Your monthly dose of
good news
about climate change.
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On May 30 last year, we launched Harvard C-CHANGE under the leadership of former EPA Chief Gina McCarthy. In this issue, we look back at a year of climate action and share some of the reasons why we are proud of the progress that we and many others are making, and why we are excited for what comes next.
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Gina's reflections on a year of climate action,
here and around the world.
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“
We will not rest until each and every one of you gets engaged and active.
Our kids are counting on us.
”
—Gina McCarthy, Director Harvard C-CHANGE
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Climate Action To-Do List
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Start a conversation on climate
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We don't ask for much. But, it
is
our birthday, so can you do us a favor? Have a conversation about climate change.
Airing our fears and hearing the concerns of others is the first step in becoming a change maker, because we can plan together how to tackle the problem. Many of us are trying to quietly manage our own anxieties, but imagine if you discovered that your friends, colleagues, and neighbors were feeling the same way? You could learn what they are doing to act on climate to spark ideas of your own.
It all comes down to doing what feels good, and action is a powerful antidote to despair. Plus, freedom from despair leads to more action! This two-fer can only lead to cleaner, healthier lives for our kids and their kids, so let's get started.
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Conversation starters: Top 5 must-reads
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Kids, it’s time to give your parents 'the talk.' Not that one, the one on climate change.
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Beginning the climate conversation: A family's guide
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Grist broke down what climate change will do to the U.S., region by region. Icebreakers, anyone?
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Why The Guardian is changing the language it uses about the environment
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Our Co-Director Aaron Bernstein shares tips if you run into someone who doesn't believe science.
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Great news about the news
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Reporters are making climate change personal ...
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It's not about glaciers and polar bears—the climate conversation must focus on how climate changes health, and we need the media to write stories about how what's at stake and what we can do about it. That's why we've joined forces with journalism associations, networks, and schools to help reporters who don't usually write about climate understand how it is relevant to their beat.
We've worked with the MIT Knight School of Journalism, Association of Health Care Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation's Health Coverage Fellowship. In the coming year, we look forward to working with Report for America, Northeastern's School of Journalism, and joining the Kavli Science Editing Workshops and Online News Association Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA.
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... and it's working. The public is feeling the heat.
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Historically, climate change has been a low priority for Americans. But public opinion is shifting. Americans are feeling the effects of climate change now. The percentage of registered voters who say climate change is important to them personally is at a record high of 72% as of December 2018, and increased 9% in the last year, according to surveys by Yale University and George Mason University. The research showed that 75% of those surveyed believe climate change is happening, and nearly two-thirds understand it is caused mostly by human activities.
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Knowledge is power! It's time to get busy.
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If you're among the 81% who feel personally affected, and you're ready to do something:
- Boil water more efficiently
- Share these 36 tips for a healthier home
- If you live in the Boston area, take this survey on climate change concerns
- Tell a friend to subscribe to The Climate Optimist!
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Bringing our mission to life
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This year we've been raising awareness of the health impacts of climate change, turning evidence into action, and making climate change personal. It's working. Here are few highlights:
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Guiding policy on kids and climate
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Our Co-Director Dr. Aaron Bernstein told Congress that reliance on fossil fuels is damaging the health of children around the world.
"I have cared for children with asthma whose lungs have been so damaged by contaminated air that they were scarcely able to breathe."
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Translating science to action
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Evidence:
We conducted a just-in-time analysis of the Trump Administration’s plan to replace EPA’s Clean Power Plan—an action that will raise emissions and kill more people. The plan is worse for climate and health than having no plan at all.
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Saying 'no' to attacks on science
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Our Co-director Aaron Bernstein joined nearly 100 Harvard leaders in signing a letter calling on the EPA to withdraw its proposed rule on scientific "transparency," because it would harm human health.
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Here's a look back at some of our favorite moments when Gina inspired us to stop watching the news, get up, and do something.
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"The good news is we have solutions to shift away from carbon pollution and move towards clean energy and cleaner communities."
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"[The midterm election winners] actually ran on a climate agenda and won. So don’t tell me we are losing. We are not losing. We’ll only lose if we lose hope. We’ll only lose if we fail to listen to our own inner self telling us that we’re better than this."
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"I've never convinced anyone to take action unless I made it real to them—not just about tomorrow, but about their kids and their kids' future today."
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