Climate Reality

Don’t Trash the Ironbound

ipacha — Thu, 05 May 2022 22:30:49 +0000

By Madrid Rodner

In the heart of the vibrant Ironbound community of Newark, NJ, you don’t have to look far to see what injustice looks like. Some days, you just have to look up to see the thick plume of bright pink and purple smoke billowing out of the state’s largest waste incinerator.

Covanta – the company that operates the incinerator along with 36 similar facilities across the US – admits the pink smoke is from burning pesticides.

Photo by Christian Rodriguez

According to the National Academy of Sciences, inhaling iodine, one of the major ingredients in the toxic cocktail streaming out of the smokestacks, causes severe breathing difficulty. Higher levels of exposure can cause bronchitis, rapid heartbeat, and tremors, among other outcomes. The Ironbound incinerator is part of a long list of nearby potential polluters in a city where children suffer from asthma rates three times higher than the state average.

While New Jersey's air quality is improving for the most part, a recent report by the American Lung Association finds, in one county, Essex County, air quality is actually worsening. In Newark – the county seat of Essex County – the daily and yearly measures for particulate matter pollution in the air are increasing.

The difference matters. The Ironbound is what the state calls an “overburdened community,” where at least 35% of households qualify as low income and at least 40% of community members identify as minority, among other factors. And it’s not alone as a community where lower-wealth families and people of color breathe in toxins.

Sixteen of the 20 largest incinerators in the country are located in communities with populations of color above the national average and 14 of them in communities where people of color make up the majority of residents. All of which makes the discrimination and injustice at work as clear as pink smoke in a bright blue sky.

And in the Ironbound, residents are refusing to quietly go along with it, joining forces with the Los Angeles-based East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and other groups to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do its job and, well protect them from pollution (more on that below).

Terrible for our communities. Terrible for the planet.

Sometimes the worst injustices come with a green smile and a great-for-the-environment pitch.

Covanta, the Ironbound plant’s operator, burns some 20 million tons of trash each year in what they call “waste-to-energy” or “energy from waste” facilities, turning the heat from incinerated garbage into steam driving turbines that generate electricity. In Newark, the company burns 1 million tons of trash annually for this purpose under the pretext of reducing emissions and creating sustainable alternatives to landfills.

There’s just one problem: None of this is true.

Using industry and government data, an analysis by Energy Justice Network found that trash incinerators are the most expensive and polluting way to manage waste or to make electricity. That they’re dirtier than burning coal, and are worse than landfills. They also found that for every 100 tons of waste burned, 30 tons of toxic ash are produced and dumped in landfills, making the landfills smaller, but more toxic. The other 70 tons leave the smokestack as steam, global warming pollution, and a myriad of other pollutants that may contribute to asthma, cancers, heart attacks, birth defects, learning disabilities, and many other health problems. Trash incinerators can emit up to 2.5 times as much climate changing carbon pollution per unit of energy than a coal power plant.

That on top of releasing toxic dioxins and heavy metals that are quite harmful to public health. Hardly sustainable and certainly dangerous.

Time for EPA to Step Up

Taking control of their air and health, one local organization, Ironbound Community Corporation joined by Earthjustice, Sierra Club, and East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice in Los Angeles – is suing EPA to update its incinerator regulations.

The Ironbound is not just fighting for Newark. Roughly 1.6 million Americans live close to incinerators, with the majority in lower-income household and communities of color. With a few rare exceptions, the fleet of 71 commercial trash incinerators in the US are nearing their last decade of life. The average trash incinerator is now 33.5 years old while the average age of the 45 facilities that closed since 2000 was just 23 when they retired. As incinerators age, they break down more often, sometimes causing increased releases of toxic pollutants into the air we breathe.

Advocates around the country are fighting for the closure of incinerators in their communities. This lawsuit is just one new front in the battle.

Because of its responsibility to Congress and the nation, EPA does not have a choice but to update incinerator regulations. But when it does, we must be ready to fight to replace careless regulations for rules that ensure the health of all Americans.

To learn more about incinerators and the fight for clean air and environmental justice, visit Energy Justice Network.

New Jersey

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How one community is fighting incinerator pollution

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Faith, Fellowship & Furthering the Climate Movement

ipacha — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 17:58:33 +0000

By Lauren Bills

For many climate activists, there is one day in April that feels like our Super Bowl, our championship, and our Oscar-winning speech all in one: April 22. Most everyone knows it as Earth Day, a day that encourages people to advocate for protecting our one and only planet.

However, for some activists, April 22 is only the beginning for a week of intentional climate action. From April 22-May 1, Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) hosts Faith Climate Action Week.

Interfaith Power & Light is an action network that is mobilizing a religious response to global warming. The network expands across all 50 states and has grown enormously over the years.

One of the network’s initiatives, Faith Climate Action Week, has now reached almost 2 million people with more than 5,000 climate and Earth stewardship sermons.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Faith Climate Action Week and what faith-centered climate activism can look like.

Diving into the Week

Faith Climate Action Week spans over a 10-day period (ok, so week-plus). Within the 10 days, various events are held in participating states and the events may look different depending on location.

For example, in Washington, DC a Fight for the Future rally took place on April 23. Not only were faith leaders there but many of our Climate Reality Leaders and staff attended the rally as well. Events like these bring a variety of climate activists together for one common goal: rallying for our climate.

In North Carolina, faith groups such as the North Carolina Council of Churches and Interfaith Power and Light are urging churches to invest in Duke Energy’s solar panel rebate program. The program expires later this year and could help faith groups save thousands in energy costs.

Other events throughout the week include: the Nationwide Climate Prayer that features prayers from various faiths on Earth Day at Noon.

IPL even put together a list of easy steps for congregations to get involved throughout the week.

One of the interesting ways they encourage congregations to participate is by hosting a movie screening to inspire discourse amongst the congregation.

On April 27, IPL hosted a webinar to discuss this year’s chosen film, "Youth V Gov.” The film is especially on brand with the week’s chosen theme being: “Sacred Trust: Our Children's Right to a Livable Future.”

IPL has also put together a list of all the events going on throughout April and May that even go past Faith Climate Action Week.

Faith Climate Action Week gives faith communities the opportunity to not only cultivate climate activists in their own congregations but also encourage individuals who are outside of the community to join in.

Keeping the Faith

In 2o21, results from a poll showed that Christians and Non-Christians alike believed that passing a bill to address climate change and its effects should be an absolute priority for Congress.

Those results seem encouraging right?

We’d like to think so however, what can religious groups do exactly to encourage meaningful climate action? Let’s dive into what some groups have been doing already.

