Heroic Lives of Climate Defenders
Climate advocacy is a dangerous business. According to Global Witness, every week, somewhere in the world, between three and four environmental activists are killed. And even when they don’t suffer bodily harm, they are routinely arrested and jailed for speaking out. They are also sued in civil cases, bogging them down for years or even bankrupting them and their families.
Each personal story in this episode is unique, but the physical threats and legal weapons fossil fuel companies and governments wield against them are eerily similar. And yet, the voices of climate defenders will not be silenced.
Upcoming Event
Leah Stokes: 2024 Stephen Schneider H. Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication December 9, 2024 | 6:00 p.m.
Climate One is delighted to present the 2024 Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication to political scientist Leah Stokes.
Stokes is an expert in climate and energy policy. As both an academic and a mobilizer, she focuses on implementing policies that drive widespread decarbonization. Her rare ability to communicate complex information to both academic audiences and the general public has established her as one of the most influential voices in climate action and clean energy policy. Recognized on the 2022 TIME100 Next and Business Insider's Climate Action 30 lists, she also co-hosts the podcast “A Matter of Degrees.”
Join Climate One for this special in-person conversation with Leah Stokes, policy expert, climate communicator, and the Anton Vonk Associate Professor of Environmental Politics at UC Santa Barbara.
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Connecting the Dots
Landing a supercomputing development for Elon Musk’s xAI artificial intelligence program was supposed to be a major victory for Memphis. But after xAI’s electrical needs exceeded the generation capacity of Memphis Light, Gas and Water and further grid connections were paused pending federal approval to draw power from the Tennessee Valley Authority, xAI brought in multiple mobile methane gas power plants to run the facility.
Methane gas peaker plants are one of the most carbon-intensive electrical generation sources in the world, and Memphis already suffered from low air quality. Many local residents, including Memphis-area State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, are fed up with Musk and xAI and want the methane gas plants removed. Pearson sat down with Greg Dalton for a live conversation about the fight for climate justice, and you can listen in wherever you find your podcasts.
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Climate One is hiring!
We’re seeking a Development Manager to drive our fundraising efforts. Your work will be essential to powering our efforts to bring people independent nonprofit climate media, and your impact will be felt immediately. The role is hybrid based out of San Francisco, and the full job description is available on our website.