A World On Fire: Climate Change and Environmental Justice
A World on Fire: Climate Change and Environmental Justice
Presented: Wednesday, Oct. 14
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A World on Fire: Climate Change and Environmental Justice
As of Sept. 24, 2020, there were 28 major wildfires burning across the state of California, including the Complex Fire, which became the largest fire on record in California and led to atmospheric carbon monoxide levels that were 10 times typical amounts, according to NASA. These deadly wildfires were caused by record-breaking heat waves, one of the continuing effects of climate change. More troubling, research increasingly suggests the ramifications of climate change disproportionately affect low-income communities, with a 2018 federal report finding these communities "typically have less access to information, resources, institutions, and other factors to prepare for and avoid the health risks of climate change."
With the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, worsening fire seasons every year, and no end in sight, we must ask, "What role must we take to mitigate the effects?"
On Oct. 14, the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount hosted Bill McKibben, co-founder and senior advisor at 350.org, to discuss this pressing global issue and what we can all contribute to helping our hurting planet.
This event was moderated by LMU Journalism Program's Carol Costello, an award-winning journalist and former anchor and correspondent at CNN and HLN.
Sponsors
Presented by Loyola Marymount University’s Global Policy Institute in conjunction with the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, College of Business Administration, Seaver College of Science and Engineering, Economics Department and the Global Economics Minor, Sociology Department, Journalism Program, Peace and Justice Studies Program, Political Science and International Relations Department, and the International Relations Program.
About Loyola Marymount University
LMU is a private Catholic university with 6,000 undergraduates, 2,200 graduate students and 1,100 law students from diverse backgrounds and many perspectives. Our seven colleges and schools boast best-in-the-nation programs in film and television, business, education and more. Our stunning campus in West Los Angeles is a sun-soaked oasis overlooking the Pacific coast and a model of sustainability. We're rooted in the heart of Los Angeles, a global capital for arts and entertainment, innovation and technology, business and entrepreneurship. Our mission is grounded in a centuries-old Jesuit educational tradition that produces extraordinary men and women dedicated to service and social justice. We're proud of more than 85,000 LMU alumni whose professional achievements are matched by a deep commitment to improving the lives of others.
Bill McKibben, 350.org
Bill McKibben is an author, environmentalist, and activist. He is the co-founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, which strives to unite ordinary people, scholars, and organizers in the effort to transition completely to sustainable energy. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was the 2013 winner of the Gandhi Prize and the Thomas Merton Prize, and holds honorary degrees from 18 colleges and universities. Foreign Policy named him to their inaugural list of the world’s 100 most important global thinkers, and the Boston Globe said he was “probably America’s most important environmentalist.” He has authored over a dozen books about the environment, including The End of Nature, which is regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change. McKibben is also a former staff writer for the New Yorker, and he writes frequently for a wide variety of publications around the world, including the New York Review of Books, National Geographic, and Rolling Stone.
This event was held virtually via Zoom web-conferencing software.
The recording is available below.
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