The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.
It’s been five years since the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice program launched, and at a recent retreat gathering the leadership team reflected on what we’ve learned and what environmental issues we’re watching closely as we near 2025.
The Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast is a biweekly podcast featuring the stories and big ideas from past and present fellows, as well as others in the field. You can see all of the past episodes here.
Listen below to our discussion and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes or Spotify.
The Arctic’s rapid warming and melting sea ice mirror past climate crises but at an unprecedented pace, reshaping ecosystems, threatening coastal cities, and disrupting global climate systems.
The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet, with summer sea ice projected to disappear by the 2030s without major emissions cuts.
Past Arctic conditions reveal that higher global temperatures led to lush forests, mass extinctions and sea levels up to 200 feet higher than today, threatening modern cities like Miami and New Orleans.
Melting permafrost and ice are releasing greenhouse gases, triggering wildfires and exposing dormant threats like ancient viruses, compounding the environmental crisis.
Key quote:
“This change is so rapid that, from our geological experience, it’s faster than anything that we’ve ever experienced.”
Nostalgia-driven trends like Y2K gadgets, retro fashion and old toys are resurging, driven by climate anxiety and a longing for stability.
Experts say this “nostalgiacore” offers emotional refuge, with tactile items and familiar aesthetics easing the psychological toll of crises.
However, the commodification of nostalgia risks perpetuating environmental harm through overconsumption and fast fashion.
Key quote:
“Whether people are doing it consciously or unconsciously, [nostalgiacore] is partly a form of yearning for temporary relief from the affective experience of living in dangerous and complicated times.”
— Britt Wray, director of Stanford’s CIRCLE initiative.
Why this matters:
Nostalgiacore reflects how climate anxiety affects mental health, especially for younger generations. This isn’t your average throwback—think of it as a cultural Band-Aid for the existential dread of the climate crisis. But here’s the kicker: while it might ease some mental stress, the trend can also fuel excessive consumption. It’s a bittersweet loop: a yearning for a simpler time, colliding with the modern challenges of sustainability. Read more: Paul R. Ehrlich: A pandemic, planetary reckoning, and a path forward.
A long-running effort to streamline the approval process for energy projects has stalled after bipartisan talks fell apart, with Senate leaders blaming House Republicans.
Senators Joe Manchin and Tom Carper announced Monday that bipartisan efforts to pass permitting reform failed, with both leaders criticizing House GOP leadership for walking away from negotiations.
Republicans sought to fast-track fossil fuel projects and limit lawsuits, while Democrats pushed to accelerate clean energy infrastructure. Some Democrats opposed the deal, citing environmental risks.
With GOP control of Congress and the White House on the horizon, Republicans aim to pursue broader reforms next year, but passing major changes may still face Senate hurdles.
Key quote:
“It’s a shame that our country is losing this monumental opportunity to advance the commonsense, bipartisan permitting reform bill.”
— Joe Manchin, Senator (I-W.Va.)
Why this matters:
For climate-conscious advocates and policymakers, the stalemate stings. Building out wind, solar, and battery projects at scale requires cutting through the same permitting red tape that stalls oil pipelines. Meanwhile, energy projects, clean or dirty, remain mired in the same bureaucratic entanglements. Read more: Donald Trump wins US presidency. What that could mean for the environment.
Trump has historically rolled back environmental policies, undermined science-based guidance promoted misinformation.
Researchers worry that future federal grants might exclude terms like “climate change” or “diversity” to avoid political scrutiny.
Concerns about losing access to federal datasets and reduced transparency may hinder critical research.
Key quote:
“Trump has basically said he is waging war on science and scientists.”
— Jennifer Jones, director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists
Why this matters:
A second Trump presidency could jeopardize scientific progress by cutting funding, limiting research on climate change driving experts out of the field. Such setbacks may impair efforts to address environmental challenges and protect public health.
Stephanie Carrie leads tree tours across Los Angeles to raise awareness about the city’s canopy, its environmental benefits the need for equitable tree distribution.
Stephanie Carrie uses her Instagram account, Trees of LA walking tours to teach residents about LA’s urban forest and the importance of tree diversity.
Many palm trees planted in the 1930s are nearing the end of their lifespan, prompting calls to replace them with drought-tolerant species.
LA’s Green New Deal aims to increase canopy cover in underserved neighborhoods, addressing tree inequity and its ties to environmental justice.
Key quote:
“It’s important to work with communities rather than just coming in and having strangers planting a bunch of trees.”
— Stephanie Carrie, tree advocate
Why this matters:
Urban trees mitigate heat, clean the air support mental health, but many low-income neighborhoods lack sufficient canopy cover. Addressing tree inequity helps combat climate change while improving residents’ quality of life.
A Russian tanker broke apart and sank in the Black Sea during a storm, spilling thousands of tons of oil, while a second tanker ran aground nearby, raising concerns of environmental damage.
The Volgoneft-212 tanker carrying 4,300 tonnes of heavy fuel oil broke in half off Crimea's coast amid severe weather.
One crew member died, while 12 others were rescued, and a second tanker, Volgoneft-239, carrying 4 tons of fuel oil ran aground.
Ukrainian officials blamed Russia for negligence, citing the tankers' age and the storm’s intensity.
Key quote:
“These are quite old Russian tankers. You can’t go to sea in such a storm.”
— Dmytro Pletenchuk, Ukraine navy spokesperson
Why this matters:
The oil spill threatens the Black Sea’s fragile marine life, already harmed by ongoing military conflict. Aging infrastructure and reckless operations pose long-term environmental risks in the region.
Legal and industry experts say there are uncertainties about the future of hydrogen hubs, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s clean energy push.
A massive push for hydrogen energy is one of the first test cases of new federal environmental justice initiatives. Communities and advocates so far give the feds a failing grade.
