Clover Hogan | Climate activist, founder Force of Nature

Activist.
Global speaker.

Social entrepreneur.

From students in the classroom, to leaders in the boardroom: my mission is to help people step up rather than shut down in the face of the climate crisis."

About

Clover Hogan is a climate activist and
the founder of Force of Nature.

She has worked alongside the world’s leading authorities on sustainability, consulted within the boardrooms of Fortune 50 companies, and helped students in 50+ countries take action.

Clover has taken the stage alongside global change-makers such as Jane Goodall and Vandana Shiva; interviewed the 14th Dalai Lama; and her TED talk has been viewed almost 2 million times.

Force of Nature

At 19, Clover founded Force of Nature; the youth nonprofit mobilising mindsets for climate action. They help young people turn climate anxiety into action, and work with leaders to drive intergenerational solutions.

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Media

WRITTEN INTERVIEWS

"At 22, This Young Activist Has Found Ways To Channel Her Eco-Anxiety Into Action"

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ON INSTAGRAM

Ah, another billionaire minimising the impacts of climate change... is anyone actually surprised?

Bill Gates has just declared that climate change won’t be “humanity’s demise” but that people will “live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future.”

Thank God!

Only... this is a direct contradiction to what every major climate scientist is saying. On the same day, UN Secretary General António Guterres was unequivocal: we have missed the 1.5°C target, and the consequences - from Amazon dieback to collapsing ice sheets and coral reefs - are devastating if we don’t urgently change course.

Yet Gates is calling for a “strategic pivot” away from cutting emissions, toward focusing on poverty and disease. As if the climate crisis is not already fuelling poverty and disease on a massive scale. As though millions aren’t already being displaced by droughts, floods, and storms; disasters we know will worsen with every fraction of a degree.

Let’s be honest: this is the kind of story you tell when you’re heavily invested in the very industries driving the crisis.

Gates holds major stakes in coal, oil, private jets, and transport networks moving dirty fuels, which make him hundreds of millions every year.

And billionaires like Gates are desperate to reassure us that the world will be fine - because the system that is burning the planet is the same one that is lining their pockets.

Who does he honestly think will “live and thrive”? Billionaires who can buy islands and build bunkers?

We need to phase out fossil fuels, fast.

And we must stop taking our cues from the ultra-rich who are insulated from the consequences of their choices. Whose wealth is built on the same extractive system fuelling climate breakdown.

Real climate leadership doesn’t downplay the emergency. It confronts the power structures preventing change, no matter how wealthy or powerful they are.

#billgates #climatecrisis #climateaction #fossilfueltreaty

There's a Gen Z revolution happening that you've probably not heard about.

In the past few months:

Nepal forced its Prime Minister to resign.

Madagascar’s president fled the country.

And protests spread across Peru, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

All of these movements have something in common: they are being led by Gen Z.

Nepal was a turning point.

After the government banned 25 social media apps, tens of thousands of young people filled the streets. Many were still in school uniform.

But this was just the catalyst.

Nepal’s youth were fed up with unemployment, entrenched corruption, and deepening inequality between the ultra-rich and the poor.

Following their protests, the Prime Minister resigned. And in a remarkable move, protesters used Discord to elect a caretaker Prime Minister until democratic elections can be held.

What’s powerful is how quickly this moment travelled.

In Madagascar, protesters rallied against water and electricity cuts. In Morocco, they demanded better schools and hospitals. In Peru, they marched against rising crime and political stagnation.

Different countries. Different triggers. But the same generation pushing for real change through decentralised movements, and united by shared symbols.

A pirate flag from the anime One Piece has become a symbol of defiance, and has been from the streets of Nepal to Madagascar and Kenya.

You don’t need a shared language to recognise a shared fight.

Around the world, Gen Z is rewriting the rules, and changing who holds power. 

They’re proving that democracy isn’t something passive. It’s something you fight for.

Which leaves one question:

If young people in the global south can challenge entire regimes… what's stopping us from doing the same here too?

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#onepiece #revolution #protest #genz #activist #climateaction #democracy #GenZRevolution #youthpower
#GlobalYouthMovement #PoliticalChange
#DemocracyInAction #civicengagement
#nepalprotests #nepal #savenepal
#madagascar #morocco
#globalsouthvoices

On December 16th, 2021, a Super Typhoon tore through the Philippines. Over 1,500 people were killed or severely injured, and 1.4 million people lost their homes.

Research shows the likelihood of a typhoon like this one has doubled due to global heating. Yet fossil fuel companies continue to rake in record-breaking profits.

Now, 67 people affected by Typhoon Odette are doing something extraordinary. They’re suing Shell for its role in the disaster.

Shell is among the world’s top ten polluters. And it's alleged that they've known for at least 6 decades that fossil fuels would cause deadly climate change.

Yet instead of taking action, they’ve misled the public and delayed the shift to clean energy. All to protect their bottom line.

We need accountability. And that’s why I'm standing in solidarity with our friends in the Philippines who are taking Shell to court. I hope you do too.

Join this historic case and take action at the link in my bio/story.

@fossilfreelondon @greenpeaceph @greenpartyzack @tippingpointuk @theodettecase
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#climatecrisis #climatedisaster #typhoon #Philippines #climateaction #activism #court #justice #reparations #fossilfuels

Yesterday, 7 million people took to the streets to rally against the Trump administration.

They follow in the footsteps of the activists who have come before us. Activists who didn't change the world because it was easy, or convenient, but because they refused to accept the status quo.

In Emmeline Pankhurst’s lifetime, most forms of rape were still legal.

Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus.

For Marsha P. Johnson, it was illegal to be gay and illegal to be trans.

These women organised. They risked everything (often at tremendous personal cost). And their courage changed the course of history.

