Center for Civic Engagement, Bard Office of Sustainability, Bard MBA in Sustainability, and Bard Center for Environmental Policy present

Virtual Teach-in on Climate Solutions and Justice

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

The Virtual Teach-in on Climate Solutions and Justice: On April 7, university and high school students across the nation, along with faith and community groups, will tune into 55 simultaneous, university-hosted state-wide webinars on an issue critical to their future: how ambitious state and local action can put us on the way to solving climate change by 2030. Coordinated by the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, faculty across the country, and across disciplines, will assign these webinars as homework, using them as a springboard for discussing climate solutions and energy justice. Learn more and watch the Instagram video here.

Find Your State's Teach-in

Note: Recorded versions of the webinars will be available for teachers from high schools, colleges, and universities to #MakeClimateaClass during April or May. 

New York State Coordinated Conversation to Solve Climate by 2030

6:00 - 7:00 pm Climate Solutions Panel Webinar (click for details)
What are the most effective yet feasible climate solutions we can enact in our state? What can students do to help “move the needle” on climate change?  How is climate justice being addressed?

Our panelists will include: Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Director of the NYS Office of Climate Change Maureen Leddy and Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York Anne Reynolds.

Localized Action

April EcoChallenge: Global Change on a Human Scale
Maximize engagement and impact in the Bard community with a 30-day effort
Join Bard's community-facing team for this 30-day challenge. You can commit to daily actions that will make you feel better and help ensure our community can thrive, especially in these most difficult times. Connect the dots between your actions and our collective impact to create more environmental and social good.

Team Name: BARD COLLEGE NETWORK, FRIENDS AND FAMILY
https://earthday.ecochallenge.org/about/event-info


New York State Virtual Teach-in Agenda

  • Hello and viewing the national video (Preview this video)
  • Opening statement from panelists
  • Panelist response to the first question: What one specific action embedded in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act do you see as the most ambitious yet feasible to implement?
  • Second question: What role can students play in advocating for climate solutions? Do you have any specific suggested actions?
  • Third question: What do you view as the most pressing climate justice issues in our state and how does the CLCPA address them?
  • Participants in the live event can type additional questions into the chat box during the event.
  • Getting inspiration on student action from Bard's example. We will show a video prepared by Bard students. (Preview this video)
  • Discussion about next steps for student actions as well as the overarching global goals
  • Wrap up

For those incorporating this event for a class:

You might wish to brief your participants on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act prior to the event. If you'd like, we have created this brief power point primer.

After the webinar, we encourage you to create a follow up conversation focusing on what your organization's members/students can do to address the climate emergency, both as an individual and as an advocate for structural change. We've created a sample future visioning activity below that you can feel free to use or adapt to your needs.

Visioning exercise:
Divide the class into groups of 3-5 students and have them envision their community in 2030. The group should write up a description of their vision and create a list of the facilities, infrastructures, policies, services, etc, needed to enact to reach the vision. As an optional element, the groups could identify how the UN Global Goals are incorporated into their visions. E.g if students have incorporated renewable energy/solar panels in their vision, they would identify Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy. The group then develops a visual that illustrates the vision (i.e. power point, flier, piktochart, etc) Or have them create a PechaKucha (20 images, 20 seconds each)

After groups have developed their vision and designs, they can be shared on-line for viewing. We have created a depository folder here or email them to [email protected]. As instructors, we can ask some questions about any of the element they might have missed. For example usually students think first about the practicalities of designing a country e.g water sources and schools. Use this opportunity to ask questions that will promote deeper thinking from students on issues surround inclusion and community - e.g What in their vision promotes health and well-being? How will they make sure that they are designing a vision/infrastructure/policies where everyone is included? How will they ensure that the nature is protected?

(note: lesson adapted from What World Do you Want in 2030)

Email any questions to [email protected]

For more information, call 845-464-8025, e-mail [email protected],
or visit https://www.solveclimateby2030.org/.

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