thoughts
- 27:40: Call to action: Apply for the prize and/or tell others about it!
More info on the prize:
There will be two winners for each of the following categories:
- Capture & Utilization
- Energy
- Finance
- Social & Cultural Pathways
- Transport & Mobility
So, if you or someone you know is working on a truly impactful solution to help stop global warming (and could use $25,000), apply online or spread the good word.
KCP Links:
2021 KCP Application
Homepage
Vote Climate 2020 video
Twitter
LinkedIn
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
Julian Kitsz interviews Ryan Hagen on the climate crisis and what we can do about it at TEDx Archivorum as a part of TED's Countdown initiative to help accelerate climate solutions.
Crowdsourcing Sustainability homepage: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/
Sign up for our sustainability newsletter! https://crowdsourcing-sustainability....
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
My quick thoughts (initially intended to be private) on eco-anxiety and climate despair.
Includes:
- Why it's not only natural but rational to experience these feelings.
- Where they may ultimately be coming from (love).
- A key takeaway and new lens through which to view them.
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
Join us and our fantastic guest Jill Kubit as we cover climate communication, cultural work, climate legacy, talking to kids about climate, and much much more.
Timeline:
0 - 4:20: Jill's introduction and background
4:20 - 7:30: Jill's thoughts on the climate labor movement
7:30 - 12:10: Why and how Dear Tomorrow was created
12:10 - 17:35: What is Dear Tomorrow? What makes it so powerful?
17:35 - 28:07: The real-world ripple effects of Dear Tomorrow
28:07 - 33:30: Cultural Work in the climate space
33:30 - 37:18: The events and art exhibits that have featured Dear Tomorrow
37:18 - 41:50: How COVID-19 has impacted Dear Tomorrow
41:50 - 55:10: Jill's work with Our Kid's Climate and how to talk to kids about climate
55:10 - 58:50: Advice for those who feel like they won't make a difference in the climate fight
58:50 - 1:00:20: Jill's call to action for listeners
1:00:20 - 1:03:00: Tips on talking to people about climate
Resources:
- https://www.deartomorrow.org
- https://ourkidsclimate.org
- Letter writing project and toolkit
- Dear Tomorrow's audio-visual installation
- Instagram: @deartomorrow
- Facebook: DearTomorrow
- Recommended book: "How to talk to your kids about climate change"
- Climate Outreach
-
Katharine Hayhoe Ted Talk
-
Sign Up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Newsletter
- Crowdsourcing Sustainability Website
- Our Instagram: @crowdsourcingsustainability
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
Ryan and Extinction Rebellion activist Nadia Colburn discuss Climate Change action in the era of Coronavirus
Resources:
-See the webinar here: https://youtu.be/RAYKmXe8jysExtinction
-https://nadiacolburn.com/
-Rebellion: https://rebellion.global/
-Sunrise Movement: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/
-350.org: https://350.org/
-Fridays For Future: https://fridaysforfuture.org/
-Sign Up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Email List: https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
-Crowdsourcing Sustainability Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
-Our Instagram: @crowdsourcingsustainability
-ryan@crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this episode, we discuss eco-anxiety, how to transform it into meaningful climate action, and much more with Rachel Malena-Chan, Co-founder of Eco-Anxious Stories! (To see Rachel's slides, watch here)
Timeline:
0 - 7:00: Rachel's introduction and background.
7:00 - 8:30: What is eco-anxiety?
8:30 - 11:50: How common is eco-anxiety?
11:50 - 15:50: How to shift eco-anxiety to meaningful action.
15:50 - 18:20: Climate anxiety is normal/rational. We get it because climate change threatens things we love.
18:20 - 24:45: The disconnect between knowledge and action (narrative dissonance).
24:45 - 28:30: Overcoming powerlessness and finding your role.
28:30 - 32:15: The impact of Eco-Anxious Stories.
32:15 - 36:10: Tips for dealing with eco-anxiety.