Progress isn’t linear, and it’s never inevitable. Change starts not with those in seats of power -- but from everyday people who have been failed by the system.

Today, we’re facing a system that makes it fundamentally difficult to do the right thing. Protest is being criminalised. Civil liberties are under attack. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

And yet, I believe that as painful as this moment is, it will radicalise people. Is already radicalising people. We must draw on the bravery of those who have come before; and trust that in our thousands, in our millions, we have the power to change the world.

~

📷 @richardthrelfall

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#nokings #nokingsinamerica #climatecrisis #climateaction #activism #socialchange #peoplepower #democracy #defendourdemocracy #civilrights #protest #collectiveaction #courage #trump #nigelfarage #reform #labour #greens

This whole year, I’ve been scrambling to make sense of what’s happening.

In a blink, we handed our thinking to a machine. A voracious monster, swallowing the world’s art, writing, music – your every thought and feeling – and regurgitating it at the behest of our tech overlords. Conversations about AI ethics were quickly sidelined in favour of faster emails and infinite selfies.

My screen holds me hostage. Between suggestions of botox and face lifts, my algorithm serves me videos of bombs raining over Palestine. I’ve become so desensitised that I no longer flinch at an emaciated child, or missing leg. Where there was once agency, I now feel a cavern of powerlessness – interrupted only by a swell of pride when I see the people’s flotilla. Yet shame lingers, too. I’ve not been brave enough to board one of those boats. Nor to risk arrest for holding a placard, fearful of what it may mean for my immigration status.

Many of us have watched in detached dread at America’s downward spiral, comforted only by distance. Meanwhile, the right here have been rehearsing. Farage is leading the polls. Friends are afraid to leave their homes as his supporters march the streets. They’ve moved on from small boats; their vendetta now against anyone whose skin is darker than milky tea. The silence from our government is deafening.

I can’t keep pace with how the world is changing. Knowing where to look, what to do, feels like whack-a-mole. The distraction machine is working overtime. "Taylor Swift got engaged." "Sydney Sweeney is in hot water again." Never mind that humanity is on a collision course toward ecological breakdown, fuelled by oil barons who are bankrolling fascism.

Now is the time to organise, even though 𝘯𝘰𝘸 has been every moment of my 26 years. Except this now is different, because before, we thought we were marching to the drumbeat of progress. Trump and Brexit were considered setbacks; not markers of our new normal.

The temptation to recede is real, but guilt drags me back. There is love, too. For my community, my neighbourhood. For nature. For the resilience of past generations. And for the fragile courage of those, today, who refuse to look away.

We’ve been told that asking for the bare minimum is “radical.”

But is it really radical to want clean air? Clean water? A world where wealth isn’t hoarded by a few while so many struggle to survive?

We live in a system that tries to convince us those demands are far-fetched, unrealistic, or not worth fighting for. Yet history tells another story. The same words were once said to activists who fought for the right to vote, the right to marry who you love, the right to self-determine.

What was once dismissed as “too much” became the freedoms we hold today. And what’s considered “radical” today can become the norm tomorrow, if enough of us refuse to accept the status quo.

If you’re fighting for a free Palestine, for a liveable future, for racial and gender justice… remember that you’re part of a legacy of people who pushed boundaries and redefined what was possible.

Thanks to Richard Threlfall for the interview. You can watch the whole thing at richardthrelfall.org

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#climatecrisis #climateaction #nyclimateweek #activism

For too long, we’ve been told comforting stories: that corporations would be guided by their 'morals', that fossil fuel companies would lead the green transition, that our leaders would act decisively, that technology would save us...

But these were lies.

This year of political upheaval and climate backtracking has made it painfully clear: this system was never built to protect people or the planet. It was built on exploitation, colonisation, and profit at any cost.

Now the masks are off. The wealthy and powerful are no longer pretending. And while politics may feel more divided than ever, this moment also shows something undeniable: people across the spectrum are demanding change.

Not everyone agrees on what that change should look like; but the demand itself is born out of true injustice and broken promises.

And on this, we can agree: we cannot keep going as we have been.

We won't solve this crisis with the people and institutions of power that created it. Real change, real progress (not just the illusion of it), will come from people in the margins. People working in collective to build systems that work for the many, and not just the few.

~
Speaking at #TheRealityTour hosted by @ClimateReality with @algore

People across the UK are coming together to demand action on climate and nature.

Tomorrow, thousands of us are heading to Westminster to join a mass lobby — a powerful moment to speak directly with MPs, and ask them to back the Climate and Nature Bill - which is returning to the House of Commons this Friday.  
We’re calling for three things: 💸 Finance for communities hit hardest by climate change ⚖️ Fairness, to cut bills and back green jobs 🌳 Restoration – to revive nature and protect our future

If you haven’t already, you can register for the Mass Lobby at the link in my bio, and sign the open letter to Keir Starmer, urging him to support the Climate and Nature bill.

This is our moment to show up, speak out, and help shape a future that works for all of us, and not just the few.

*A note that while registrations to meet your MP have now closed, there’s a fully day of programming at the QEII Centre, and you can write to your MP there too. More info via @theclimatecoalition

Waking up to learn you’ve been turned into a viral meme isn’t as glamorous as it sounds 🤡

In my latest TEDx talk, I share what it was like to become the target of Elon Musk — with his trolls not far behind. This experience helped me understand a larger trend: one where the rich and powerful attempt to demonise activists in order to evade accountability. Take a look and let me know what you think.

These are surreal times we’re living through. Don’t stop resisting.

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.“

Imagine you're playing a game of Monopoly… but in this scenario, one player keeps changing the rules.

They don't pay taxes, they hide money under the board, and they even skip jail.

