Mobilizing for The Climate Crisis
The Essential Role of Social Mobilization in Confronting The Climate Crisis
Thursday, September 14, 4:00 PM | South College E470
Despite all we know about the causes and harms of global heating, why has so little effective action been taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and what can we do to change that? In his presentation, Dr. Adam Aron argues that, even with the advent of the Inflation Reduction Act, the pathway to stopping dangerous global heating will require a much larger social mobilization of advocacy and activism to impel decision-makers to abandon fossil fuels, and transition to renewable energy and electrification embedded in a political and social framework guided by justice principles. Dr. Aron will illustrate the social mobilization on climate with examples from our grassroots and advocacy struggles in both the University of California and the city of San Diego. Dr. Aron will also discuss how to increase mobilization.
Dr. Adam R Aron
Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego
Adam Aron is a climate activist and professor of psychology at the University of California, San Diego. His research and teaching now focus on the social science of collective action on the climate crisis. His climate activism has been through the Green New Deal at UC San Diego where he has volunteered on several campaigns such as fossil fuel divestment and campus decarbonization via ElectrifyUC, and he has also produced the documentary Coming Clean. Adam recently authored the book: The Climate Crisis. Before switching to the climate crisis, Adam had a successful career in cognitive neuroscience. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and was a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA.
UMass Art Sustainability and Activism
This event is part of the UMass Art Sustainability and Activism (ASA) series for 2023-24. ASA is a collaboration among the School of Earth & Sustainability, UMass Fine Arts Center, and the MFA for Poets and Writers. Together, ASA works to create deliberate opportunities to connect artists, scientists, and changemakers.