As climate breakdown escalates, communities are increasingly realizing that climate action and resilience have as much to do with actual ecological boundaries as with political boundaries on a map. The truth is that communities are defined by their local watersheds, food sheds and energy sheds – as well as culture sheds. These ecological maps will increasingly redefine political maps that can engender meaningful strategic collective action. How do bioregional perspectives translate into political action? How can we build political-ecological alliances for climate action that address urgent bioregional realities and needs? This visionary group of leading-edge climate action organizers illuminate multiple pathways for addressing both practical climate actions and emerging forms of eco-governance that center equity and justice.

With global Indigenous climate leader Eriel Deranger; leading Rights of Nature attorney Thomas Linzey; climate justice organizer and lawyer Colette Pichon Battle, whose Taproot Earth nonprofit works in the Gulf South and Appalachia; and OneEarth founder Justin Winters whose science-based climate solutions framework focuses on renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and land and biodiversity conservation.

This conversation took place at the Bioneers 2025 Conference. You can experience more of the amazing keynote talks, conversations and performances here. (photo: Boris Zharkov Photography)