Marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is in love with climate solutions, and her new book, What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures, offers a refreshing, inspiring look at what our best possible climate future could look like through contributions and conversations with leading voices in art, poetry, economics and science.
Ayana studied environmental science and public policy at Harvard University, where she also forged a lifelong friendship with host Conor Gaughan. She later received a Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography before co-founding Urban Ocean Lab, a non-profit think tank for the future of coastal cities that she still leads today. Ayana, the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College, has co-edited the bestselling climate anthology All We Can Save, co-founded The All We Can Save Project, and even co-created and co-hosted the How to Save a Planet podcast.
More recently, she has co-authored a roadmap for integrating the ocean into climate-related policy called the Blue New Deal, developed U.S. federal ocean policy at the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and served on the board of directors for both Patagonia and GreenWave. Honestly, listing all of her climate-focused initiatives, policies, and accomplishments would take an entire podcast itself.
Hear Ayana talk about falling in love with the ocean, the secret importance of being good at attending cocktail parties, and how she’s merging science, policy, culture, and social justice to envision our best possible climate future.
Episode Highlights:
- 00:00 Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on visions of climate futures.
- 00:53 Conor Gaughan introduces Ayana
- 03:57 Early interests, Harvard University, and passion for the ocean
- 14:32 Designing a fishing device, Caribbean conservation, and How To Save a Planet
- 24:16 Founding Urban Ocean Lab and the core ideas of What If We Get It Right?
- 34:21 Problems and possibilities, reimagining infrastructure, and actionable climate policy
- 45:24 Climate tech unicorns, looking for local solutions, and being an optimistic realist
- 51:47 Conclusion and where to learn more
- 52:52 End credits
If you liked this episode, listen next to Allison Wolff of Vibrant Planet on Beneficial Fire, Sustainable Software, and Nature-Based Climate Solutions
More on Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, What If We Get It Right?, and Urban Ocean Lab:
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
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Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.