And they have the audacity to claim that they're doing it for everyone's benefit: because the more money and power they have, "The better off everyone else will be."

People would stop playing. Because what's the point, when the game is rigged?

Yet every day, we play a rigged game.

Corporations change the rules to benefit themselves.

Capitalism doesn't need you to win. It just needs you to keep playing.

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#climatecrisis #corporateaccountability #policychange #economicjustice #lobbying #transparency #inequality #socialjustice #capitalism #latestagecapitalism #justice
#humanrights #activism #economy #politics #injustice #bigbeautifulbill

Every day, we're playing a rigged game.

While we have been sold on the idea of meritocracy, the reality is our economic system concentrates wealth and resources in the hands of a few, while distributing the costs to the many.

And every day, corporations work hard to change the rules of the game. As I shared on the @changenow_world stage, one of the ways they do this is through corporate lobbying.

From Purdue Pharma lobbying to protect opioid sales, to fossil fuel giants lobbying against climate policy within the EU.

This isn’t a bug in the system; it is the system. One that concentrates wealth and resources in the hands of a few, while distributing the costs to the many.

Change won't happen until we stop pretending this is normal, or fair.

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#climatecrisis #corporateaccountability #policychange #economicjustice #lobbying #transparency

🚨 THE CLIMATE WIN YOU PROBABLY MISSED 🚨

The French Senate has passed legislation taking direct aim at ultra-fast fashion.

Targeting brands like @sheinofficial and @temu, this law challenges an industry built on overproduction, waste and exploitation.

As I shared at @bof last year, it would take decades to recycle what fast fashion brands produce in a matter of days. And there is already enough clothing on the planet for the next 6 generations of humans.

This is why this legislation is more important than ever.

Here’s what’s coming:

💵 Eco-tax: starting this year, each ultra-fast fashion item will carry a €5 environmental surcharge; doubling to €10 by 2030.

🚫 Ad ban: all advertising for ultra-fast fashion will be prohibited, unless it's promoting circular or sustainable models.

⚖️ Influencer accountability: fines for influencers who promote unsustainable fashion brands.

🔍 Transparency mandate: brands must display an “eco-score” on every item sold, covering carbon footprint, resource use, recyclability, and more.

♻️ Funding the future: eco-tax revenue will be funnelled into France’s sustainable fashion sector, rewarding brands that embrace circular models.

Now, there has been valid criticism that the bill doesn't go far enough — major European retailers such as @zara and @hm are exempt from everything but environmental reporting. And, reform is needed across the entire industry to end exploitation.

However, this is still a critical step in the process; especially for an industry that has largely evaded accountability. We must build on this momentum, and expand the legislation to encompass ALL fast fashion producers.

Kudos to the incredible organisations and campaigners who are paving the way: @fash_rev, @sustainablefashionalliance @fashionforgood @globalfashionagenda @venetialamanna @TheOrIsPresent and many others.

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#climatecrisis #climatechange #sustainability #fashion #sustainablefashion #climateaction #fastfashion #shein #temu #France #regulation #circulareconomy

So many of us are drawn to activism because we care deeply and want to make a difference. But when change doesn’t come quickly, or at all, it’s easy to feel like it's a personal failure.

We’re often told stories of individual heroes; but real, lasting change has always come from collective action. From people showing up, imperfectly and persistently, trusting that others will step in where we cannot.

This reminder feels especially important right now.

Many of us have spent the past 612 days witnessing a genocide through our smartphones. And we felt buoyed by the bravery of Greta and others on the @gazafreedomflotilla... only to have our hopes dashed, when Israel sabotaged their aid mission.

Yet this isn't the end of the road. And we can't afford to outsource our hope to others. To quote the environmentalist, David Orr, "Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up."

This movement - whether it's for a free Palestine, or for the climate - needs all of us. True power lies in solidarity. In showing up, together.

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#climateaction #climateactivism #climatecrisis #climateemergency #globalheating #collectiveaction #solidarity #peoplepower #youthactivism #ceasefirenow #Palestine #Gaza #freedomflotilla #freepalestine🇵🇸

“Of course I'm inconsistent. I still fly on planes. I buy food wrapped in plastic. I buy new socks... scandalous, I know.”

In a world that often demands perfection over progress, I loved the chance to share my own climate imperfections... and talk about why being vulnerable isn't a weakness but deeply humanising. Especially in spaces shaped by power dynamics, fancy titles, and the pressure to perform.

At @forceofnature.xyz, vulnerability is central to how we facilitate conversations on climate and mental health. Not just talking about hope; but holding space for fear, anxiety, and confusion too.

I've met so many people who are afraid to engage in climate because they think they might say the wrong thing, they aren't the experts, or they think they're part of the problem. How might our movement grow and transform if we were all willing to be a bit more open, honest and human?

~

In what have felt like dark and gloomy days, it was a joy to speak at the launch of @melatiwijsen new book, 'Change starts now: 100 lessons from a full-time changemaker', hosted by @theconduitlondon. More excerpts coming soon 👀

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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #GlobalHeating #Business #SustainableBusiness #MentalHealth #ClimateLeadership #SystemsChange #CorporateResponsibility #Sustainability #JustTransition

The Woodside gas extension would be a disaster for the climate, for local ecosystems, and for vulnerable communities. It could also destroy the world’s oldest and largest collection of First Nations rock art.

While the North Shelf extension has been approved, Woodside still requires the govt’s approval to drill for gas at Scott Reef in order to fuel the Karratha Gas Plant. We have until 31 May to tell @albomp @australianlabor and @murraypwatt that this decision is in direct opposition to the science (which states no new oil and gas projects to avoid climate collapse), and it’s not what Australia or the global climate community wants.

