Beyond the Climate Message: Environmental Advocacy in a Polarized America

Join the SAIS Energy & Environment Club and Development, Climate, and Sustainability Focus Area for a moderated lunchtime panel exploring how environmental advocates can build trust and promote climate action in today’s polarized political environment.

Featuring Dr. Doran Tucker of George Mason University and Mallika Talwar of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, the discussion will examine how political identity, culture, faith, geography, and personal experience shape public responses to climate change—and how advocates can make climate action relevant to people’s values and daily concerns.

Panelists will explore the strengths and limitations of connecting climate action to affordability, public health, employment, energy reliability, national security, extreme weather, and community resilience. The conversation will also consider how to identify trusted messengers, engage people who do not identify as environmentalists, and respond to misinformation and climate fatigue while maintaining scientific accuracy and authenticity.

The panel will conclude with an audience Q&A, offering students practical insights into moving audiences from awareness to civic engagement and policy support. An additional speaker will be announced soon.

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Co-hosted with: SAIS Focus Area Events