Wallace J. Nichols – I Wish You Water

The cognitive and emotional benefits of healthy oceans and waterways have been celebrated through art, song, romance and poetry throughout human history. Marine biologist, activist, community organizer and author Wallace J. Nichols dives deeper and explore our blue minds through the dual lenses of evolutionary biology and cognitive science, reminding us that we are water.

This speech was given at the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.

Manuel Pastor – Movement Building for the Next America

Facing rapidly changing demographics, growing inequality and increased political polarization in the U.S., movement builders are grappling with creating new cross-generational ties and a new understanding of the relationship between equity and economic growth. How do we build movements based on vision and values, not interests and transactions? Manuel Pastor is Professor of American Studies & Ethnicity at USC, and founding Director of the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community at UC Santa Cruz. He directs the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity, and co-directs USC’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration.

This speech was given at the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.

 

Wade Crowfoot – California Climate Leadership

In 2007, California took the landmark step of putting into law the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Now poised to easily meet this goal, join Wade Crowfoot, Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Senior Advisor to California Governor Jerry Brown, for the inside track on how the state intends to significantly ramp up efforts to achieve 80% reductions in emissions by 2050. Presently advising policy including transportation, infrastructure and drought, Wade Crowfoot’s previous positions include: West Coast Regional Director for the Environmental Defense Fund, and Environmental Advisor and Director of Governmental Affairs for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

This speech was part of the 2014 California Climate Leadership Intensive hosted by Bioneers as a supplement to the Bioneers 2014 Annual Conference.

Paul Hawken – Project Drawdown

Providing key context and framing for the important race to ‘drawdown’ greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, legendary author and entrepreneur Paul Hawken outlines Project Drawdown: a book, a digital platform, and open-source database. Through measuring the beneficial financial, social and environmental impact that ‘state-of-the-shelf’ solutions can deliver, Project Drawdown shows the world that if it’s happening, it’s possible.

This speech was given at the California Climate Leadership Intensive, hosted by Bioneers as a supplement to the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.

 

Tom Hayden – California Climate Leadership

In the absence of federal climate leadership, California has been a crucial player in developing and implementing a broad suite of clean energy and low-carbon incentives and policies, while maintaining a fairly robust economy and green jobs creation. Tom Hayden outlines just how far down the path California is, how the state’s influence is being felt nationally and globally, and where we can go from here. Hayden, one of the leading figures of the student, civil rights, anti-war and environmental movements of the 1960s, went on to serve 18 years in the California legislature, where he chaired labor, higher education and natural resources committees. Director of the Peace and Justice Resource Center, he continues to be a leading voice for peace.

This speech was given at the California Climate Leadership Intensive, which was hosted by Bioneers as a supplement to the Bioneers 2014 Annual Conference.

 

Vien Truong – California Climate Leadership

To make real progress on climate change, we need a true collaborative movement, reaching across race, class and ethnic divisions. In California, where 73% of those under 18 years old are people of color, Vien Truong walks us through practical examples and models of what success looks like – and what it’s going to take to build this movement. Truong, Environmental Equity Director at the Greenlining Institute, works with the state legislature, California Public Utilities Commission, and in localities around the state to create solutions for poverty and pollution.

This speech was given at the 2014 California Climate Leadership Intensive, hosted by Bioneers, which took place as a supplement to the 2014 Bioneers Annual Conference.

 

Bernadette del Chiaro – Building the Yes

With California on track to hit roughly 2 million solar roofs by 2020, the leadership, policy initiatives and employment growth coming from the solar energy industry may well carry the day as we move towards a clean energy future. Join Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director of the California Solar Energy Industry Association, to find out just how far we’ve come and where the state and field are poised to go. Del Chiaro, formerly Director of Clean Energy and Global Warming Programs at Environment California, was the lead advocate of the Million Solar Roofs campaign and has worked on numerous clean energy bills and initiatives throughout her seventeen-year career.

This speech was given at the California Climate Leadership Intensive, hosted by Bioneers as a supplement to the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.

 

Panel – The California Model: Successes & Challenges

What is the “California Model”? Where are the unique leading edges and movements? Leading student, labor and advocacy representatives walk us through California’s efforts from their perspectives.

Moderated by Tom Hayden, Peace and Justice Resource Center with:
Katie Hoffman, Campaign Director, California Student Sustainability Alliance
Ross Nakasone, California Policy Organizer, BlueGreen Alliance
Dan Jacobson, Legislative Director, Environment California

This panel discussion was part of the California Climate Leadership Intensive hosted by Bioneers, a supplement to the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.

Subnational Action: How Cities, States & Regions Can Lead

This conversation features four leading players sharing practical models of the burgeoning work underway at the sub-national level to solve the climate crisis.
Moderated by journalist Mark Hertsgaard with:

Andy Lipkis, President, TreePeople
Ann Notthoff, California Advocacy Director, NRDC
V. John White, Executive Director, Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technologies
Wade Crowfoot, Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Senior Advisor to California Governor Brown

This panel discussion was part of the California Climate Leadership Intensive, hosted by Bioneers as a supplement to the the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.

Arsenio Mataka – California Climate Leadership

Introduction by Tom Hayden. The stratification of American society, along racial and economic lines, is built into the distribution of pollution. How is the movement towards clean energy and a low-carbon economy dovetailing with climate justice and the efforts of frontline communities? Arsenio Mataka, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs for CalEPA, walks us through the state of the state and provides key recommendations for forward progress. Prior to CalEPA, Arsenio served as directing attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. from 2010-2012, were he fought for justice alongside some of the most exploited communities in our society.

This speech was given at the California Climate Leadership Intensive, hosted by Bioneers as a supplement to the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.

 

Tom Hayden – California Climate Leadership Closing

What will it take for people to move beyond ideology towards a comprehensive solution to the climate crisis? Drawing on the historical lead-up to the New Deal, Tom Hayden pulls from the public and the personal to sketch a new story for our time.

Tom Hayden was one of the leading figures of the student, civil rights, anti-war and environmental movements of the 1960s, went on to serve 18 years in the California legislature, where he chaired labor, higher education and natural resources committees. Following his legislative career, he directed the Peace and Justice Resource Center where he continued to be a leading voice for peace.

This speech was given at the California Climate Leadership Intensive, hosted by Bioneers as a supplement to the 2014 Bioneers National Conference.