Faith communities historically have played a significant role in igniting social change throughout the US. For example, the civil rights movement was spearheaded by Black religious leaders who inspired moral courage amongst their congregations and even ones outside of them.

From research throughout the years, we know that environmental racism is real and it’s prevalent still today. Black communities face more pollution at substantially higher rates than white ones.

However, many Black churches are taking this knowledge and using it to encourage climate activism within their communities.

For example, the National Religious Partnership for the Environment put together resources for Black churches to use and inspire change within their congregations.

The National Council of Churches created a curriculum that specifically engages with those in Black churches and discusses climate justice within the Black community.

In 2018, an EPA study found that people of color overall had a 28% higher health burden than white communities.

It’s not just Christian congregations responding to this kind of injustice either. People of color from many religions are striving to inspire climate action and encourage hope within their groups.

For example, in 2020 a group known as Hindu Climate Action formed to encourage temples to be less wasteful during religious festivals. The group believes that even the smallest efforts are making a difference in protecting our Earth.

Meaningful climate action does not have to be a grand gesture – by simply inspiring individuals to care about our climate is immensely helpful in securing a better future for all.

Faith groups across the nation are doing just that.

Putting Faith into Action

Many faith groups are advocating for climate action now. However, much of the advocacy is happening on a local level.

Here at The Climate Reality Project, we work with communities of faith through our Climate Speakers Network (CSN). CSN’s goal is to awaken unique communities – including the faith community – as unstoppable forces for action to protect the planet we share.

CSN focuses on building relationships and partnerships with faith communities to help amplify their voices and mobilize their communities to inspire change.

One particular partnership is with Faiths 4 Future: a group that was created by faith leaders who had attended a Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in 2020.

By engaging with this group, an exciting program has emerged called the Climate Café Multifaith. The program modeled after the Climate Cafés initiative that began in Scotland in 2015.

The Climate Café Multifaith is a space for learning, reflection, and peer support convened virtually the first three Tuesdays of each month at 11AM PT/2PM ET.

The weekly topics and speakers vary but are grounded in how faith communities can learn about and engage in climate justice work, and how faith leaders can support one another in these efforts.

Check out the links above to find out more if you want to participate.

To find out more on CSN and stay up to date on action done by faith communities sign up for our email list.

The Climate Reality Project

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Not your typical sermon? Faith communities are advocating for climate action now- starting with Faith Climate Action Week.

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Young Innovators Challenge the Future

ipacha — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 21:47:27 +0000

By Sophia Simmons, World Economic Forum

Around the world, youth prepare to gather at Stockholm+50, focusing on nature and resilience, in the lead up to COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. In preparation for these global summits, it is critical that young people have a shared language and mission, and for their collective action and innovation to be supported and accelerated.

With this context in mind, members of the Global Shapers Community (GSC) and The Climate Reality Project designed a challenge to source and champion young leaders from around the world working to drive local climate action and raise climate ambition. This is how the Youth Climate Action Challenge was born.

The challenge, hosted on the World Economic Forum’s Innovation Platform UpLink, received 108 submissions that were carefully assessed by a community of experts to select nine UpLink Featured Innovators.

Over the coming months, the nine Featured Innovators will have the opportunity to learn from each other and scale their impact through one-on-one mentoring with The Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGLs), the GSC, and Climate Reality Leaders. Featured Innovators will be supported by the Forum and Climate Reality through promotion of their work and introductions to established ecopreneurs.

Here are the Featured Innovators who are enabling climate action around the world through creativity, optimism, social justice, and hard work:

BluPower (India) is a Micro Hydro solution providing reliable and resilient hydropower that is compact and easy to install in rivers and canal sites currently unfit for electrification. Their mission is to produce 8000 GW of energy annually by 2030 to impact 20 million lives in grid deficient communities globally.
Chloride Free Foundation (Brazil) is an international non-profit organization that addresses carbon sequestration in soil and is looking to expand beyond Brazil and the US. The Foundation aims to create a prosperous and equitable future for all people and the environment through raising awareness about the importance of soil biodiversity and promoting sustainable, chloride-free agriculture practices among farmers.
Eco Smart Farming (Eco Warriors) (Ghana) is a digital Farming solution that offers climate-smart agricultural practices to farmers in local languages. This scalable tech-based solution targets farmers in the Fodoa community who are losing their rice crops due to climate change and need to learn new climate-smart methods of rice farming.
HamsaRecycling (Azerbijan) is a social start-up that uses textile and plastic waste to create shoes and clothing. They aim to create products designed specifically for people with disabilities from recycled materials. As people with disabilities have been underrepresented in the fashion industry, HamsaRecycling is contributing to sustainability and inclusiveness.
MAA’VA™ (United States of America) is developing a proprietary sustainable carbon sequestering construction material, turning plastic and non-plastic waste into eco-concrete that can be used for conventional and 3D-printing construction. By optimizing 3D-printing technology, MAA'VA can build environmentally friendly low-cost housing with eco-concrete in one day for 1/10th of the construction cost and half of the construction waste.
Mudatuga (Portugal) is a start-up creating domestic and community compost solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the disposal of organic waste in landfills. Its leading product is Compostuga, an eco-friendly Bokashi bin made with cork residues that allows consumers to compost anything at home. Mudatuga addresses Portugal's growing urban waste problem while aiming to become a catalyst of circular waste management in the Iberian Peninsula.
Nossa Horta (Brazil) is a grassroots movement in Rio de Janeiro city promoting urban agriculture through community gardens primarily in low-income neighborhoods. Each garden fits the needs of the local community and teaches adults and children about climate change, medicinal plants, unconventional foods.
Subjee-Cooler (India) is a portable zero-energy cooling chamber that keeps vegetables fresh for five days without energy input. The Subjee-Cooler has been instrumental in improving farmers' income and decreasing food waste throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tree Square (Philippines) is a scalable model for urban reforestation supported by the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The project combats climate change one square meter at a time through collective and individual action to re-green cities. Tree Square's goal is to achieve 10,000 square meters of urban tree coverage across 100 cities in the Philippines, with the potential to scale to other countries in Southeast Asia.

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The World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community and Climate Reality challenged young changemakers to develop creative new approaches to sustainability and climate action – with inspiring results.

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All I Want for My Earth Day Is Energy Transition

ipacha — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 22:00:37 +0000

Earth Day is always a problem.

Every April 22, we pay tribute to the (truly incredible) first Earth Day in 1970, when an estimated 20 million Americans came out to demand government action on the runaway pollution choking towns and cities from coast to coast. Demands that gave birth to the modern environmental movement and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

And every April 22, brands seize the day to tout their sustainability and encourage yet more consumption, all so they can plant a tree somewhere.