Visit the link in my bio to add your name, and tag Albanese + Labor + Murray below ⬇️

@australiangreens @greenpeaceap @damon.gameau @theclimatecouncil @youth4climatejustice @ayccnsw @cheekmedia.co @guardianaustralia

Every day, my heart breaks for Palestine.

Like many of you, I’ve often felt powerless over these many months; unsure how to help beyond protesting, writing MPs, sharing posts, boycotting, and making donations.

Equally, I’ve been deeply moved by friends who have made personal sacrifices for a free Palestine — from going on hunger strike, to getting arrested.

It’s hard to find meaning in my work when tens of thousands of children are facing starvation. So, for the next month, I will be donating all my earnings to the Sameer Project.

The Sameer Project provides food (2,000+ meals per week), water (140,000 liters per day) and tents to those displaced. We also provide medical care including dental, wound changes, infectious diseases campaigns, life saving medication, and special care for complex cases.

Every workshop, speaking engagement, and consulting gig I book from today will be used to support their campaign in southern Gaza. So if ever you’ve wanted to work together, now is the moment.

I share this in the hopes that others will choose to do the same, and commit their earnings (or a portion of them). You can also donate direct to @thesameerproject.

Thanks, friends.

#freepalestine🇵🇸

If you don't laugh, you'll cry 🫠

I used to think climate denial was behind us.

That we’d moved on from debating the science, and could finally focus on solutions.

But a few months back I was invited to speak on national TV about the latest climate science; only to discover I’d be sharing the segment with a climate denier.

When I raised concerns, the producer defended the decision: claiming that since people like #Trump deny the science, the media have an obligation to 'reflect all views'.

This isn’t about differing opinions.
It’s about fact vs. fiction. Science vs. disinformation.

Media platforms have a responsibility; not to “both sides” the climate crisis, but to tell the truth.

Lives, policies, and the future of the planet depend on it.

~

Thanks to @leafmedia.global for hosting me on the podcast.

#climatecrisis #media #climatedenial #disinformation #climatejustice #press #climatechange #climateaction #conspiracy #conspiracytheory

Say hello to the newest member of our family, Betty!

Betty was abandoned and found darting in and out of traffic, covered in grease and flea dirt. She went to the pound, where she was going to be put to sleep, before @fetcherdog rescued her.

I saw Betty on Fetcher’s instagram, and instantly fell in love. She is the sweetest, most affection dog I’ve ever met, and I truly don’t know how anyone could abandon her… but I’m so grateful that @fetcherdog stepped in. Jordan and Stephanie are heroes.

Thousands of dogs are abandoned every year in the UK — all of whom need loving homes. If you’re thinking about getting a dog (which I can’t recommend enough), please #adoptdontshop. It’s so special to give a rescue a second lease on life, and to see them grow in confidence every day.

In the meantime, prepare for plenty more Betty content…

#rescuedog #rescuedogsofinstagram #streetdog #adopt
#animals #dog #dogsofinstagram

Labour’s latest anti-immigration U-turn isn’t just cowardly - it's short-sighted and bound to backfire.

This year, we have the opportunity to elect one of the most progressive parliaments in history.

I’m a climate activist. And going to the polls often feels like being asked to choose between a climate change denier, and a seasoned procrastinator.

The Labor government has approved over 30 coal and gas projects since taking office, and Peter Dutton wants even more.

Yet Australia is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change — we’ve seen that with increased wildfires, drought, flooding, and cyclones.

The science is clear: there can be no new fossil fuel projects, if we want to safeguard our future.

Australia has the opportunity to become a global leader in clean energy. And the @australiangreens have a plan to do just that.

We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expect different results. So if you want action on the climate crisis, vote for the Greens as your top choice, to keep Dutton out, and force Labor to act.

They call us "hypocrites" to distract you.

The billionaire press want you to scrutinise my clothes, my phone, how I travel — so that you won’t look too closely at them.

They want you angry at activists, instead of challenging the rich and powerful.

"Don't look at the facts, don't hold your government to account. Don't question why companies are making billions in profit while you're unable to afford your bills. No, no, no. Look over here at this 'hypocrite', this 'zealot', or even this 'communist'. Their goal is to plant a wedge between activists and everyday people; to misdirect the public."

@thesun is owned by Rupert Murdoch, the @dailymail by Jonathan Harmsworth, the @telegraph by the Barclay family. All billionaires with a vested interest in squashing anyone who threatens the status quo and, by extension, their wealth and power. They will do anything to protect their personal profit — profit which they spend not on the betterment of society, but on buying islands and building bunkers to escape a crisis they've helped create.

We must stop letting their distractions divide us. It’s no use trying to be ‘perfect’ within a system built on exploitation. Instead, we need to organise — and channel our anger where it belongs. At the governments and corporations gambling with our future.

~
Part 3 of my talk from TEDxAthens. If you want to watch the full clip, you can find it at https://youtu.be/GIT-w_BGoFM?feature=shared.

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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #Twitter #X #Trolls #ElonMusk #Elon #GlobalHeating #Trump #Censorship #FreeSpeech

Dunno about you but I would be less annoyed about the space situation if they were just honest about why they went 👁️👄👁️

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#ClimateAction #ClimateCrisis #ClimateJustice #Blueorigin #Katyperry #Space #inequality #Sustainability #Billionaires

When I first started talking to companies about the #climatecrisis, I made one glaring mistake.

I tried to make a business case for sustainability — even when there wasn't one.

It's tempting to pitch leaders on why 'going green' is best for their bottom line. Yet within our current economic system, it often isn't. And likely won't be for some time. Capitalism is built on the commodification of nature and the exploitation of vulnerable communities. It concentrates the benefits (e.g. profit, wealth) in the hands of a few, while distributing the costs (e.g. pollution, job displacement, ill-health) to the many. It's not set up to prioritise equity or ensure we live within planetary boundaries.

