Climate change & civic engagement panels that showcased incredible solutions to worldly issues during this year’s SXSW

by Team SUSTAIN

SXSW was hot and ready for its first time back in Austin, Texas after almost 3 years being either virtual or canceled due to the pandemic. 

This year, there were a lot of firsts, such as Dolly Parton performing her first SXSW concert ever, channeling her 9 to 5 era and announcing her new book co-written by James Patterson. 

For their interactive panels, SXSW had a Climate Change track, bringing in incredible speakers and experts from all over the world. Although it seemed as though solving for the climate crisis was a main topic at the festival, SXSW also provided space for Shell, the oil and gas company to have a seat at the table even though they contribute to fossil fuels. Local Texan environmentalists protest the Shell house outside a nightclub showing their opposition to their presence.

From panels, protests, concerts and so much more, SXSW closed out an incredible 10-day festival with high-energy keynote speakers such as Lizzo as she gave insight into her new show Watch Out for the Big Grrrls and showcasing body positivity. 

Read ahead on a few of our favorite climate change and civic engagement panels that showcased incredible solutions to worldly issues. 

Twentysomethings: Next Gen of Nonprofits 

Reality TV-star of Netflix show Twentysomethings, Keauno Perez, moderated a panel of amazing non-profit leaders all under the age of 30. Nonprofits have a history of stuffy older white collar executives, but in this decade, we have seen an increase of young adults creating a more inclusive nonprofit experience. 

Meet Savannah Lovelace, founder of Pedal the Pacific, Claudia Yoli Ferla, executive director of MOVE Texas, and Kimiya Denise Factory, executive director of Black Freedom Factory, the next generation of the nonprofit world. In a society where a lot of nonprofits are failing young people, like Claudia mentions, it’s great to see younger people create change and redefine professionalism. 

“We exist because we are filling in the gaps that the government isn’t doing,” said Claudia Yoli Ferla. 

The Black Agenda: A Conversation with Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman and Waj Ali

Author, Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, is only 25 years old, is a first generation American, who’s family is from Ghana and just published her first book called The Black Agenda. The book covers many topics including 30 Black experts as they share their experiences and knowledge around social justice to healthcare. 

Anna mentions how her book makes a case that Black people are people and it shouldn’t be any other way. For those that don’t believe racism exists, then they are thinking Black & Brown people aren’t real, that is why The Black Agenda is so important. 

“Black women are asked to save America for themselves and  in doing so they save America for more people,” said Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman.

Art imitates activism imitates art presented by Unified

Our very own founder, Reza Cristián, spoke on a panel hosted by Unified, a new social network for organizers and  activists. This unofficial SXSW panel had great local activists and artists such as Rio Renaud, purpose-driven illustrator, Elijah Allen, executive director of Interfaces - an educational and performance-based arts collective, Samara Barks, freelance illustrator, muralist and mentor, and Shannon Elder, co-founder of PietschHouse. 

A few solutions and action items that people can do is first fund arts programs, make sure to allow for accessible spaces specifically for BIPOC-communities , and mentor other artists. 

“You can't just say Austin is that blue dot in TX, to keep Austin progressive you have to go out there and be a part of the community,” said Samara Barks.

Intersectionality & The Environment

Leah Thomas, debuts her first book The Intersectional Environmentalist alongside co-partner of non-profit with the same name, Diandra Marizet at SXSW.  The book fits as a manifesto for the need that both environmental and social justice goes hand in hand when fighting for change against the climate crisis. The book walks us through how Black, Indigenous, people of color must be uplifted and taken into account when building for a better planet for both the environment and the people on it. 

Diandra Marizet, co-founder of The Intersectional Environmentalist also read out loud her written piece about eco-feminism and machismo through her own lived in experiences of being an Mexican-American Tejano. 

“I really wanted to learn a little more about unsung heroes who have been here all along,” said Leah Thomas. “Incredible Indigenous rights advocates, the mother and father of environmental justice, and I wanted more environmental students to see themselves reflected into this environmental space, so that’s why I wrote this book.”

Supporting Women-Led Efforts to Protect & Restore the Earth

The main topic of discussion on this incredible line-up is addressing the absence of women in climate change, and how to provide solutions for women to be more in charge in these spaces. 

Meet the Daughters for Earth, co-founded by Zainab Salbi, looking to be the solution for mobilizing women. She was joined by Leah Thomas, Intersectional Environmentalist, Justin Winters, co-founder of One Earth and Delger Erdenesanaa, environmental reporter for The Texas Observer. 

“We have data out there that shows when women are involved then things are more viable” said Zainab Salbi.

Leah also pointed out that when people think about women they need to also remember to bring Trans women and women of color into the conversation.

Carbon Footprint & the Future of Consumer Brands

Four incredible businesses came together to talk about the importance of decreasing our carbon footprint if we want to have a liveable planet in the future. 

Meet Sandra Noonan, chief sustainability officer of Just Salad, Emily Ewell, founder of Pantys, Cristina Mittermeier, co-founder of SeaLeagacy & Only One, and Michelle Li, founder of Clever Carbon. Each brand goes into ways we individually and collectively as businesses can decline carbon footprint. 

Such as Just Salad, NYC-based salad restaurants have a reusable bowl program, that allows for less waste on the consumer’s side. They wanted to be as radical about their packaging as they are with their food. 

“We don’t have to be perfect, we just have to be good,” said Michelle Li. 

All About Equity: Future-Proof Your Organization

Minal Bopaiah, founder of Brevity & Wit, and author of Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives, walks us through exactly what equity looks like in our everyday lives. 

Through her presentation, she shares her own family story of immigrating to the US and how inequities were alive and well. Bopaiah mentions how “we need both, Equality & Equity” in order to see change and build support for one another. Her book covers this and more as well as a guide for organizations to make sure everyone thrives. 