36:10 - 39:25: Intersectionality of climate with other systemic oppressions & living in this moment in time.
39:25 - 41:45: Rachel's recommended resources.
42:05 - 43:20: Rachel's key takeaway for listeners - "Know that you're not alone."
43:20 - 50:15 Q&A: How to talk about climate with non-supporters or older generations.
Useful links Rachel mentioned:
Eco Anxious Stories
Twitter: @rachelmelena @EcoAnxiousCA @MaryHeglar
Instagram
Patreon
Good Grief Network
Gen Dread
Climate Psychology Alliance
Climate and Mind
Useful links from Crowdsourcing Sustainability:
Crowdsourcing Sustainability newsletter
Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
Hear from Dr. Elizabeth Bagley of Drawdown Learn in this episode as we discuss:
0 - 9:15: Elizabeth's intro, background, and story of how she got to where she is today.
9:15 - 13:15: What is Project Drawdown? And why does it matter?
13:15 - 15:00: Climate solutions are win-wins & the Drawdown Review.
15:00 - 29:20: What is Drawdown Learn? (Deep dive on who it's for, the strategy behind it, projects, partners, etc.)
29:20 - 39:15: Bringing global solutions to the local level (with some advice for students & teachers specifically)
39:15 - 41:10: The "why" that keeps Elizabeth working on the climate crisis.
41:10 - 42:55: What Elizabeth would put on a billboard.
42:55 - 45:35: Book recommendations.
45:35 - 46:40: What can listeners do to help out and/or connect?
46:40: Elizabeth's key takeaway for listeners
Resources:
-Drawdown Learn Website: https://drawdown.org/programs/drawdown-learn
-Elizabeth’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-sowatzke-bagley
-Elizabeth’s Book Recommendations: Drawdown Review, A Sand County Almanac, Zen Ties
-Sign Up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Email List: https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
-Crowdsourcing Sustainability Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
-Our Instagram: @crowdsourcingsustainability
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
In this wide-ranging interview with Evan Hynes (co-founder of Climatebase) we discuss:
0 - 1:45: Intros
1:45 - 6:15: Evan's story & path to climate work
6:15 - 13:40: Why and how Climatebase was formed
13:40 - 15:55: Why Climatebase uses Project Drawdown's framework
15:55 - 23:00: Greenwashing & evaluating climate impact
23:00 - 32:00: Advice on finding a job in sustainability
32:00 - 38:30: Trends in climate jobs and thinking about skillsets
38:30 - 42:15: Recommended resources & books
Resources:
-ClimateBase Website: https://climatebase.org/
-Evan's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evanhynes
-Evan's Twitter: @EvTheEarthling
-Evan's Book Recommendations: Too Much and Never Enough, Uninhabitable Earth, On Fire, Climate: a New Story
-Sign Up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Email List: https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
-Crowdsourcing Sustainability Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
-Our Instagram: @crowdsourcingsustainability
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)
Welcome to the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Podcast! This podcast exists to help inform, inspire, and empower people to take action on climate. We'll do this by bringing on wonderful sustainability leaders, listening to their stories, and exploring meaningful actions we can all take. In this episode, get to know the hosts, Mikayla White and Ryan Hagen, as well as what the Crowdsourcing Sustainability podcast is all about!
Episode Outline:
0 - 0:33: Welcome to the podcast!
0:33 - 3:00: Ryan's introduction and how Crowdsourcing Sustainability got started
3:00 - 5:26: Mikayla's introduction and background in the environmental sphere
5:26 - 6:55: Why the climate fight is important to Ryan
6:55 - 9:10: Why others should join the climate fight
9:10 - 11:37: How listeners can get involved with Crowdsourcing Sustainability
Resources:
-Sign Up for the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Newsletter: https://crowdsourcing-sustainability.ck.page/c34a46ed01
-Check out the Crowdsourcing Sustainability Website: https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org
-Our Instagram: @crowdsourcingsustainability
Support the show (https://crowdsourcingsustainability.org/donate/)