So instead of fixating on the 'business case', we need to focus on regulations (and launching legal cases) that will tip the market in the right direction. Subsidies for sustainability, penalties for pollution.

That's why I'm inspired by proposals like #ExtendedProducerResponsibility — which would ensure companies have to pay for the mountains of waste they currently produce, and create a more even playing field for circular solutions.

~

With thanks to @chathamhouse_org and my pal @_martin_harris for inviting me to speak at their Climate and Energy Summit 🌍

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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateEmergency #GlobalHeating #business #sustainablebusiness #regulation #policy #energysecurity

I’ve never really liked getting my photo taken. It feels oddly confronting and revealing… even more than speaking on stage. But it turns out that if you work with friends, especially ones who make you laugh (and allow you to yap incessantly), you can all but forget that there's a lens pointed at your face 👁👄👁

Thanks @mincoweide and @stephaniebergon 🫶

This is our new “normal” here in the UK. It’s not a chapter from 1984 or a scene out of the Hunger Games.

Last Thursday, police raided a Quaker meeting house and arrested six women attending a gathering organised by the NVDA group @_youthdemand.

To quote Paul Parker, recording clerk for @britishquakers, “No one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory. Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.”

First, the state criminalised protest. Now, it’s a criminal act to discuss one. What will it be next? A text to a friend, denouncing genocide? An overheard conversation?

We should all be outraged about what this latest development means for our political freedoms. And we should channel that outrage into action.

The responsibility lies with each and every one of us to shout about what’s happening; in Palestine, and in our own country.

Speaking out works. Protest works. Why else would they be rounding up and arresting a bunch of 20-year-olds?

This backlash we’re seeing is not a response to our powerlessness; but to our power.

They’re scared of what we’re capable of, when we band together. And that’s why now is not the moment to back off. We need to join hands, join local action groups, and keep the pressure on.

We cannot and will not be silenced. To quote civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall, “Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.”

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#climatecrisis #palestine #freepalestine #genocide #ceasefirenow #freespeech #freedomofspeech #protest #NVDA #climateaction #climateactionnow #palestine🇵🇸 #palestinewillbefree🇵🇸

There are days when I love my job. And there are others, like today, that end up in tears.

I was invited to a business roundtable to talk about my work as an activist. When asked about non-violent direct action, I shared that it's getting harder to protest because governments are cracking down on our rights.

Someone was quick to jump in.

“What, so you think YOU should be allowed to break the law without consequences — but corporations should have to follow the rules?”

It took me a beat to process the question.

“Well, we both know corporations do break the rules all the time, but are rarely caught out. And when they are, they get a slap on the wrist; not a prison sentence. But the point is that peaceful protest shouldn’t be illegal. We owe our freedoms to protest movements: civil rights, worker rights, gender equality… and we know that asking politely doesn’t work.”

In response, a corporate lobbyist asked how I can "justify destroying irreplaceable art." When I pressed for a single example of this, she couldn’t give one; only, that she ‘serves on the advisory board of several galleries’. I explained that while I’m happy to debate tactics, it’s important to note that groups like @just.stopoil use a harmless mix of flour and orange food dye. Their purpose is to trigger headlines, not destruction.

She then launched into a diatribe; suggesting I had an "agenda" and concluding that activists are the reason the world is so polarised right now.

Not corporate interests.

Not the billionaires.

Me, and my friends. People who don’t get paid to do this work, who are desperate and exhausted. People who do this with no agenda other than to defend the vulnerable, protect nature, & fight for a liveable future.

Apparently, we’re to blame.

This comment broke me.

I took this video right after, and I share it now, to be real with you all. This work is hard. And days like this don't get any easier.

I wouldn't — couldn’t — do this work without allies. I know how many of you are with me.

I step into these spaces not bc I enjoy being berated, but because I love my home planet. I love people. And because, as days like today demonstrate, this work is desperately needed.

Why do outlets like @thesun @dailymail and @telegraph label peaceful protestors as ‘extremists’, ‘zealots’, and ‘fanatics’? Why, to distract and divide us, of course.

In my latest TEDx talk, I shared my experience of being turned into a communist meme by Elon Musk... and how this tactic in rooted in a long history of suppressing dissent.

Take the struggle for gender equality in the UK. Today, we celebrate the bravery of the women who worked tirelessly and often put their lives on the line. Yet at the time, many in the media told a different story: Suffragists were portrayed as unattractive, neglectful of their families, and set on 'emasculating mankind'. Suffragettes were branded 'radicals' and 'militant'; 'disgusting' and 'unhinged'. As I shared on stage, the term #suffragette was in fact coined by a @dailymail reporter, as a demeaning nickname… but these women chose to wear it as a badge of honour.

Now, we can see history repeating itself with the activists of today. The media makes the story about the messenger, to distract people from the message.

~

With thanks to TEDxAthens for hosting me. If you want to watch the full clip, you can find it at https://youtu.be/GIT-w_BGoFM?feature=shared.
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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #Twitter #X #Trolls #ElonMusk #Elon #GlobalHeating #Trump #Censorship #FreeSpeech

TW: SA, rape, violence.

🪷

Don’t grow up too fast, they said.
But don’t be a baby.

Stay soft but be hard,
Girlboss your way to the top,
Climb over bodies if you must, they said.

Dress to impress — war paint, high heels, tight skirt. But know it is your fault if something happens. Because a man can’t control his lust, they said.

When I was 13, an older boy made up
a rumour. He told everyone at school
I’d sent him a nude. The truth didn’t matter, I was branded.

