Climify

Climate and social systems are profoundly connected.Interconnectedness, in turn, can be an overwhelming double-edged sword—an ‘infobesity’ that buries clear paths forward to act against the systemic climate inequities rippling across society. In Sage Lenier’s justice-oriented activism, she has come to find that environmental education is largely non-existent. Perhaps, the biggest stopgap is that no one knows about the problems that make up the larger problem. This is what Sage sees as a barrier to the climate movement gaining traction: a lack of quality education.Sustainable & Just Future salvages the demoralization within climate change into an educated understanding of the ecological systems that sustain us. On this episode, we are joined by a Time's 2023 Next Generation Leader and YPCCC Public Voice Fellow, whose work creates huge strides within Project Drawdown’s Education and Equity by reforming education systems with student-led climate initiatives and advocacy campaigns, educator-led curriculum (re)design and digital programming. For-youth-by-youth dissemination of knowledge translates Gen Z solutions into meaningful shifts toward reforming the ways all generations sustain the health, equity, and quality of our natural resources and the planet.

“All solutions are right here, they just have to catch on” is a conviction of Denise Baden, an ethical author and sustainability professor, that poetically resonates in all her stories: Habitat Man, No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save Our Planet, Anthology of Short Stories for COP27, and The Assassin. Making a virtue of necessity, Denise illuminates us on how environmental literature connects people to climate change solutions by mobilizing our social awareness and conscientious into embracing the change needed.Literature transcends Denise into an Audre Lorde for environmental literacy, “forming the quality of light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change.” On this episode of Climify, we are joined by an educator and author, whose work complements Project Drawdown Communications and Storytelling by constructing worlds infused with conversational currency toward catalyzing citizen assembly, social commentary, and critiques enabling climate reforms.

How do you best create positive impact in communities? What does environmental justice look like?In this eighth episode of season three, the multi-talented Sarah Ichioka joins Eric to share (not only) her five principles of regenerative design from her book Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency but also how Project Drawdown is the perfect example of a Possiblest Mindset where we understand our position in relation to both the realities on the ground and our desired outcome.If that wasn’t enough, Sarah also provides inspiring case studies from her consulting firm Desire-Lines to help designers in their work to shift the mindset of their clients towards that of regeneration.

How can design influence positive behavior change when it comes to climate action? Can the design of your energy bill or thermostat help you rethink how and when you use electricity?Karina van Schaardenburg joins Eric to share the work being done at Opower (Oracle) to create smarter energy use, customer behavior changes, and the renewable grid of the future.

Have you heard the terms sustainability, restoration, conservation, bioregionalism, or regeneration? What’s the difference between them? How can we apply each to design?Nisha Mary Poulose joins Eric to share the work being done at her organizations, Regenerative Rising and the Woven Design Collaborative. What these organizations have accomplished continue to help better define “regeneration” not only for her collaborators but for designers. In this episode Nisha argues why we must shift our mindset to think like nature and how ecological principles can be best applied to design to create our present and future.

How do you best create positive impact in communities? What does environmental justice look like?In this fifth episode of season 3, Pamela Fann joins Eric to share her journey from Corporate America to diversity, inclusion, integration, and climate activist and entrepreneur. She shares how she defines restorative design, environmental justice, and how best we use their principles to tackle both the entangled issues of racism and our climate crisis.

How do best educate one another about climate change and climate action when the media is muddying the water? Furthermore, how can we change how the media reports on climate change so it is accurate, not sensationalized, or influenced by fossil fuel companies?Dr. Genevieve Guenther joins Eric to share her journey from Renaissance scholar to climate communicator, consultant, and activist. The organization End Climate Silence is central to her story and work; Dr. Guenther discusses how she helps to educate about the history of fossil fuel disinformation, media manipulation, and how we can end fossil fuels together through collective and individual actions. The Drawdown Climate Solution Sector in this episode is centered on Health & Education.

What are the best strategies to co-design in a community to create positive change? How can the designers’ work better reflect the aesthetics, lifestyles, and values of a predominately BIPOC community?Anika Goss, from Detroit Future City joins Eric to share how her organization co-designs with the people of Detroit to tackle, in particular, the Drawdown Climate Solution Sector of Food, Agriculture, and Land Use. In addition, Anika details the history of Detroit, from its renaissance to redlining, and from a riot to rebirth; showcasing current neighborhoods that are becoming beacons of hope as Detroit co-creates a more climate resilient and equitable city.

Have you ever felt helpless as an advocate for climate at your job or wondered where to find good paying jobs in climate action? If so, then this episode of Climify is for you!Jamie Beck Alexander, from Drawdown Labs, joins Eric to kick off Season 3 of Climify where each episode is themed by one of the Drawdown Climate Solution Sectors. In this first episode, Jamie shares her journey into climate activism (and how you can follow her lead), the mission of Project Drawdown, how she helped get big businesses to support the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and most importantly why “every job is a climate job”.

Welcome to season three of Climify! This season, I'm talking to women across the globe who are at the forefront of climate science and climate action. Each guest is a thought leader in one or more of the Drawdown.org climate solutions sectors. What you may ask are the Drawdown.org solution sectors? Well, important topics like renewable electricity, soil and agriculture, architecture, oceans, health, education, and so much more. The goal of this season is, of course, to continue to help design educators incorporate a foundation of sustainability and regeneration into their courses, and in turn, inspire more climate designers.  The new season of Climify drops April 12th, 2023 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. You can learn more on how to get involved at www.climatedesigners.org/edu or join the discussion over on Instagram @clmiifypodcast.