Meanwhile, groups of all sizes invite people to mark the occasion by joining walks, picking up trash, planting trees, and more. (And to be clear, these are wonderful things.)

But then April 23 comes around and most people go back to work and everyday life, and most brands put away the feel good t-shirts and go back to business as usual. Then the next Earth Day rolls around, and well, it looks a lot like the last one. Rinse, repeat.

Of course, in the background is climate change and the fast-closing window we have to stop rising temperatures in time to avert irreversible and truly catastrophic impacts.

At least in the US, climate-fueled disruption and devastation are simply becoming part of our everyday lives. Last year, four in 10 Americans lived through a climate-disaster. In the West, we just expect to choke on wildfire smoke and sweat through one heatwave after another every summer and fall. Yes, our anxiety levels rise in line with CO2 levels, but for better and much worse, we are adapting.

Google’s homepage says a thousand words.

So how do we break the cycle and in time?

The Greatest Trick

In the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects,” the villain Keyser Söze tells the detective investigating the murders that he (Söze) has orchestrated, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” The line – twisting another from the French writer Charles Baudelaire – proves a supreme act of misdirection, pushing the detective to look elsewhere when the culprit is right in front of him. All enabling the criminal to simply stroll away.

Fast forward to 2022, and the greatest trick the oil companies ever pulled was convincing all of us our carbon footprint mattered. On Earth Day, when our inboxes are bursting with a million invitations to do our part to reduce our carbon footprint, it’s worth remembering that the term was actually invented by an ad agency working for . . . you guessed it . . . the oil industry.

The implication of individual carbon footprints is clear: We’re all responsible for climate change and we’re all in this together.

This, of course, is utter bovine excrement.

The fossil fuel industry has spent decades and billions not only to lock us into an energy system that has irrefutably altered our climate, but also to slow walk and block the obvious and practical policies that can change course and promise a livable future to our children and coming generations. We are not all responsible in the same way.

This is not to say it doesn’t matter that people in rich countries and communities produce exponentially more climate-changing emissions than those living in developing nations who inevitably pay the greatest price. Because it does.

Rather, that focusing on individual carbon footprints tricks us into looking the wrong way while fossil fuel companies – just like the movie villain – calmly stroll away, free of consequences.

You can’t make this stuff up.

What are you willing to change to help reduce emissions? #EnergyDebate

— Shell (@Shell) November 2, 2020

Because while quickly transitioning the world from dirty fossil fuels to cleaner sources of energy like wind and solar will not alone ensure we avert catastrophe, failing to make this transition ensures we will not.

It’s that simple.

This Earth Day Is Different

What makes this Earth Day different from any recent year is that it comes when the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine has effectively forced the world into a choice on our collective energy future.

With the political costs of our addiction to fossil fuels painfully clear at the same time the world’s top climate scientists have underscored the need to peak emissions in just two years, the need for energy system change is right there, staring us in the face.

To put it bluntly, the choices we make now will shape our Earth Day in 2032, 2042, and 2052.

There is also no perfect way forward. The current crisis comes right when working families are already getting hammered by high energy and food costs. The EU and US (as just two examples) simply aren’t ready today to flip the switch to a 100% clean energy economy tomorrow and for the moment, keeping the lights on for millions means partially replacing one source of fossil fuel energy for another. People are hurting and it would be a terrible mistake to ignore that.

The challenge here is to walk and chew gum at the same time. To do what we can to help nations meet their current needs in a system now locked into oil and gas without adding to the monstrous pipeline infrastructure and other facilities that could tie us into yet more dependency for decades to come.

At the same time, we have to accelerate system change and energy transition to take us toward the clean energy and net zero economies that can not only free democracies from petro-state dictators, but also give us a shot at preventing climate catastrophe.

So far, the signs are not completely promising. While pledging continued commitments to the goals of the Paris Agreement, the US has agreed to boost shipments of liquified natural gas (LNG) to the EU to replace Russian gas. Meanwhile at home, the Biden Administration has announced it will resume oil and gas leases on federal lands.

Neither move will help European or American families in the right-now short term. The import and export terminals now planned to facilitate the LNG agreement take several years to build and as one analyst points out, aren’t even necessary. Meanwhile, oil and gas industry already sitting on at least 10 years of leases it’s not even using.

What they will do – if realized – is tighten the industry’s grip on our economies, spiking emissions, slowing energy transition, and cutting our already slender odds of holding warming below the 1.5 degree Celsius danger line.

Our Choice Begins After Earth Day

What Earth Day really does is invite us to step back and remember what really matters. To see the big picture and recommit yourself to fighting like your world depends on it.

In 2022, that means fighting for just energy transition. It’s not the only fight that matters, but it really, really matters.

If you’re in the US and able, start by joining us at one of the Fight for Our Future rallies on April 23 in DC, Atlanta, and Phoenix calling for Congress to pass bold climate legislation to create jobs and accelerate the just transition to clean energy.

If you can’t make a rally, make sure to sign up for our email activist list and we’ll keep you posted on how you can keep the pressure on for the transition we need to stop global warming and create a better future for all.

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Planting and picking up trash on Earth Day is wonderful, but with the world at an inflection point, what we need most is for leaders to get serious about clean energy transition.

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Why We’ll Be in Las Vegas This June

ipacha — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 16:29:23 +0000

Chances are, if you live in Arizona, Nevada, or any other state in the Southwest or Mountain West, you don’t need the latest study to tell you it’s getting hotter. Or that wildfire seasons seem to keep getting worse. Or that lakes, rivers, and reservoirs are drying out, with cities in Arizona now scrambling to find alternatives and one University of Utah official declaring, “We’re already running out of water.”

Chances are, you want to know what this changing climate means for you. Your state. Your family and friends. Your way of life. And – honestly, what we can do about it.

If that’s you, then apply to join us at the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Las Vegas, running June 11–13.

Because here’s the thing: You can keep reading the constant stream of headlines on how our climate is changing and even some on what it means for the Southwest and Mountain West. You’ll definitely get part of the picture. And chances are, you’ll get a little anxious wondering if there’s a way forward.

Or you can join us in Las Vegas and get a crash course in climate 101 from one of the best science communicators out there: former Vice President Al Gore. You’ll feel the incredible energy of being in the room with hundreds of other world changers like you.

Plus, by spending days hearing from some of the activists, innovators, policymakers, and more leading the charge for a better future for all of us – you’ll get the power that comes from knowing how we can stop rising temperatures and – most important – what you can do.

What to Expect in Las Vegas

Every Climate Reality Leadership Corps training has three key areas: tools, know-how, and network.

