The Yale Alumni Academy is pleased to host its fifth annual Climate Change Conversations series featuring six webinars that are open to the entire Yale community.
This year’s series features an interdisciplinary group of distinguished faculty from various Yale schools and centers, offering participants interactive lectures and discussions aimed at expanding understanding and engagement with climate challenges.
Central to the series is the theme of Yale Planetary Solutions, which underscores Yale's commitment to fostering innovative ideas and strategies for a sustainable future. This initiative emphasizes the university's unique ability to both develop new technologies and convene leaders to promote their implementation, aiming for a world with clean air, water, and resilient ecosystems. Kicking off the series, Vice Provost for Planetary Solutions Julie Zimmerman will walk us through the cutting-edge research currently happening across the Yale campus.
Among the sessions available are "Climate Change in the American Mind," presented by Eric Fine ’16 MESc, who will share insights from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. He will discuss how public perceptions of climate change often misalign with reality, emphasizing the importance of understanding these views to effectively strategize climate action.
In the session "Planetary Healthcare: Balancing Patient Safety and Public Harm," Dr. Jodi Sherman, an Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, will explore the connection between healthcare pollution and disease. She will highlight opportunities for policy and practice improvements aimed at reducing the healthcare sector's environmental impact.
"Listening to Climate Change: Building Student Advocacy" will showcase a project by Professors Judith Lichtman and Matthew Suttor, which involves engaging New Haven Public School students in translating environmental data into musical compositions. This innovative approach, supported by Yale Planetary Solutions Seed Grants, merges science with the arts to foster environmental stewardship and deepen understanding of climate issues.
Additionally, a book talk on "The Burning Earth" by Sunil Amrith will offer a dual narrative on humanity's role in the climate crisis—highlighting both the destructive tendencies rooted in historical injustices and the potential for human flourishing through sustainable practices.
Lastly, the session "ESG Enters its Adolescence," led by Todd Cort, will explore the evolving landscape of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in business. He will examine how climate change and socio-economic factors are reshaping risks and opportunities, urging stakeholders to adapt to this rapidly changing environment.
We invite alumni to engage in these challenging and thought-provoking sessions, designed to keep you informed on how Yale faculty are addressing the pressing issues of climate change and working toward innovative solutions for a thriving planet.