When I cried, he said,
“Get a bloody sense of humour.”

When I was 15, I was told, “I’m not taking no for an answer.” When I was 16, a man left a snake in my bag because I turned down his advances.

Open your legs and you’re a slut.
Keep ‘em closed and you’re a prude.
How about minding your own business on the tube?

That’s where I was assaulted.

Our programming runs deep. I didn’t think to call the police, I only cursed myself.

Why did I wear mascara that day?
Why did I wear those pants?
Why didn’t I fight back?

Why didn’t I fight?

Why didn’t I..?

I did write about it online. And an older woman told me I should be grateful I still get the attention.

I’m not. Grateful.

I want to crawl into a hole and suffocate on the dirt. But maybe I’ll burn it all down first.

They don’t like it when we get angry.
Better to say please, and thank you.

Please may I go for a run without getting harassed.

Please may I walk through the park, when it’s dark, without fear of what lies in the shadows.

Please may I exist, in peace.

Dominique Pelicot arranged for his wife to be drugged and raped by 51 men over 20 years.

A scorned boyfriend raped and murdered his ex-girlfriend, but not before killing her sister and mum too.

Yet 47% of men in the UK believe that women’s equality has gone “too far.”

Happy #InternationalWomensDay.

~

Another poem no one asked for 🫶

I don’t think I’ve ever told a story quite as important as this one, or as personal.

It’s easy to talk about the fossil fuel industry in the abstract — but at the end of the day, we’re talking about people’s lives. Their jobs, their families, their communities. Their stories.

It took over a year of research, 6+ months to write, and another year to be published (when some of what I shared on stage was deemed too… contentious). Now, it’s out in the world.

The community of Targinnie may never see their day in court; but their story will not be lost. May it be a warning, and a lesson. And may the story of my own hometown be a reminder of just what is possible when we band together.

I am so grateful to @maryampasha and @tedxlondon, I couldn’t ask for a better team. I am indebted to Peter, and his neighbours, who allowed me to share their story. And I am who I am because of my own community, who instilled in me the fighting spirit that I carry to this day.

Head to the link in my bio to watch the full talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if9Y9ATkQgY&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #FossilFuels #Community #JustStopOil #Australia #AustraliaGram #Censorship #FreeSpeech #Sustainability #Resist #thisisqueensland #Queensland

Has anyone else been feeling pretty… overwhelmed? Trapped in a spiral of doomscrolling, and what feels like a never-ending tide of bad news?

When it all starts to feel a bit much, I remind myself to step outside. And when I do, I remember…

I remember how much beauty there is in the world. How much life.

I remember how much there is to fight for, and how many people are out there, defending nature. Defending our rights.

I remember how many people are choosing not to give into fear, but resisting — through joy, through art, through creativity.

I remember that all of that beauty, that love, it outweighs the fear. Our shared humanity is more powerful than hate, or division.

So if the weight of this moment feels too heavy to bare, know that you’re not alone in carrying it. And remember — it’s not just about who, or what we’re fighting against, but what we’re fighting FOR. The world we love.

~

Excited to have teamed up with @herocircle.app and Global Optimism on this campaign to highlight #TheWorldWeLove and #Mission2025

More coming soon 🙏

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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #Storytelling #Sustainability #SustainableLifestyle #GreenLiving #COP30 #Nature #Biodiversity @domipalmer @renatakochalvarenga @sam_sateremawe @thegreenmonki @queerbrownvegan @adelaidecha @ariasaleja

“We don’t need 100 perfect activists but millions of imperfect ones.”

When I started out as an activist, I wanted to live in a way that aligned with my values. Yet this soon devolved into holding myself, and everyone around me, to an impossible standard.

I later learned about the calculated effort from big corporations to misplace responsibility with individuals — like BP’s creation of the carbon footprint calculator.

The ensuing culture of shame and blame has caused division within our movements, and prevented folks on the ‘outside’ from joining in. People are tired of being made to feel guilty for their individual lifestyles — especially when people in power continue to get off the hook.

To take a simple example: people should recycle, but if we’re not lobbying politicians to regulate the companies flooding us with plastic, then we’re ignoring the impending tsunami to fix a leaky tap.

We need to embrace imperfection in activism, and work together to create the systemic changes we so urgently need.

[o] 2023 at @changenow_world
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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #Twitter #X #Trolls #CancelCulture #CallOutCulture #Sustainability #SustainableLifestyle #GreenLiving #EcoConscious

Should we be pretending this is... normal?

Scrolling past a video of bombs raining down on children... to double tap the photo of a friend in a bikini.

There’s a fascist in the Oval Office and democracy is imploding... but did you see how Kylie was snubbed at the
Golden Globes?!

The Earth just broke every heat record… hey, look at this video of a dog dancing!

ExxonMobil made $33 billion last year. Or was it $34 billion..? Doesn’t matter. The algorithm thinks I should get a nose job. Do you think I should get a nose job? How about fillers?

The distraction machine is strong; its force magnetic. And whenever it senses I’m pulling away, it doubles down.

It grips me tight, spoon-feeds me the good stuff. It coos in my ear.

It doesn’t want me to look at the pain, the suffering. To realise that we’re living in a mirror world. Because the more of us who look, the more the mirror fractures.

And when enough of it fractures, pieces start raining down. They rain like those bombs, falling on a people whose
greatest sin was existing.

Maybe when we allow ourselves to feel the reverberations, we can finally stop pretending.

~

A poem no one asked for :)

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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #Twitter #X #ElonMusk #Elon #GlobalHeating #Trump #Censorship #FreeSpeech #protest #CivilDisobedience #NonViolentAction #algorithm #freepalestine #palestine

"Would you rather have someone representing the interests of 8 billion people, or someone representing the interests of 10 shareholders?"