Get the Knowledge to Act

On Day One, the first major session is the famous presentation from Vice President Gore, “The Climate Crisis and Its Solutions.” Expect a big-picture view of the science of climate change, what it’s doing to people all around the planet, and a look at the most critical solutions we have in our hands. If you’ve seen or heard about the Academy Award-winning film “An Inconvenient Truth,” you’ll recognize the signature style of accessible science and hope, just updated for 2022.

With this foundation to build on, the Las Vegas training then goes on to offer a series of panels, talks, and workshops exploring how climate change is remaking the Southwest and Mountain West. It’s a chance to get an in-depth understanding of what a warmer world means for your part of the world and learn how Native tribes, cities, and grassroots communities are leading the fight for a just transition to clean energy that can halt rising temperatures and build a better future for all of us.

Some standout speakers include:

Nikki Cooley – Diné (Navajo) Nation scientist and climate educator and co-manager of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals.
Crystal Huang – Grassroots community builder and co-founder and CEO worker owner of People Power Solar Cooperative.
Reverend Leonard B. Jackson – Longtime voice for truth and justice and executive director of the Faith Organizing Alliance.
Jonathan Scott – Author, designer, entrepreneur, renewable energy advocate and co-host/co-executive producer of Emmy-nominated series “Property Brothers: Forever Home.”

For a full rundown of themes, visit the Las Vegas training page here.

Get the Tools for Change

Learning about climate change and what it’ll take to stop rising temperatures and build the better future we want is just the first step.

Then it’s time to learn what you can do to help turn this vision into a reality. That’s why the training will feature a range of workshops designed to help you build or strengthen your skills in areas like digital communications, grassroots organizing, and coalition building.

When you’re done, you’ll have a clear sense of what it takes to effectively pull on the levers of power in critical sectors and how you can inspire action and pressure decision makers to act when it matters.

Get the Network to Win

This is a global challenge we’re facing after all. On our own, we can drive change. Together, we can change the world.

That’s why we build in extensive networking opportunities throughout the training to help you connect with like-minded activists and build relationships that will allow you to work together to shape policy, move communities, and accelerate just energy transition in your part of the world and all across it.

When you complete the training, you’ll join the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, a global community of over 42,000 change-makers from more than 170 countries worldwide. And with your ideas, your energy, your courage joining that number, just think what we can do together.

Here’s the Thing: Your Planet Needs You

If you’re reading this, you know how short the window we have is to stop global warming and prevent the worst of climate change. And you know it’s not just going to happen by itself.

So here’s where you come in. Apply to join us in Las Vegas and become a Climate Reality Leader fighting for the just climate solutions we know can turn the tide and open the door to a better future for all of us. This is your chance to make a difference when it really matters.

As we say, give us three days. We’ll give you the tools, know-how, and network to change the world.

The Climate Reality Project

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If you live in US Southwest or Mountain West and are concerned about climate change, our Las Vegas Climate Reality Leadership Corps training is for you.

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Leveling Up: How Video Games Are Inspiring a New Wave of Climate Activism

ipacha — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 22:22:20 +0000

By Lauren Bills

We all need a break from reality sometimes, right? Whether it’s curling up and disappearing into good book or binge watching every episode of “Bridgerton,” allowing our minds to escape from the often-harsh realities of our daily lives is a necessity.

For many individuals all over the world, there’s one method of digital escapism that’s been extremely popular throughout the years: video games.

Now we know you may be thinking- what do video games have to do with climate change? Hear us out.

The gaming industry has a tremendously wide reach, especially with younger generations. Just to note how massive the industry is, around the world, one-in-three people play video games.

With a reach like that, the gaming industry could become one of the biggest assets for climate organizations to inspire people and get them talking about the climate crisis.

The good news? That’s exactly what’s starting to happen.

Gaming for Global Change

The video game industry is not exactly an industry renowned for its sustainability and suffers – rightly or not – from more than a few negative associations.

In 2019, the industry saw an opportunity to rebrand and to do better and mean it.

It also knew it needed help. So that year, GRID-Arendal and Playmob formed an alliance with 30 Triple A companies and smaller gaming studios and joined forces with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to create the Playing for the Planet Alliance.

Two years on, the Alliance is making headway towards its goals of making the industry more sustainable, inspiring action, and exploring new approaches to video game storytelling, among others.

For example, in 2021 60% of the Alliance members committed to become net zero or negative by 2030. At least 14 new organizations joined the alliance and more are interested in joining this year.

Within the Alliance, an initiative was formed known as the Green Game Jam, which aims “to highlight to hundreds of millions of players worldwide the critical role of forests and oceans in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change.”

In 2o21, the Green Game Jam saw tremendous success in inspiring individuals to start taking action, with the first-ever video game climate walk and other actions that led to real life change.

The event helped establish two pledge campaigns focused on conserving and restoring forests and oceans all over the world. The first – Play4Forests –focuses on conserving and restoring forests in the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia.

The second – “Glowing, Glowing, Gone” – focuses on protecting coral reefs through climate and ocean action.

Both campaigns helped Green Game Jam attract a successful turnout for the year. And with the event leading to almost $800,000 in donations to charities, 266,000 trees planted and 60,000 pledges it’s easy to see how influential video games can be in translating action on the screen into action in real life.

The event also helped birth a new kind of audience – gamers for climate action.

So how did the games themselves feature climate actions? Let's take a look.

It’s Not Game Over Just Yet

One of the most renowned games to ever emerge in the gaming industry is Pac-Man. Since 1980, the game has been seen throughout numerous arcades, in households, and in 23 different game versions.

So, what if we told you that playing Pac-Man could help raise awareness for climate issues?

In the 2021 Green Game Jam, Bandai Namco Entertainment America became a part of the initiative and created the in-game event known as “PAC-MAN For the Planet.” The in-game event consisted of a forest-themed adventure mode where participants could unlock a new award for the event completion.

Numerous other games took on the challenge, incorporating in-game events that advocated for forest restoration or coral reef conservation.

Although 2021, was a pivotal year for the gaming industry and sustainability, 2022 could go even further.

Each company that was a part of the alliance in 2021 set goals for what they would strive to do in 2022. For example, Microsoft (Yep, Microsoft) has added new hardware and software features to monitor power use and increase energy efficiency in newer Xbox devices to help cut energy use and deliver on the company-wide goal of being carbon negative by 2030.

Another industry big name, Sony Interactive Entertainment, promised to use Playstation 4/ Playstation 5 platforms to inform and encourage gamers to support UNEP campaigns.

Not only are the companies adopting more sustainable practices within their business, they’re also encouraging their users to become climate advocates.

