Free solo climber Alex Honnold recently discussed how improved energy access can deter illegal extractive industries in undeveloped regions, such as the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Speaking with

Free solo climber Alex Honnold recently discussed how improved energy access can deter illegal extractive industries in undeveloped regions, such as the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Speaking with Grist's Editor-in-Chief Kat Bagley at SF Climate Week in April 2026, Honnold also addressed climate change and broader energy access issues.

On June 27, 2022, a discussion explored Blue Shield's latest Youth Climate Survey, focusing on how climate change impacts the mental health of young people.

The event featured insights

On June 27, 2022, a discussion explored Blue Shield's latest Youth Climate Survey, focusing on how climate change impacts the mental health of young people.

The event featured insights from David W. Bond (Director of Behavioral Health, Blue Shield of California—Promise Health Plan), youth environmental activist Kat Lee (APEN), and student representative Maya Gomez (Mind Out Loud, Whitney High School). Additional speakers included Antoinette Mayer (Senior Director, Corporate Citizenship, Blue Shield), Joel Castro (President, Cesar Chavez Service Club), and co-host Michelle Meow (Producer and Host, "The Michelle Meow Show").

Environmental and economic problems like low wages and unemployment are often blamed on a hard-to-regulate U.S. economy. However, this system is intentionally rigged for the wealthy. Laws and

Environmental and economic problems like low wages and unemployment are often blamed on a hard-to-regulate U.S. economy. However, this system is intentionally rigged for the wealthy. Laws and policies overwhelmingly favor them, allowing control of vast resources and lavish living, while most Americans struggle paycheck to paycheck.

Despite ample resources, our economic system is designed for the wealthy, who manipulate it via political influence. It could easily be regulated to ensure decent jobs, healthcare, and homes for all. Yet, we largely complain without taking action.

See related content: Part One and Part Two.

Consumers bear responsibility for the entire product lifecycle, from resource extraction and manufacturing to eventual disposal. Despite holding admirable sustainability values, our purchasing

Consumers bear responsibility for the entire product lifecycle, from resource extraction and manufacturing to eventual disposal. Despite holding admirable sustainability values, our purchasing behaviors often fail to align, impeding progress in environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Individual actions form the foundation for meaningful change.

For more insights, see Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TFWbpgCFjg

By Kat McDearis and Eric Pappas. Copyright 2015.

Katharine “Kat” Morris is a scholar-activist and community organizer pursuing her Masters of Public Policy at UConn. Her undergraduate research focused on Cross Cultural Engagement and

Katharine “Kat” Morris is a scholar-activist and community organizer pursuing her Masters of Public Policy at UConn. Her undergraduate research focused on Cross Cultural Engagement and Intersectional Activism. She founded UConn Collaborative Organizing (UCCO) for grassroots social and environmental justice, prioritizing intersectionality and solidarity.

In her TEDx talk, Kat discusses environmental racism and climate disasters, highlighting the power of collaborative organizing and radical love. She urges viewers to connect social and environmental injustices, recognize our interconnectedness, and embrace radical love to build a sustainable future.

This talk was delivered at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Individual sustainability is a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of broader sustainability discussions. It involves cultivating harmony, interconnection, and high self-awareness across one's

Individual sustainability is a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of broader sustainability discussions. It involves cultivating harmony, interconnection, and high self-awareness across one's values, thoughts, and behaviors.

This includes maintaining increasing control over one's physical, emotional, social, philosophical, environmental, and intellectual well-being. Key skills for individual sustainability are awareness, motivation, and intentional self-development, coupled with a value system that recognizes the interconnectedness of all global biological systems and humanity's appropriate place in the natural world.

This presentation was first published in 2013 by Kat McDearis and Eric Pappas.