Episode 12: Interview––Equity, Justice, & Climate Change

Forever Curious: An Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Podcast

In the first half of this episode, our host Charlene and Dr. Heather Price, Chemistry Faculty and Climate Scientist at North Seattle College and co-PI of a National Science Foundation Climate Justice in Undergraduate STEM Incorporating Civic Engagement (C-JUSTICE), discuss the arc of climate justice as a focus of climate activism and why people who are retired or heading into retirement should care about climate change.

Dr. Price explains that climate justice is both intra and inter-generational. Elders now, as part of the intra-generational equation, have significant power to alter the course of climate change by supporting organizations, letting elected officials know they care, and discussing climate change with friends and family.

To find ways to support both climate change and climate justice, Dr. Price suggests advocating for the electrification of systems and supporting organizations such as Front and Centered and 350 Seattle – two examples of climate activists who work on climate action through a lens of social justice.

In the second half of our episode, Dr. Price outlines actions individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint in daily life that address both climate change and climate justice, such as transportation choices, choosing different appliances, composting, supporting climate action litigation, and voicing support for improved building standards.

These actions support both an individual’s need for an improved climate as well as the collective needs of the rest of the world.

Dr. Price offers listeners a list of organizations that are taking on climate action and that listeners can learn from, get involved with, and support.

Dr. Price is a climate scientist, climate justice activist, chemistry professor and researcher. She did her postdoctoral research with the UW Program on Climate Change. Dr. Price’s current research focuses on improving undergraduate STEM education through the integration of climate justice, equity, and civic engagement across the college curriculum. She is co-founder of TalkClimate.org and on the leadership team for Seattle's 500 Women Scientists organization.

Links:

NSC Awarded $300,000 STEM Grant | News Center (northseattle.edu)

Climate Justice Project | North Seattle College

Heather Price, PhD | LinkedIn

Seattle 500 Women Scientists (sea500womensci.org)

Front and Centered

350seattle.org

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (wpsr.org)

Climate Changemakers

Juliana v. United States — Our Children's Trust (ourchildrenstrust.org)

Institutional Climate Action (ICA) - Action Network

Climate Action Families – Protect the People and Planet We Love!

This Is Zero Hour

Fridays For Future

Sunrise Movement - We Are The Climate Revolution

Talk Climate