For example, this year Sony and Guerilla Games released the much-anticipated Horizon Forbidden West, a sequel to the wildly popular Horizon Zero Dawn. The main plot of the game is centered around the post- apocalyptic city of San Francisco in the year 3022.

The game highlights how humans and their lack of drive to protect the planet eventually led to their demise. However, Ben McCaw, the narrative director for the game says, “One of the things I love about both games is that they’re beautiful, but it’s not without sadness, and that’s the juxtaposition we really like."

Yes, the game lives in a post-apocalyptic landscape in the future, but it also indirectly pushes its users to think about climate and just how much humans impact our environment right now.

Plus, Sony announced that for each user that unlocks an in-game trophy by March 25, 2022, it will plant a tree with the Arbor Day Foundation, with the goal of planting 288,000 trees.

Gamer-Turned-Advocates Are the Future of Climate Action

In 2021, there was over 2.9 billion people who engaged with video games. This year, that number is projected to surpass 3 billion. With numbers like this, video games could have a critical role in inspiring climate action at a critical time for the planet.

Whether in climate-centered games or even general audience games, increasingly smart game designs are asking more and more players to think about the climate and how it’s impacting their lives.

And at a time when climate change is becoming a regular fact of life for most of us, this shift reflects how a new generation sees the issue as interwoven into every aspect of their lives. It’s the start of a much more diverse climate movement, one with the numbers to win and truly save the world for all of us.

To join our global movement of digital activists, sign up for our email list and get the latest on climate developments worldwide and how you can make a difference.

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Meet Sofía Hernández: A Youth Climate Activist Making a Difference in Costa Rica

ipacha — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:21:38 +0000

Each semester, Climate Reality welcomes a group of US-based college students and recent graduates interested in learning more about the climate movement to join our team as paid interns working with different teams across the organization. This spring, several worked together to develop the contribution below.

To help assuage general feelings of climate anxiety amongst the interns at Climate Reality (and surely greater society), we decided to sit down with youth activists fighting for climate and environmental justice to boost our hope and serotonin.

For us and many, the next generation of the climate movement is what makes us feel hopeful and inspired about our future amidst the climate crisis. Young people today are getting loud about demanding better for our future, holding world leaders accountable, and ushering in a just transition. We believe that these are the voices that just might be loud enough to shift this paradigm. So, we want to hear from them!

In March, we sat down with Sofía Hernández Salazar via Zoom in her home country of Costa Rica. Sofía’s activist work started with her involvement in Fridays for Future, a youth-led international movement consisting of students striking for immediate climate action. She is now focusing her time on social and environmental education within her community, and is also a trained Climate Reality Leader through the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training.

At 23 years old, Sofía is now completing her degree in political science at the University of Costa Rica and is in the midst of finalizing her thesis. She is currently doing an internship within the Costa Rican Congress, working alongside a political party to research the state of current regional commissions involving women's rights, environmental legislation, and other social justice initiatives.

Surrounded by a lush green backdrop and a cacophony of nature noises (including her very own chickens), Sofía spoke to us about the need for an intersectional climate movement, what she's watching for in local politics, and tips for other youth to get involved in the climate movement.

How did you become interested in climate activism?

Growing up in the countryside of Costa Rica, Sofía was raised with a strong environmentalist vision. "The environment takes care of us, so we should take care of the environment as well," Sofía said. This sentiment set the groundwork for Sofía's environmental awareness, which grew as she attended college and took classes on environmental policy. While writing a paper about social movements, she learned about Fridays for Future and its work bringing awareness to the climate crisis through global student strikes. This sparked Sofía's interest in the movement of young activists conferences and challenging world leaders. Sofía credits the combination of her upbringing and her academic studies in environmental policy as the catalyst for her work in climate action.

Who was a major influence in your climate activism?

The women in Sofía's family served as major influences in her awareness of environmental issues. Sofía also deeply admires Christiana Figueres, an internationally recognized leader on global climate change. Figueres is Costa Rican and served as the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016. Sofía looks towards Christiana as an example of someone who studied social sciences and used her skills to help construct the Paris Agreement of 2015. "If Christiana is able to accomplish all this, then I'm able to do this as well," Sofía says.
What are some of your proudest accomplishments in working towards climate justice?

In 2019, Sofía traveled to Madrid, Spain for the UN’s COP 25 climate conference, which as she remarks, was a huge statement in being able to represent her home country as a youth climate activist. Alongside the Costa Rican delegation, she was able to converse with global leaders and gain insight into negotiation tactics on an international scale. She notes the immense amount of privilege she felt in having the opportunity to have her voice be heard on such a large platform.

Sofía is currently working to have Congress pass a bill to ratify the Escazú Agreement, an international treaty signed on September 27, 2018 by 25 Latin American countries that establishes a framework for preserving the environment for current and future generations, particularly by including young people in climate-related matters. It is also a game-changing human rights initiative, outlining the protection of Indigenous environmental defenders, the rights of access to information, and the participation of stakeholders in environmental decision-making. Of the 24 signatories, only 12 have ratified. While their efforts are ongoing, "It is a huge accomplishment to be able to educate people and make them aware of how important and connected both human rights and climate are in our daily lives," she remarks.

What steps can youth take to make an impact and be taken seriously in the climate movement?

For youth, the climate movement can often be a challenging and intimidating space to break into. But at the age of 20, Sofía was already leaving her mark by acting as a delegate for her home country at COP 25. When asked what advice she had for others looking to forge a similar path, she noted the power in educating oneself and others on local initiatives. Talking to representatives, family members, friends, and community leaders are fundamental steps toward making an impact. There is gratification in working alongside frontline communities and for local legislation, as they can be the most accessible spaces for stakeholder participation.

She offers particularly hopeful advice for young climate enthusiasts: "In the climate or human rights movement, know that there is space for you. It doesn't matter what you are studying or your specific background. This is a complex cause that everyone can be a part of and make a difference in." Even the smallest of actions can lead to tangible results, she explains. You may not be actively passing a bill or collaborating with international entities, but know that your work to organize, raise awareness, and create information-sharing networks is vital to the health and prosperity of your community.

What are you most afraid of in regards to climate change?

Sofía's understanding on the climate crisis was put into perspective when she came across a video of polar bears in the Arctic. Seeing the effect of retreating sea ice on polar bears provided a clearer image of how climate change will continue to deteriorate social and environmental determinants of health – for both humans and nature.

Sofía fears the continuing destruction of precious land and nature. She notes the importance of Indigenous voices in innovative climate and health adaptation work. "I am not a part of the Indigenous community, but I know they are fighting for us." Her care for her climate change work stems from her human compassion and understanding that a large contribution of the climate crisis is due to destructive human activity.

How do you stay hopeful?

