There is an internet meme that has been circulating since shortly after Trump’s inauguration that says something to the effect of, “First they came for the scientists.” and how the dystopian novels had not prepared the public that The Resistance would be led by park rangers. The attack on science has indeed started but real hope still exists. In California, scientists, policymakers and educators are not going quietly. There is a growing number of individuals that are coming together to protect our planet. The Governor’s California Climate Change Symposium 2017 (#CCCS2017) was evidence of that as was a Los Angeles Congresswoman’s event just after the conference.
On January 26-27 #CCCS2017 started as a “Resistance Planning Party” right out of the gate. John Laird, the California Secretary of Natural Resources immediately let us know that we would be hearing real, and not alternative facts throughout the conference. (In fact, nearly every speaker mocked the notion of alternative facts.) He noted, "Things are changing right in front of our eyes. Climate change impacts are being experienced now." It set the tone for the entire conference that this was not a business-as-usual science/government event. As the day went on it was abundantly clear that the unspoken rule of not talking politics was out. Each panel and speaker not only hinted at, but outright said that they would not succumb to the current administration’s views on climate nor would they allow anyone to silence the truth. It was refreshing to be able to speak freely with so many like-minded people. I truly hope that everyone sticks to their convictions for the sake of our planet.
The highlight of the two day event was definitely the talk given by Betty Yee, California Controller. She reminded the audience what a powerful economy California is (5th or 6th in the world, depending on the source) and reiterated that we would not go quietly along with federal policy that went against the core of our values. "Our state policies work because they are based on robust science and stakeholder engagement." She echoed the fiery ideals that Governor Brown had given in an address just days before. With every word of her speech, I felt the entire audience uplifting until the end, which culminated in a well-deserved standing ovation for her. The Resistance had been fueled up and is ready to defend the environment.
Controller Yee would be a hard speaker to follow, but the rest of the day proved to be just as powerful with speakers from around the state and world. You can find all of the topics here. “We're rapidly running out of time for advance notice for planning and decisions.” noted one. The event concluded with a keynote from Montserrat Regalado, Coordinator of Sister Cities and International Cooperation, State of Jalisco, Mexico and Glenn Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Ontario, Canada. In attendance were the most conference-goers that I have ever remembered seeing at the end of an event. Generally the crowd thins as the day progresses but not this time. We have too much important work to do. Minister Murray gave us more hope when he told us that they, Canada, had been through a major environmental crisis in the past. They had elected a destructive administration but because of those dark times they had come out with a better and more resilient outlook and policy around climate change. That new outlook was strong and had already made measurable progress.
Another hopeful note about attendees was the gender ratio. While the speaker lineup was slightly more skewed to male, there was a larger representation of women and those in attendance were at least half, if not more, women. The organizers of the conference made an effort to represent all of California and give a global perspective. Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the Resources Legacy Fund, smaller companies and organizations that are working on a better climate were able to attend (like El Porto Shark!)
The day after returning from this inspiring event, Congresswoman Karen Bass held an event in South Los Angeles. The topic, Climate Change in the New Administration: Why South LA Should Care focused on environmental justice, heat islands, pollution in lower-income neighborhoods and more. It was a diverse a group as it was large with scientists, environmental activists, clergy, business, educators, and the public (see bottom right photo in collage above). All speakers reiterated much of what I had just experienced in Sacramento and Angelinos are ready to fight for the environment. I am fortunate to have been able to attend both of these and so grateful as it reminds me why I do what I do every day in the fight for shark and ocean conservation. The big picture...a healthy planet for all of us!
Check out the #CCCS2017 Storify recap here. Following are a few of my favorite tweets from #CCCS2017 and the meeting with Congresswoman Karen Bass.
