Climate Justice Topic-Specific Workshops -Spring

Completely new to climate justice and want to get your feet wet? Not new to the topic, but want to delve into a specific aspect of climate justice? If you answered yes to either of these questions, one or more two-hour climate justice workshops this Spring quarter may be for you! Climate justice is a multifaceted, dynamic, and evolving societal issue and each workshop features a different aspect of climate justice. During the first hour of each workshop, gather information from a presentation of a climate justice topic by a BC faculty expert.

For the second hour, participate in a semi-structured group brainstorming activity to generate ideas for how you can integrate climate justice into your courses. You will leave the workshop with an outline of a climate justice lesson for one of your courses and afterwards post a description of your lesson outline on a Canvas site to share with other participants in our workshop series.

Workshop 1 (April 23): How is extreme weather impacting people around the world today and how can past climate change help us understand our climate future?
Each year, more than two-thirds of the world’s population relies on summertime rainfall to sustain agriculture, the economy, and the socioeconomic welfare for billions of people. In recent decades, disrupted rainfall patterns and abnormally heavy rainfall have led to extreme heatwaves, droughts, and floods. As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to climb higher than they have been in the last two million years, vulnerable communities within Southeast Asia in particular face the challenge of adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change. This workshop will offer an introduction to some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and highlight how ancient records of past climate change can improve our understanding of what may be expected in the future.

Presenter: Jessica Wang, Earth and Space Sciences

Workshop 2 (May 7): What is the Paris Climate Accord and why is it important for the U.S. to rejoin?
One outcome of this year’s presidential election is that the U.S. will rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. But what makes the Paris Agreement important? What’s actually in the agreement? Does it ensure environmental justice for nations that contribute little to the causes of global warming, but face significant consequences from climate disruption? This workshop will offer foundational material on international climate agreements and explore the most significant elements of the Paris Climate Accord. Whether you’re an international affairs policy wonk or just passionate about climate justice, this workshop is for everyone!
Presenter: David Spataro, Political Science

Workshop 3 (May 21): What are the economic foundations for the Green New Deal, and what are the possibilities for achieving it?
The Green New Deal is a congressional resolution to mobilize every aspect of American society to 100% clean and renewable energy, guarantee living-wage jobs for anyone who needs one, and a just transition for both workers and frontline communities—all in the next 10 years. While disrupting the economy to address the climate crisis, the Green New Deal seeks to improve the economy by reducing racial and economic inequality and by investing in public resources.
Presenter: Tyler Saxon, Economics

Workshop 4 (June 4): You have the right to remain informed. What is Green Criminology and why is it gaining in popularity?
Green Criminology is a branch of Criminology that focuses on environmental harm and crimes, ecological justice, and the intersection between criminality and the law. This workshop will explore crime causality as it relates to crimes against nature, the evolution of crime-fighting strategies used to investigate and prosecute ecological crimes, and eco-philosophical approaches to working with offenders convicted of crimes against the environment. Green Criminology is critical for the survival of our planet and its concepts are applicable to a wide array of disciplines. Upon conclusion of this workshop, you will be paroled with new knowledge, insight, and teaching strategies to help promote ecological justice.
Presenter: Kelli Callahan, Criminal Justice and Psychology

Workshop 5 (May 14): What are the intersections between climate justice and human health?
This workshop will offer an overview of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Climate and Health Program, Social Determinants of Health, and the connections to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Teaching strategies implemented in nursing curriculum will be shared. The intersection between climate justice and human health can be integrated into disciplines beyond nursing, so join us if you want to explore a fit for your course!
Presenter: Teaessa Chism (Nursing)

Workshop 6 (June 18): The Last Snowman, the First Spring Flower, and Standing up to Rising Tides: Poetry and Climate Change
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you gave your students the tools to express their passions, fears, and anxieties about climate change through the medium of poetry? Find out in this workshop some possible avenues for introducing your students to the causes, effects and possible ways to ameliorate climate change, then have them imitate sample poems composed by some of our country’s most respected eco-poets, including Ada Limon, Craig Santos Perez, Camille Dungy, and Katherine Pierce. Topics to be covered include creating lively and worthwhile discussion questions, strategies for approaching the analysis of sample climate change poems, helpful ideas for facilitating the poem drafting/peer review process, and creating a journal entry that helps students reflect on their experience engaging with a difficult yet necessary and important subject.
Presenter: Martha Silano, English

Last Updated June 19, 2021