Sofia admits that with the worsening condition of the climate crisis, it's hard to stay optimistic. Every day, there are disheartening developments in the news. Watching as Indigenous communities suffer climate and environmental injustices while their knowledge disregarded is frustrating. Sofia believes in climate solutions that are informed by Indigenous peoples and their knowledge. By looking at these historic stewards of our planet, she sees hope.

When Sofia feels particularly bogged down, "I come here," she says as she points to her background in rural Costa Rica. Her uncle's home is surrounded by nature. We heard the chickens her family raises clucking behind her. In the countryside, she can stay away from social media and pay attention to the natural world. "If my family can live in balance in nature, why can't we do the same?"

What are you looking forward to in the future?

While the climate crisis has not subsided, Sofía has a lot she is looking forward to for future legislation and climate work. Within the recent Costa Rican elections, she is looking forward to continuing to advocate for strong climate work within the new administration. She emphasizes how work on the climate crisis begins in the election booths, as voting for leaders that represent citizens and their ideas is important toward making change happen.

She also is looking forward to the possibility of the ratification of the Escazú Agreement, as well as a bill that could potentially abolish fossil fuel exploration in the country as a whole. Outside of legislation, she hopes for more environmental practices to be established within Costa Rica. Sofía notes, "If you go into the cities, you see a lot of pollution and no green transportation." As a result, she is hoping for the establishment of more green initiatives within Costa Rica.

What role do you hope policy can play in furthering climate justice initiatives? What direction do you think Costa Rica is heading in in terms of addressing the climate crisis?

Sofía's confidence in the policy process and the impact that young people can have on it reinvigorates our faith in it. She reminds us of the importance of starting small by reaching out to your representatives in order to build larger connections with people in government. This allows policymakers to understand the importance of what we are fighting for — after all, they are there to represent us, she says.

Sofía credits the openness and transparency that she feels is present in Costa Rica for her trust in citizen-based climate action. She says she feels "heard" by policymakers, which motivates her to keep pushing to make an impact on public policy. The student climate movement can play an integral role in furthering policy, and has been one of many prominent and impactful social movements in Latin America.

In terms of how Costa Rica is doing with climate action, Sofía feels optimistic about the direction it’s heading in. Despite her time with Fridays for Future coming to a close, she is proud of the work it continues to do and is interested in exploring the different causes being taken care of by various groups across the country. Sofía is now working with GreenWolf Costa Rica, an inclusive, sustainable movement that seeks the socio-ecosystemic recovery of the country through action and intersectoral alliances.

Other organizations throughout Costa Rica are doing great work such as raising awareness with youth on the importance of voting for climate, abolishing exploration for fossil fuels in the country, and supporting Indigenous communities. Being an environmentalist is a part of what it means to be a Costa Rican, she says — it's in one's nature.

Where do you hope to see the climate movement in 10 years?

Over the next decade, Sofía wants to see the climate movement become more intersectional. She notes the challenging language barrier that many have to cross in order to communicate with others in different regions, and she wants to change that.

The current movement is heavily inaccessible for those who don't speak English, and she aspires to someday have a climate movement with diversified language. Sofía recognizes that it is a privilege for herself to speak English, and longs for her peers and others to be able to stand up and speak as well. She values inclusivity in the movement and wants it to become less centered around the Western world.

What is the best way for people to become engaged with the work you are doing?

Sofía encourages those interested in becoming more engaged to learn about the Escazú Agreement and the impact it has on protecting Indigenous communities and nature alike. She further urges individuals to educate themselves on the recent Costa Rican election, as it is proving to be a major turning point in the country's environmental policy making. With the recent election of Rodrigo Chaves as president, the future of the Escazú Agreement – as well as the country's long-term National Decarbonization Plan – remains uncertain.

Follow Sofía and her work on Instagram, @greenysofi.

Intern with Us

Are you a current college student or recent graduate in the US and interested in learning more about the climate movement? Climate Reality offers paid internships with teams from science and solutions to digital communications each semester. To learn more and apply, click here.

By Allyson Frantz, Stephanie Borcea, Kruttika Gopal, Sonam Tsering, Madrid Rodner

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If you need hope for our climate future, just listen to Sofía Hernández

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The IPCC Report Is What the World Needs to Hear Now

ipacha — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 15:38:35 +0000

There are moments when world events combine to rescue the truth of old lines from mere cliché.

The release of the latest landmark report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this week was one of them.

If you were to distill the thousands of pages of “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Working Group III Contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report” detailing our shrinking window to avert climate catastrophe into a single line , it would simply be this:

Timing is everything.

Everything, because the report delineates with clinical precision the steps to something like a livable future and exactly how much time the world has for each . (Spoiler alert: Less than we thought.)

But everything also, because at a moment when the human tragedy in Ukraine has forced a global conversation on fossil fuels and our energy future, the report is exactly what the world needs to hear right now.

Three Years to Turn the Corner on Fossil Fuels

The toplines of the report will not surprise anyone who’s been paying attention to the headlines on climate recently. In a nutshell, we have just three years – not decades – to reach the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions (aka “peak emissions”) planetwide before rapidly reducing fossil fuel use and reaching net-zero levels by 2050.

Three years, that is, to have any reasonable chance at holding global warming to something like 1.5 degrees Celsius, the danger line after which climate-fueled destruction threatens to go from “quite bad” to “downright Biblical” with projected human suffering growing exponentially with every fraction of a degree above 1.5.

The stakes are huge. Miss this goal and emissions keep rising, which the report estimates could lead to warming of 2.2–3.5 degrees (Celsius) by 2100.

Peaking Global Emissions: A Mountain to Climb

Needless to say, peaking global emissions in just three years is a tall order. One of almost Everest-like proportions.

Despite years of promises by the international community and the historic accomplishment of the Paris Agreement, the report authors underscore that global emissions continued to grow over the last decade from 2010–2019.

Perhaps most concerningly with respect to 2025, a recent study shows that the first and third-greatest polluting nations – China and India, respectively – both rose between from 2019–2021. China’s current Paris Agreement commitment calls for the country to peak emissions “before 2030” but doesn’t specify a year. India, meanwhile, doesn’t plan to peak emissions before 2040 at the earliest.

(To be clear, India and China are not the sole villains in the global emissions picture, as both are working to develop and pull millions out of poverty. The US and EU, for example, are in no position to throw stones.)

The result, the report notes is that: “Without a strengthening of policies beyond those that are implemented by the end of 2020, GHG emissions are projected to rise beyond 2025, leading to a median global warming of 3.2 [2.2 to 3.5] °C by 2100.”

In short, the world is not doing enough. Not nearly.

There Is Still a Path to a Better Future. Just.