You can’t have a functioning democracy when paid lobbyists are allowed to gut regulation to protect billionaire corporations. We must end corporate lobbying, now.

[o] @economistimpact

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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #Twitter #X #ElonMusk #Elon #GlobalHeating #Trump #Censorship #FreeSpeech #protest #CivilDisobedience #JustStopOil #NonViolentAction #business #sustainablebusiness #regulation

"People's frustration is misplaced, and that's not an accident. There's a coordinated effort by people in the media, working in collusion with the fossil fuel industry, to redirect anger away from the billionaires; away from the owners of the press..."

Climate scientists have been trying to sound the alarm for decades. Fed up with continued denial, and inaction, many of them have joined ranks with @just.stopoil and other protest movements.

Civil disobedience alone won't solve this crisis, but it is an essential tool in our arsenal. To dismiss it, or belittle the activists putting their lives and freedoms on the line, is to ignore history... as well as play into the hands of the fossil fuel industry.

We must redirect our anger and frustration at the people suppressing activism. The people doing everything in their power to protect business-as-usual, in order to sustain their personal wealth and status.

[o] @impact_day
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#ClimateAction #ClimateActivism #SocialMedia #Activism #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Media #Twitter #X #Trolls #ElonMusk #Elon #GlobalHeating #Trump #Censorship #FreeSpeech #protest #CivilDisobedience #JustStopOil #NonViolentAction

I’ve spent the past month offline, recharging in nature. A few days ago, I checked Instagram for the first time to find apocalyptic scenes from LA.

It took me straight back to Australia’s “Black Summer” of 2019 — smoke visible from space, people trapped on beaches, 2 billion animals consumed by the flames.

I'll never forget the videos of people standing on their roofs, desperately trying to keep the embers at bay. It’s a chilling reminder of a quote that’s been circulating: “Climate change will manifest as a series of disasters viewed through phones, until you're the one filming it.”

Many have expressed shock over the LA fires... yet those of us working in climate know this is microcosm of the climate chaos unfolding around the world, as well as a preview of what’s to come. These fires represent more than just physical destruction. They signify a new reality; one where the rhythms of everyday life are punctuated by the looming threat of disaster.

There’s been plenty of finger-pointing this past week... budget cuts, under-resourced departments, poor land management (much of which is misinformation pedalled by the likes of Trump and his right-wing cronies).

But as we know, the true culprits are the fossil fuel industry and their allies in media, business, and policy. We must move beyond outrage, into meaningful action. We need to focus on climate justice, sustainable policies, and building resilient communities.

These events can no longer be seen as isolated tragedies or fleeting moments in our feeds. They are a dire warning of what’s ahead. The question isn’t if the next disaster will strike, but how we will respond — and whether we can find the collective will to prevent the worst from unfolding.

📷 ⬆️ Matthew Abbott / The New York Times
📷 ⬇️ Ethan Swope / The Associated Press

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#climatecrisis #climatechange #climateaction #activism #fossilfuels #protest #LA #LAfires #extinctionrebellion #sustainability #science #NetZero #politics #justice #climatejustice #Trump #california

"We need to be honest with ourselves; leadership won't come from institutions profiting off war, exploitation, and the destruction of nature. Leadership won’t come from the billionaires buying islands and building bunkers, in anticipation of an apocalyptic future they’re creating.

True leadership — courageous leadership — will come from the margins. This moment demands power, but power of a different kind. Power of the people, working together."

As I shared at #nextgen2024, it's ok to feel hopeless at times. It’s okay to lose faith in those who have failed us (and who will continue to do so). But we must place our hope elsewhere — in our peers, in our communities, in the power of people resisting oppressive systems.

Because the future will not be shaped by those clinging to a dying paradigm, but by those with the courage to challenge and reimagine it.

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#climatecrisis #climateaction #activism #action #speaker #business #politics #billionaires #leadership #sustainablebusiness #climateanxiety #publicspeaking #juststopoil #extinctionrebellion #peoplepower #equality #taxtherich

#NextGen has easily become one of my favourite events. When the world is being set on fire (by old white men with fragile egos), it’s refreshing — and genuinely hopeful — to meet so many young people fighting for a better future.

1/ grateful to be nominated alongside these change-makers. Congratulations @amandaamaeshi on the win!

2 - 7/ spiel

8/ Rachael Oloyede on not just paying lip service to young people, but embedding them in decision-making.

9/ @reecetmorris sharing that the only ‘qualification’ you need to get into politics is to care about the world around you. And the time has come for everyone to get active; “If you don’t do politics, politics will do you.” — @mylifemysay

10/ the trailblazer himself, @metecoban92 shares that the reason he founded @mylifemysay was to ensure that young people of all backgrounds are at the forefront of politics.

11/ @iamderay spoke to his experience as an organiser of @blklivesmatter, and how the system of white supremacy works hard to make you question your own reality in order to pacify resistance. This entire panel was my personal highlight — I was in tears listening to @sophieapender speak, and so motivated by the energy of @devsharma.myp

12/ @ayame.p on using her platform to share the plight of people in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Haiti and Yemen — and the pushback she received.

13/ @alastaircampbell was honest about the threat of disinformation and how shadowy forces are using social media to erode democracy.

14/ the day wasn’t without its spice… including my pal Anna of @refuaid questioning Amber Rudd on the draconian immigration policies she was responsible for while home secretary. Young people in the audience also challenged LBC presenter @iaindale on his claims that university tuition should be significantly increased (in spite of admitting that he received a free, state-funded education), and his broadly pro-Israel stance, when an estimated 200,000 Palestinians have been killed.

