The Climate Crisis Affects Us All. The Response Must Ultimately Include Us All.
Bioneers | Published: May 8, 2025 Eco-NomicsJustice Article
The devastating storms, droughts, wildfires and heatwaves we’re experiencing with increased frequency and ferocity aren’t just environmental issues, they’re human ones. They’re reshaping the places we call home, the systems we rely on, and the futures we imagine. While these impacts don’t fall equally, in the long run, none of us will be untouched.
In a time when division is actively stoked — by media, by politics, by fear — the path forward must be collective. That doesn’t mean erasing our differences. It means finding ways to work together across them, to build coalitions rooted in justice, care, and a shared commitment to survival.
The perspectives below offer powerful insights into how we begin to do that. Colette Pichon Battle speaks to the leadership and wisdom of frontline communities; Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous explores the transformational potential of a green economy; and civil rights scholar john a. powell explains how the concept of “bridging” can create curiosity and understanding.
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Colette Pichon Battle – The 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
As the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, long-time, award-winning Environmental Justice litigator and activist Colette Pichon Battle reminds us of the powerful lessons from the storm and its aftermath. In her impassioned presentation, Pichon Battle, a generational native of Bayou Liberty, Louisiana, lays bare the nation’s racism, neglect of disenfranchised communities and environmental mismanagement — and the need to follow the lead of the frontline communities as we address the climate crisis. She encourages us all to participate in whatever way we can in the major events commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina this August to help mobilize and redouble our efforts for Climate Justice.
Ben Jealous – A Green Economy Lifts All Boats
The renowned civil rights and environmental leader Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, examines how the green economy is driving job creation and transforming industries, including renewable energy and electric vehicles. Jealous, former President of the NAACP and People for the American Way, debunks myths that the transition will lead to job losses or take too long, instead showcasing how innovation is fueling economic growth. He underscores how the green economy is reshaping industries, improving workforce opportunities, and enhancing public health outcomes.
john a. powell Discusses the Power of Bridging for a Fractured World
How do we create connection in a world where political forces profit from division, and “belonging” feels, for many, like a distant ideal? In this thought-provoking conversation, civil rights scholar john a. powell discusses how the concept of “bridging” can create curiosity and understanding when authoritarian political leaders are increasingly seeking the opposite. Instead of “othering,” which frames people as threats, or “breaking,” which excludes them, powell discusses how bridging can help us better communicate and create a world where we all belong.
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- Biomimicry for Social Innovation: Nature’s Lessons for Movement Leaders | May 13-June 3, 2025 | This four-week experiential course reveals how biomimicry—a practice that draws on the genius of ecosystems—can inform leadership, partnership building, and decision-making for lasting, regenerative change.
- The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times | Self-Paced | Discover how the Four Sacred Gifts of forgiving the unforgivable, unity, healing, and hope in action provide us with a path to our most grounded, loving, healed, and generous selves.
- Regenerative Agriculture: Nourishing the Soil, Healing the Planet | Self-Paced | Be enlightened on the practical applications and impressive potential that regenerative agriculture has to revive healthy landscapes; contribute to human and animal health; create an equitable food system; and help heal the climate.
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- From Reactivity to Resilience: Responsive Leadership and Fractals of Healing | Sept 13-Oct 18, 2025 | Grounded in ReParentive® Therapy, this six-week interactive course explores how healing intergenerational trauma ripples outward to inspire change in relationships, communities, and systems. You will explore practical tools to regulate your nervous system, heal trauma, and discover how to lead from an embodied, authentic place.
- Putting Biomimicry Into Action in Your Profession and Life | Oct. 9-30, 2025 | Led by Andrew Howley, Chief Editor of the Biomimicry Institute, this four-week interactive course will equip you with the tools to reframe challenges through nature’s lens and turn inspired ideas into action.