There is an implicit note of hope here. For all the task of reaching net zero by 2050 is a huge one, we can still do it. But it’s going to take an unprecedented effort and we’re talking about making it by the proverbial skin of our 2050 teeth.

Much of the report is given to the steps we need to take quickly to accelerate just energy transition and social transformation. Some of the key takeaways here:

It’s going to take an all-of-society approach.
- “All global modelled pathways that limit warming to 1.5°C (>50%) with no or limited overshoot, and those that limit warming to 2°C (>67%) involve rapid and deep and in most cases immediate GHG emission reductions in all sectors.”
It’s going to mean shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy sources on a massive scale.
- “Modelled mitigation strategies to achieve these reductions include transitioning . . . to very low- or zero-carbon energy sources.”
Energy transition alone won’t be enough to hold warming to 1.5 degrees – we need carbon removal technology too.
- “[D]eploying carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods to counterbalance residual GHG emissions.”
Acting on climate and accelerating energy transition will make life better – and be cheaper than the alternative.
- “The global economic benefit of limiting warming to 2°C is reported to exceed the cost of mitigation in most of the assessed literature.”
Wealthy nations have to step up and support developing countries at much higher levels than are currently pledged.
- “Accelerated financial cooperation is a critical enabler of low-GHG and just transitions, and can address inequities in access to finance and the costs of, and vulnerability to, the impacts of climate change.”
The future of billions in developing nations depends on rapid energy transition and ambitious climate action.
- “There is a strong link between sustainable development, vulnerability and climate risks. Limited economic, social and institutional resources often result in high vulnerability and low adaptive capacity, especially in developing countries.”
Perhaps most important, many of the tools we need for rapid emissions cuts – from better use of land resources to improving demand and efficiency to effective electric vehicles – are in our hands today.

The Timing Matters

There was, of course, no way for the IPCC to know it would be releasing the report at a time when the war in Ukraine is the backdrop to almost everything. And when the world is grappling with the real and wide-ranging costs of fossil fuels like perhaps never before.

But that’s exactly what’s happened. Even before Russian tanks rolled across the border, the EU was working on a new energy strategy to wean the bloc off Russian gas within the decade and – critically – accelerate the pace of clean energy transition. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden told policymakers at a conference on February 19, “We are doubling down on renewables. This will increase Europe’s strategic independence.”

The war has – for Europe – added new urgency to this effort, with the EU now scrambling to cut its reliance on Russian gas by more than two-thirds this year. Meanwhile, in the US, President Biden has pointed to renewables as the path to not only providing true energy security and fighting global warming, but also protecting families from painful fuel prices.

What happens next and how quickly these statements turn into concrete policies is still an open question. Both the US and EU face real but solvable challenges to get to clean energy economies, and the Drill Baby Drill contingent in Congress is seizing every opportunity to argue for more of the same dirty energy that got us here in the first place.

With the world asking how can we keep the lights on without propping up murderous petro-state dictators and protect working families from crippling energy prices, the short-term strategy seems to be a lesser-of-two-evils approach, with Europe trying to trade Russian gas for US alternatives in a global game of energy musical chairs.

Long-term, simply trading one source of the same fossil fuels that got us here for another and expecting peace and democracy to flourish and low prices to return forever sounds a lot like the popular definition of insanity (i.e. doing the same thing twice and expecting different results). Vladimir Putin being far from the only petro-state dictator with a violent turn, and 2022 being not our first oil price spike rodeo.

Let’s be clear: this is a decision point, not just on how we heat our homes in 2022, but what the world looks like in 2052. And this is why the timing of the IPCC report matters, effectively reminding world leaders that responding to what Ukraine’s top climate scientist – and previous IPCC contributor – has called “a fossil fuel war” with more pipelines, terminals, and more is just an invitation to climate disaster: “The continued installation of unabated fossil fuel infrastructure will ‘lock-in’ GHG emissions (high confidence).”

The simple truth is that we cannot drill ourselves to safety or energy security. We cannot pretend the climate bill for doing so will not come due with devastating interest. The only path forward – for our families, our democracies, and our planet has to be to accelerate the just transition to clean energy already underway across the globe.

The stakes are clear. The steps we have to take – peak emissions by 2025 and rapidly reduce fossil fuels to reach net zero by 2050 – are too. It’s now or never. The timing of our collective response is everything.

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Five Women, Five Countries, Five Questions: Meet Climate Shero Nosiphelo Nikani

ipacha — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 16:00:36 +0000

Climate change disproportionately effects women all around the world, and everyday women are stepping up to act on climate to positively impact their communities.

For Women’s History Month, five incredible women Climate Reality Leaders across the world sat down to answer five questions about the interconnectedness of womanhood, the impact of the climate landscape, and their work within their communities.

Next up in the series is a phenomenal leader from Gauteng, South Africa!

Meet Nosiphelo Nikani

Nosiphelo passion and drive has gotten her where she is today. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, she has used her knowledge and life experience to make a difference.

She is extremely passionate about working with vulnerable groups to raise climate change awareness, promote sustainability, and tell stories from the ground. She is currently working as a Community Engagement Coordinator for the African Climate Reality Project

Nosiphelo has an ample number of years under her belt working with various environmental management and sustainability organizations, the urgency to fight the climate crisis is one of her biggest passions. Nosi is a dynamic climate leader, and a shero we need to build a better and sustainable climate future for all!

How did you get involved in the climate fight?

I have always been aware of general environmental issues like pollution since High School. One of my favorite subjects was geography but I did not have in-depth knowledge about climate change as it is not included in the curriculum.

I became fully aware of it post my studies, even though I was always surrounded by its impacts growing up. Through working with the African Climate Reality Project, I was able to fully immerse myself in this work to learn and understand it better.

How does your perspective and experience as a woman shape your work?

The fact that women are amongst the most vulnerable groups when it comes to climate change issues has made me want to help women tell their stories. I want to equip them with the knowledge and skills to be able to find solutions to issues they are faced with.

There are so many women who do great work on the ground, and they seldom get to tell their stories to bigger audiences and large platform. Highlighting these women in various ways has become something I am passionate about.

How have you seen climate change affect your life and your community?

Growing up I was surrounded by many impacts of climate change like droughts and floods. I thought that these were just normal struggles of life.

When I was still a toddler, I remember that my mom, together with other women would wake up at 4 am to go fetch water because we did not have enough water for the entire village - making a necessity like water not easy to access.

This led to poverty as agriculture was negatively affected. As a teenager, we would not have water for days and must travel long distances to fetch water.

I remember in 2018 when I was traveling to Durban and heavy rain started pouring which led to so many accidents on the road but that was only the beginning.