15/ Finally… the research says it all. Young people care about politics, but don’t feel represented. It's time to get active 👏

Shoutout to the incredible new co-CEOs, @dan_lawes @melisha_x. Excited for next year.

Demure and mindful? Try stressed but well dressed ✨

Grateful for a glamorous few days with @bof at #BoFvoices, hosted by the most gracious @imranamed 🫶 I’ll be sharing excerpts soon, including my message to the fashion industry 👀

📸 @conorclinch

Petition to start naming hurricanes after the fossil fuel executives responsible for them? 🙋

The world feels pretty heavy right now. Millions impacted by Hurricane Helene, with Milton on its heels. Ongoing genocide. Peaceful protestors thrown behind bars, while people in power toss blame at one another.

It all feels like a lot. And I know many of you are struggling with this heaviness too. So, I wanted to share a few resources that I’ve personally found helpful to navigate these turbulent and polarised times.

🪷 First, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. This is a beautiful online course created by the monastics of @plumvillagefrance. I’ve completed the course twice and, hand on heart, I don’t think I’d be able to sustain my work without the wisdom of these teachings. The next cohort starts October 20.

💛 Second, my dear friend @parkerbowling (aka @climateawaretherapist) is a psychotherapist and coach working with individuals, as well as teams, to foster resilience and wellbeing. I always feel seen and heard when I talk to Parker; he has a true gift of holding space. He offers a sliding scale on his services to ensure accessibility.

🌱 Finally, if you are (or know) someone 16-35, @forceofnature.xyz is about to launch its next round of 'Becoming a Force of Nature'. This free course not only helps you come into conversation with your climate emotions, but understand how to channel them into action. It’s also a fantastic way of connecting with likeminded peers. Applications close October 14.

Thank you, friends. Please share other resources you’ve found helpful in the comments.

Credit to the @todayshow for this clip.

Hi! Quick reflection from NY Climate Week on the hypocrisy of orgs talking about the need to “engage young people” without removing their barriers to access. Survey link is in my story ❤️ @forceofnature.xyz

Internalised capitalism: a poem™️

Am I enough, when I’m not working?

Why am I unable to
Sit
Breathe
Be still

Without a crawling sensation breaking out across my skin? Without guilt bubbling to the surface?

Growing up, I was told the most important thing to be in life is ̶k̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶a̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶a̶t̶e̶ 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒.

I followed this lesson, diligently, and watched it pay off. At school, I was called an ‘over-achiever’: after graduation, ‘ambitious’. I’ve always carried around a laundry-list of goals in my head: from stuff that needs doing around the house, to where I want my career to be in 2, 5 and 10 years’ time.

𝘉𝘶𝘺𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴-𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴-𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘶𝘮-𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴-𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬-𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦-𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴-𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺-𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦-𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭-𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳-𝘵𝘰-𝘦𝘢𝘵—

I knew that if I looked down at my chest, I’d see a machine whirring there. But if I listened to the humming, I could make out words: 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.

I didn’t like this voice. And there was only one way to make it go away:

Do
Create
Strive

and most importantly,
Do. Not. Stop.

But then came a day when the cogs started to sputter. The taste of smoke filled my mouth. And suddenly, I was

Falling
Collapsing
Snuffed out

I type into Google: what does burnout feel like?

Why don’t I read a book about it?
Listen to a podcast?
Write about it?
Make a podcast?
Put it in a speech?
Deliver the speech?

I’m on stage, under a magnifying glass — and this time, I really am burning. My skin sizzles. Blisters.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱.

My body stages a protest. I lose my voice.

Now, I have no choice but to
Sit
Breathe
Be still.

But…

When will I feel like enough?

This is despicable. 4-5 year prison sentences for peaceful protestors who were denied a fair trial?!

The media are already framing these activists as ‘fanatical’ in an attempt to normalise what is draconian and an attack on our democratic right to protest. Meanwhile, true criminals (the leaders of fossil fuel companies, which profit billions off the destruction of nature, the exploitation of people, and imminent climate collapse), walk free.

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE 🫠😭😩

A recent experience on stage left me feeling alone, isolated and questioning my activism.

It reminded me how uncomfortable it can be to speak out — especially when so much in our culture tries to switch us off, and maintain business-as-usual. This feels especially relevant given the media’s constant vilification of activists (and how quick the climate movement is turn against those they consider 'too radical').*

We are in an emergency and need to start acting like it. We must defend those who are brave enough to disrupt the status quo, and we need to be those people. Take the civil rights movement, the suffragettes, the stonewall uprising — it’s easy to look back and think ‘I would have been there, marching for justice’.

The truth lies not in a hypothetical, but in the actions you take today.

* This includes @just.stopoil. While I don't always agree with their tactics, I've read enough about past movements to know disruption is essential. ESPECIALLY when it's unpopular; that's kind of the point. I also know how much guts it takes to place yourself in the line of fire.

The richest 1% of people are responsible for more carbon emissions than the poorest 66% 🤯

Still, there are people (old white men at conferences) who argue that “overpopulation” is to blame… and point the finger at countries like India and China, while their own governments double down on fossil fuels.

Take the UK government, which last year approved #Rosebank — the largest untapped oil and gas field. It alone will produce the emissions of 28 low-income countries, home to 700 million people, including Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique. The very places most vulnerable to the climate crisis.

This is when we have access to clean, renewable technology, which would legitimately curb emissions, create jobs and bring down the cost of energy.

We can’t talk about #climatechange without addressing the root cause: a system that profits off inequality.

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#climatecrisis #climateaction #activism #action #speaker #business #sustainablebusiness #climateanxiety #ecoanxiety #leadership #people #inequality #climatejustice

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