Saving Ourselves: Climate Action and Activism with Dana R. Fisher

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Hi everyone, Tom Raftery here, and welcome back to another episode of the Climate Confident podcast. This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dana R. Fisher, director of the Centre for Environment, Community, and Equity at American University and author of the new book, Saving Ourselves - From Climate Shocks to Climate Action.
Dana brings 25 years of research on climate policymaking and activism to our conversation, providing valuable insights into the current state of the climate crisis. We delved into the evolution of climate policy, from the early days of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to the latest efforts like the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States. Dana offers a candid assessment of these policies, highlighting both successes and significant gaps.
A major theme of our discussion is the crucial role of activism. Dana underscores that meaningful change often requires grassroots movements to hold policymakers accountable. We explored various forms of climate activism, from local community actions to more radical tactics like civil disobedience. Interestingly, Dana's research suggests that even controversial actions, such as throwing soup at paintings or blocking traffic, can effectively draw media attention and pressure policymakers when part of a broader strategy.
We also touched on the importance of building community resilience. As climate shocks become more frequent and severe, Dana emphasises that local communities must prepare to support each other in times of crisis. This involves not only physical infrastructure but also fostering social cohesion.
Towards the end of our conversation, Dana offers practical advice for anyone looking to get involved in climate activism, stressing the need for solidarity across movements and the potential impact of nonviolent resistance. We also discussed the upcoming COP 29 climate negotiations and the controversial involvement of a fossil fuel executive in leading these talks.
I hope you find this episode as insightful and thought-provoking as I did.
Thanks for listening, and stay climate confident!
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Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Chapters

1. Saving Ourselves: Climate Action and Activism with Dana R. Fisher (00:00:00)

2. [Ad] What If? So What? (00:24:19)

3. (Cont.) Saving Ourselves: Climate Action and Activism with Dana R. Fisher (00:24:20)