No matter who I talk to – whether startup founders, investors, or corporate sustainability leaders – when I ask what is needed to really move the needle on climate change, everyone always comes back to the to importance of policy change, of making climate an electoral issue and holding political leaders accountable to take bold action.

There’s no denying that in recent years one of the most important forces making bold climate action more of a priority, has been the voice of young people. Their cry for change and their committed activism has been impossible to ignore, and the policies they’ve fought for have gained real headway. In the United States, at the center of youth climate organizing is an organization named the Sunrise Movement. They’ve been around for less than a decade but have mobilized effectively and are credited for inspiring and advancing historic climate policies like the Inflation Reduction Act.

Today we’re joined by two leaders of the Sunrise Movement, Matthew Miles Goodrich and Aru Shiney-Ajay. Miles was one of the founders of the movement and leads fundraising. Aru has been involved since she was 19 and now leads Sunrise’s strategy. They’re both inspiring representatives of the bold vision and commitment that’s made Sunrise so successful and that we all need to bring to climate work.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:35] Miles’ background, role with Sunrise & how he got involved
[5:34] Aru’s background, role with Sunrise & how she got involved
[8:31] The origin & history of the Sunrise Movement
[11:45] The reach that Sunrise has achieved & how it's been successful at getting young people involved in climate action
[13:54] Why has Sunrise gathered so much momentum
[17:00] How many people have been involved in Sunrise & how are they able to manage their volunteer army
[19:31] Sunrise’s wins & progress
[21:55] Sunrise’s role surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act and the impact of the IRA & other recent climate policies
[27:57] Sunrise’s current strategy & priorities
[32:34] Why is declaring a climate emergency needed & what would it lead to
[34:45] Sunrise’s theory of change
[37:44] The lawsuit against the state of Montana & implications of the case
[39:45] Pivotal moments for climate & the progress being sought
[41:20] Hopes for Climate Week
[42:01] What else needs to happen to adequately address climate change

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Matthew Miles Goodrich & Aru Shiney-Ajay

Connect with Miles
Connected with Aru

Connect with Jason Rissman

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