Social Media Platform Accountability: LGBTQ+ Edition

Texas has been in the news a lot this year already, and not for good news. With white conservative politicians making it difficult for Trans, LGBTQ+, and people with a reproductive system who want control of their own anatomy. This conversation with Brennan Suen, Media Matters for America , Jenni Olson, GLAAD, and ALOK, writer, poet and activist, is much needed. 

ALOK talks us through how social media contributes to hate against the LGBTQ+ communities and the division amongst our country, both right and left. These platforms profit from technology platforms that are igniting the right wing media frenzy. 

“Future of this conversation is to choose love, resist the temptation to say this person behind a screen is a bigot,” said ALOK. “Let’s work together to de-program that same algorithm.”

Even though social media platform creates  an extremely dangerous situation for a lot of communities, companies profit from Queer and Trans folks being there. There are a few ways to push the needle forward for better and that’s by “moving the conversation away from focusing on conservatives states who don’t know better to people in progressive states who are making money on destabilizing democracy from social media corporations.”

How Do You Talk to Your Audience About Climate?

The overarching theme of this insightful panel hosted by Climate Control Projects, was creativity as a tool for radical change. Featured speakers were Tori Tsui co-founder of Bad Activist Collective, and musicians Ayoni Thompson and Malin Pettersen, with Julia Gentner, also a co-founder of Bad Activist Collective, moderating. 

Ayoni and Malin shared their thoughts on the intersection of music and climate justice, and how both are rooted in community and collective consciousness. While Malin turns to sharing facts and figures to educate her audience via social media, Ayoni often uses activism in her music, telling her experience as a Black woman through her lyrics. Much of Ayoni’s work is inspired by protest music that encourages and uplifts communities. “It is my job to open up conversation and figure out what we need to talk about socially and make music that makes people want to have those conversations.” said Ayoni. 

Just as music is a cross cultural lens that reaches a wide array of audiences, Tori explained how the climate movement operates in a similar way. Bad Activist Collective is a group of individuals who realize climate justice has deep systemic roots in oppression. Their focus lies on the marginalized communities working the frontlines, understanding that those at the blunt end of the climate crisis are not the ones perpetuating it. The collective creates spaces where activists can learn from each other, and centers joy and healing vs. climate doom. 

No matter what space you’re in, the speakers all agreed that there is not one way to be an activist. While perfectionism scares people off and capitalism pushes us into groups, what’s needed is unity and collective contribution. There are many different roles that make up a movement, and all are equally as important. From protestors, to healers to artists, and behind the scenes workers, everyone is needed to sustain action and bring about real change. 

How are You(th) Showing up for Climate Action?

This session featured conversations with four inspiring youth climate leaders: Joshua Amponsem of Green Africa Youth, Larissa Crawford of Future Ancestors Services, Naia Lee of Climate Strike Canada & Sustainabiliteens and Dominique Souris from Youth Climate Lab. 

A large emphasis was placed on the importance of community, and focusing on collaboration vs. competition. Justifiably so, youth climate activists are often skeptical of working with older generations. This panel however, shed a light on the necessary role elders play in solving the climate crisis. To bring forth a sustainable, safe planet for all, we need all hands on deck and it’s important not to write off the work of generations before us. Oftentimes, older activists have access to resources and funding that their younger counterparts do not. 

The speakers also discussed the need to shift focus from titles and “clout” to functions and action- what are you actually doing for the movement? A title means nothing without thoughtful action behind it. In fact, the most successful activists are usually the ones with smaller followings and public platforms because their time is dedicated to physically doing the work and having the tough conversations. There is a vast array of roles that are needed to sustain the climate movement, and the title is far less important than the action. 

Overall the panel proved that young people today know that our government is meant to serve us and we deserve better than what we are getting. Youth climate activists are building a new common sense around policy and action, while also acknowledging burnout and the crucial role self-care and radical rest plays in successful, long-term activism. Their advice? Lean into your passions, know the value of your work and always stand up for yourself and what you believe in. 

We Don’t Have Time–Act on Climate Now

This panel featured a conversation between climate behavioral scientist, Dr. Sweta Chakraborty, President of the world's largest climate action review platform, We Don't Have Time, and actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Boaz Paldi from the United Nations Development Programme, and Mik Thobo-Carlsen from Mindpool– the creatives behind #dontchooseextinction—the campaign that urges world leaders to end all fossil fuel subsidies.

The session opened with a short video where Frankie the Dinosaur, voiced by Nikolaj,  addresses the United Nations General Assembly on the urgency of climate action initiatives by policy makers. The video is an attempt to find an accessible way to speak on issues that are scary and complicated, in a more light, humorous way. The panelists agreed that a common goal of all activists is to provide hope and encourage others to take action. 

Our governments currently spend more than $5 trillion per year supporting fossil fuels, with around 80% of tax money directly funding the production of fossil fuels. The panelists posed the question, what if we took this money and used it to get the deficit down, and support those communities directly impacted by fossil fuels? They understood that getting society to completely stop the use of fossil fuels is no simple task, but creating policy around social and environmental protection is a necessary, and urgent, first step. 

Solutions & Takeaways

Many solutions were brought up in each conversation we attended. How companies who take the risk to show up for BIPOC-communities and our climate, will be the ones making the most profit later down the road. But of course profit shouldn’t be the number one priority, but when it comes to corporations who have yet made the leap, it’s time to talk about it. 

As for climate change, we need to be inclusive for all and also have intergenerational conversations, because the only way we can create systemic change is by allowing for both Gen-Z and the older generations to work together. 

Community comes out stronger in the end, and truly is how we can solve for a better world. Thank you to SXSW for allowing us to attend this year and hear incredible stories from people all over the world.