The rain continued for days and led to floods in KwaZulu-Natal. That resulted in a loss of lives and property - people are still trying to recover from that loss until this day. What is even sadder about this is the lack of awareness about the main cause of such issues.

What are the biggest challenges you've faced in your work?

Finding people with similar interests and passion can be difficult. However, once you have found these people, the realization that change does not happen overnight can be daunting and discouraging.

Policies take forever to change because policymakers don’t see the urgency of this work - which is very challenging. Also, celebrating small victories and trusting the process is not easy and can at times affect one’s mental health.

We hear more negative news than positive ones. These are some of the challenges we are faced with.

What advice would you give other women who want to make a difference like you?

I would say to them you need to believe in yourself and that you have what it takes to have a meaningful contribution to this work. Take it one-step at a time, find people with similar interests, and know that no action is too little.

We all contribute to the bigger picture every time we choose to act or have a say in decision-making processes, big or small.

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Five Women, Five Countries, Five Questions: Meet Climate Shero Claudia Mellado

ipacha — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 14:00:06 +0000

Climate change disproportionately effects women all around the world, and everyday women are stepping up to act on climate to positively impact their communities.

Last, but certainly not least in our amazing series is an outstanding leader from Chile.

Meet Claudia Mellado

Claudia is the co-founder of the Biodiversidad Alimentaria Chile Foundation. Inspiration for the foundation came from the history and spirit of her roots, the Mapuche people. The foundation seeks and recovers traditional seeds from Indigenous peoples. Each seed has transcended generations – they each have a story.

Mellado uses these stories of heritage and strength to cultivate each seed.

Through her work she is encouraging the sovereignty and security that allows people to feed themselves adequately. Her passion and love for her community and culture is what guides her journey forward. Her story is not only inspirational – it’s a testament of what you can achieve by finding where you fit into history.

How did you get involved in the activism against the climate crisis?

I am Mapuche, an Indigenous community which had, historically, fought for the defense of what we consider our mother: the land, nature that surrounds us. It was my grandparents who sowed their knowledge in my path, their dreams and love for the environment in which they grew up and lived until they left this energetic plane.

My grandmother's hands taught me about seeds, orchards, forest healing and colors to spin; my grandfather opened for me a world full of spirits and sentient beings, not only humans. That perfect synchronicity made me see the world like this, full of life and small moments that can change everything... like seeds.

The seeds were the ones that intertwined my path with my life partners, and we formed what today we call “Food Biodiversity,” a space where we dedicate ourselves exclusively to seeds with stories, inherited seeds, seeds that we call, "traditional." We search for them, identify them, sow, describe, multiply, and share them.

Along with traditional seeds, we gather inherited knowledge, knowledge in agriculture, medicine, food, and even the spirituality of Indigenous communities. In the seeds also live the memories of personal, family, and territorial stories that embellish hundreds of tales that give meaning and a deep love to the orchard. We are fortunate to fight for something that gives us back with so much tenderness and happiness in the seedbeds, the land and its people.

How does your work shape your perspective and experience as a woman?

The orchard is a space essentially cared for and inherited among women, from grandmothers, mothers, aunts, daughters, granddaughters; entire generations can be spun, particularly among Indigenous communities. There is care and tenderness and niceness among those who take care of an orchard, but also strength that forges the ground and character.

The heritage orchard with traditional seeds is a unique space. There is no traditional huertera (orchard woman) who does not recognize in their gardens a space of freedom, joy, companionship, and love. Because walking with our plants is to remember and honor the women who came before us, and those who generously are part of our current history.

All this synchrony between the heritage, history, dreams, desires, and loves that precede only strengthen a comparsa (group) walk, because it is not only me, but we are also many today, thousands before, and many more who will come to continue a web of life that feeds the body, the soul and provides healing and spirituality.

How have you seen climate change affect your life and your community?

Agriculture is precisely one of the most affected areas by climate change today. We have drought, but also water plundering due to the presence of forest and agricultural monocultures, which first devastated millenary native forests and today consume water without rest.

Depredation of our forests and wetlands are also synonymous with strong winds that dehydrate crops, unstable and extreme temperatures where plants often die or suffer serious effects for food production, also the increased presence of pests and sudden frosts, unbearable heat waves that generate forest fires every summer. Everything can be a great chaos, even more so if food is affected for our subsistence.

Fortunately, we have the answer in the same agriculture: Traditional seeds, those that spend 50 years in the territories; their presence has walked beside the crops of our ancestors, have already faced climatic changes throughout the history of mankind, thus possessing a unique adaptive capacity and are key to cope with climate change. That is why we always say that ANY SEED IS NOT THE SAME SEED. ·

What are the biggest challenges you have faced in your work?

In terms of climate: the drought. Our orchard seed is in a territory where water is scarce to the point of disappearing in summer, leaving the crops adrift. It is here where the traditional seed shows us its huge adaptation power, we have seen it survive even in forest fires. At the other extreme, we have frosts that can last more than seven hours. Even so, our orchard survives, providing food and stronger seeds every year.

Politically, the challenge is to face the existing denial. To accept that it is necessary to rescue, protect, and value our traditional seeds as the heritage treasure they are. Not to leave them at the mercy of biopiracy, but to seek the means to return them to the fields and hands of those who want to plant them. That is what we do in our foundation.

Socially, we are challenged by the lack of knowledge regarding the displacement and replacement of varieties, which is why traditional seeds are often forgotten and lost amidst confusion and substitution of knowledge. It is precisely one of our greatest achievements, that today in our country people talk about traditional seeds and recognize through our publications many varieties that were thought to be lost.

The challenges are diverse, but there is always a way to create. The traditional seed itself adapts and faces change, and so do we.

What advice would you give to other women who want to make a difference like you?

Dare to dream and create. With responsibility, honesty, and knowledge. We always need to risk swimming against the current, but it is also vital to have solid tools that strengthen the processes. That is why we must study content constantly, not only for the personal process, but also because we are part of a larger gear that we must strengthen.

May fear never paralyze us, rather stimulate us to forge new paths. We are the steps of thousands who came before us. Our ancestors always walk in our history. Their voices are eternal in the wind’s echo and their strength burns in our hearts. It is impossible not to act if we have the fervor of our blood running... We have never been alone, neither before, nor now.

---------------

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Each week of Women’s History Month, The Climate Reality Project is proud to feature a climate shero from around the world working to fight climate change and build a better community.

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https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/five-women-five-countries-five-questions-meet-climate-shero-claudia-mellado?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=general

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Five Women, Five Countries, Five Questions: Meet Climate Shero Claudia Mellado

Twitter URL:

https://bit.ly/3Labkoe