{"id":4214,"date":"2020-12-30T11:15:27","date_gmt":"2020-12-30T11:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=144699"},"modified":"2020-12-30T11:15:27","modified_gmt":"2020-12-30T11:15:27","slug":"fix-got-struck-by-climate-cupid-heres-who-weve-been-crushing-on-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/12\/30\/fix-got-struck-by-climate-cupid-heres-who-weve-been-crushing-on-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Fix got struck by climate cupid. Here\u2019s who we\u2019ve been crushing on this year."},"content":{"rendered":"
A lot of good stuff got buried in the bad news avalanche that was 2020. But fear not! Fix shoveled through the hip-deep snow to reveal our climate crushes \u2014 the leaders, thinkers, and system-shakers who gave us goo-goo eyes this year. They\u2019re behind the movements, moments, and milestones that kept the climate momentum going. Some are individuals, others are groups, but all are swoon-worthy.<\/p>\n
So settle in with a cup of cocoa and show some love for the people who have been driving progress, even through a blizzard of a year. (That\u2019s our last snow metaphor. Promise.)<\/p>\n
Kevork Djansezian \/ Getty<\/span><\/p>\n Emmy-nominated Zazie Beetz<\/strong> \u2014 you know her from shows like Atlanta<\/em> and movies like Joker \u2014<\/em> launched a must-see IGTV series this year: Zazie Talks Climate<\/em><\/a>.<\/em> Beetz interviews writers, activists, policymakers, and others to, in her words, take \u201can easy, conversational approach\u201d to everything environmental. We love when stars make climate solutions mainstream. While some of the other celeb content we\u2019ve seen this year (cough<\/em> Zac Efron<\/a> cough<\/em>) has been a bit shallow and heavy on white men, Beetz favors BIPOC and women. Their smart, justice-oriented chats offer a refreshing change of pace. Plus, the head scarves! The jewelry! Come for the climate conversation, stay for Beetz\u2019s breezy, boho style.<\/p>\n Andrew Caballero-Reynolds \/ Getty<\/span><\/p>\n We owe some of this year\u2019s biggest climate milestones to frontline Native American organizers.<\/strong> After years of protests, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe successfully stalled the Dakota Access Pipeline in July, setting up the Biden administration to deliver the final blow<\/a>. Deb Haaland<\/strong> is the first Native woman nominee for Secretary of Interior<\/a>, a win for climate progressives like 2020 Fixer Julian Brave NoiseCat<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> who argued for the historic nomination in a Politico piece<\/a> \u2014 and pushed the #DebForInterior<\/a> hashtag on Twitter. And the landback movement<\/a><\/strong> gained momentum; that\u2019s a boon to the planet, since Indigenous communities were practicing climate solutions like regenerative agriculture long before such things were trendy. Speaking of Native food systems, this year also saw the release of acclaimed documentary Gather<\/em><\/a>,<\/strong> which depicts the plight and power of tribes as they reclaim their culinary traditions.<\/p>\n Grist \/ Michael Dantzler \/ Google Earth<\/span><\/p>\n This summer, the Movement for Black Lives amplified conversations about environmental justice. And while plenty of lawmakers have promised to (one day, maybe, hopefully!) make equity a key part of their climate response, attorney and chemist and 2017 Fixer Nicky Sheats<\/strong><\/a> is getting stuff done.<\/em> Along with a coalition of community leaders and academics, he helped pass an unprecedented environmental justice law<\/a> in New Jersey in September. The legislation allows the state to block power plants, pipelines, and other polluting developments in already overburdened communities, often populated by people of color. That helps the climate while giving major might to the EJ movement, which has lacked the power to outright deny new fossil fuel projects. He hopes the groundbreaking law will pave the way for similar legislation around the country (and maybe breathe new life into the \u201cJust Say No\u201d slogan).<\/p>\n Grace Abe<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The 17 TikTok creators<\/a> known as EcoTok<\/strong> are using the app\u2019s dances, memes, and laugh-riot audio tracks to create viral videos that they hope galvanize Gen Z to take climate action. The collective offers tips on low-waste living, information on environmental justice, climate-science basics, and more. The goal is to encourage young people to make green choices while also fighting for systemic change. Their message is resonating: EcoTok has more than 78,000 followers, its 173 videos have racked up 1.1 million likes, and the collective was even tapped to promote TED\u2019s global climate-themed event Countdown<\/a>. Now you can endlessly scroll sans guilt!<\/p>\n <\/strong>Indigenous activists<\/strong><\/h3>\n
An EJ expert who walks the walk<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/strong> The eco-conscious teens dominating TikTok<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Climate-centered feminists<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n