Making Climate Action Accessible to Everyone
As the globe hurdles towards another hottest year on record, a closer look at the data can leave even the most hopeful person anxious and pessimistic about our species’ ability to mitigate or adapt to the advancing climate crisis. Heat mapping dashboards on the front page of The New York Times paint a somewhat bleak picture with summer temperatures reaching as high as 125℉. Increasingly, large wildfires once thought to be unique events have become annual events and have escaped the traditional geographical boundaries of the Western US. “Once in a century” storms now seem a semi-regular occurrence. The age of the anthropocene crisis is upon us and it can be difficult to know if and how one can intervene in such a daunting and interconnected challenge.
In her new book, Climate Action for Busy People, DUSP alum Cate Mingoya-LaFortune (MCP ‘15) lays out a realistic yet hopeful guide to intervening in the climate crisis at the local level. With an eye towards environmental justice and community building, Mingoya-LaFortune draws from her experience as an urban planner, teacher, and community organizer to help readers keep their communities safer from the climate crisis. Roughly divided into three parts, the book makes the case that the most wise and lasting climate adaptation interventions must originate from those closest to the risk. The first section digs into federal and local history to explain why our communities look the way they do, with certain zip codes experiencing more climate risk than others. The second details what the individual can do with a handful of hours stolen from nights and weekends to keep their community safer from heat, flood, drought and poor air quality. The third is a guide to organizing and self-advocating at the hyper-local level for a more equitable distribution of climate adaptation resources.
“If you’re anxious, worried, or experiencing grief about the climate crisis, then you’re paying the right amount of attention. That said, we already have solid examples of how to protect ourselves from the impacts of the climate crisis,” says Mingoya-LaFortune. “Across the country organizations and individuals are deploying nature based solutions, leaning into their communities, and finding ways to survive and thrive in this global crisis. Climate Action for Busy People is for anyone who is worried about the climate crisis and wants to make a difference, but who has other responsibilities such as working, studying, or caring for loved ones. With small, hyper-local interventions, even the busiest among us can contribute to a safer future.”
Mingoya-LaFortune is a people-centered climate adaptation planner, community organizer, educator, parent, and cautious optimist. Raised in an environmental justice neighborhood, she is committed to furthering a future where all people live in clean, thriving communities. She received a BA in biology from Reed College, a Master of Science Education from CUNY Lehman, and a Master of City planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She currently serves as the Chief Officer of Climate Resilience and Land Use at Groundwork USA. She lives with her family and community in New England.
“I wrote Climate Action for Busy People to share what I’ve discovered in my fifteen years of people-centered community work: that positive change is already happening, and there are simple, concrete, quick ways to contribute to climate adaptation in your neighborhood. From clearing storm drains of debris, to adopting a local street tree, to advocating for green infrastructure, there are meaningful ways to contribute to your community’s health and safety that don’t require a whole lot of time, expertise, or money.”