Galvanizing Climate Justice: Join the discussion!
Special Edition - National Public Health Week
This week, we’re celebrating National Public Health Week. Each day is focused on a different public health topic and the ways each of us can make a difference on that topic.
Today’s focus is on “Galvanizing Climate Justice,” and in this special edition of our newsletter, we’re excited to share a coffee chat with two of our favorite people. Dr. Lara Cushing, C-Solutions Faculty Associate, studies patterns and consequences of social inequities in exposure to environmental hazards. Her most recent study focuses on flaring from oil and gas developments in the U.S. and discusses the disproportionate exposure of Black, indigenous, and people of color to harmful pollutants from flaring. Dillon Bernard, C-Solutions Advisory Board member, recently wrote on our blog about his experiences in the climate movement and the urgent need to transform the climate narrative. In the videos below, they discuss synergies between scientific research and effective climate activism, how we can ensure that a focus on climate justice drives all of our work, and how to stay hopeful and motivated.
After watching the videos, we’d love to hear from you! Please jump into the comments below to share your thoughts.
*Note: You can view the playlist including all four videos here, and an audio-only version is available here.
Part 1: Ongoing efforts toward climate justice and health
Lara and Dillon share their recent mobilization efforts and research, and discuss the intersections between climate, health, and justice.
Part 2: Connecting research and community engagement
This portion of the discussion focuses on the relationship between community engagement and scientific research. Dillon and Lara talk about how their work has been improved by strengthening that relationship, and how greater connectivity between the two spaces can support climate justice efforts.
Part 3: Strategies for prioritizing equity
Both Lara and Dillon have been incredibly successful at centering justice in all of their work. In this clip, they each share their strategies for prioritizing equity and ensuring that their work serves communities.
Part 4: Hope, motivation, and information
In closing the discussion, Dillon and Lara talk about what keeps them hopeful and motivated, and how to parse through all of the information and content about climate to focus on key messages.
What about you?
When faced with the enormous challenges of working toward climate justice, what are some of your strategies for staying hopeful and motivated? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.