Healthy Democracy, Healthy Planet?

Environmental challenges are often framed as purely scientific issues, squarely in the domain of the natural world rather than the messy human one. Especially in an era of climate change, however, dealing with these challenges requires a collective effort, innovative solutions, and a careful eye on how the costs and the consequences of these solutions play out.  Who pays for a move towards low-carbon, resilient communities?  Who benefits and who is left out?  These are questions that a vibrant and transparent democracy is well positioned to answer.  In this talk, I explore the many intersections between environmental integrity and democracy. I uncover the dangers posed by polarization and extreme populism, countering these with stories of hopeful progress toward inclusive, sustainable, and healthy communities.