Published December 2, 2025, by The New Press, "The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late" by Judith Enck, Adam Mahoney, and Beyond Plastics is an

Published December 2, 2025, by The New Press, "The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late" by Judith Enck, Adam Mahoney, and Beyond Plastics is an Amazon Editors' Pick. This powerful investigation reveals plastic's devastating impact on human health and the environment, from poisoned oceans and polluted air to microplastic contamination and environmental racism.

The book critically examines plastic's paradox, challenging the belief that recycling alone can solve the crisis. Instead, it debunks industry claims and emphasizes the urgent need for action, offering practical solutions like a "household waste audit" to empower readers. Learn more at: beyondplastics.org/publications/problem-with-plastic-book (ISBN: 9781620979457).

“The Influence of Environmental Activism on Gen Z Voting” unites four environmental leaders from a variety of backgrounds for a thought-provoking discussion about environmental

“The Influence of Environmental Activism on Gen Z Voting” unites four environmental leaders from a variety of backgrounds for a thought-provoking discussion about environmental activism and civic engagement. Representing the voices of student activists as well as professional environmentalists, our speakers will explore the movement’s impact on voting and youth turnout in recent elections and discuss the strength of environmental activism as a form of civic engagement. Accomplished leaders in their own right, panelists will share their personal journeys and provide key takeaways from the intersection of environmentalism and politics, to inspire the next generation of voters and citizen leaders.

This event is part of the Creating Citizens Speaker Series at UC Berkeley, a partnership between The Commonwealth Club, the Associated Students of the University of California Vote Coalition, and the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. The series gives UC Berkeley students and community members opportunities to listen to and ask questions of leading minds in politics, media and education as they learn how to become better, more involved citizens.

We look forward to welcoming community members and students from around the Bay Area to participate in this riveting conversation and to join us for future programs in the Creating Citizens Speaker Series.

NOTES
This program is part of The Commonwealth Club’s civics education initiative, Creating Citizens.

Creating Citizens is supported by the KORET Foundation

Produced in partnership with the EAVP Vote Coalition.

Photos courtesy the speakers.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

SPEAKERS

Sharon Daraphonhdeth
Director, Student Environmental Resource Center, UC Berkeley; Instagram @SERCBerkeley

Abigail Dillen
President, Earthjustice; Instagram @earthjustice

Daniel Kammen
James and Katherine Lau Distinguished Professor of Sustainability, Department of Nuclear Engineering, and Director, Center for Environmental Policy, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley; X @dan_kammen

Ashi Mishra
Senior, UC Berkeley, and Associated Students of the University of California Eco-Senator; Instagram @asucecooffice

Valeria Espino
Junior, UC Berkeley; Environmental Justice and Climate Change Policy Lead, External Affairs Vice President's Office—Moderator

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Founded in 1903 in San Francisco California 🌉, The Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt in 1911 to Anthony Fauci in 2020.

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On September 12, 2024, WECAN launched its "Gendered and Racial Impacts of the Fossil Fuel Industry in North America" report. This fourth edition details how fossil fuel extraction

On September 12, 2024, WECAN launched its "Gendered and Racial Impacts of the Fossil Fuel Industry in North America" report. This fourth edition details how fossil fuel extraction disproportionately harms women, particularly in Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income communities, leading to increased health risks, violence, and human rights violations. It also identifies complicit financial institutions and recommends steps for accountability and a just transition.

The virtual launch featured frontline women leaders, health experts, and advocates. Speakers like Roishetta Sibley Ozane, Rene Ann Goodrich, Sharon Lavigne, and Casey Camp Horinek demanded that financial institutions take action to protect communities, ecosystems, and the climate.

The "Women for Climate Justice Leading Protection of Water" event, a formal side event of the UN Water Conference in New York City, addressed climate change impacts on global water. Grassroots

The "Women for Climate Justice Leading Protection of Water" event, a formal side event of the UN Water Conference in New York City, addressed climate change impacts on global water. Grassroots leaders, water protectors, and international policy experts shared solutions and strategies for protecting aquatic ecosystems within a climate justice framework.

WECAN submitted a commitment and released a Call to Action, urging governments to improve water protection through a rights-based approach and by ensuring women's leadership. Read the Call to Action here. Additional event links and resources are available here.

The Women’s Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted the Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond from June 23-28, 2025. This virtual forum united over 125

The Women’s Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted the Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond from June 23-28, 2025. This virtual forum united over 125 grassroots and frontline women leaders, advocates, and policymakers from 50 countries. Across 25 panels, participants showcased diverse visions and strategies to accelerate a bold path toward a healthy and just world.

A key session, “Rights of Nature as a Systemic Solution: Protecting and Defending the Places We Live,” held on June 27th, featured prominent leaders. Resources from this panel and the entire Assembly are available here. Learn more about the Assembly here.

The Women's Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted its Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond from June 23-28, 2025. This event gathered over 125 grassroots and

The Women's Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted its Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond from June 23-28, 2025. This event gathered over 125 grassroots and frontline women leaders, advocates, and policymakers from 50 countries to share diverse visions and strategies for a just and healthy world across 25 panels.

A significant panel, "Impacts of the Fossil Fuel Industry in North America," took place on June 25th. Featured speakers included Sharon Lavigne (RISE St. James), Tara Houska (Giniw Collective), Nalleli Cobo (People not Pozos, South Central Youth Leadership Coalition), and Dr. Laalitha Surapaneni, a physician.

The U'wa people continue their decades-long, nonviolent struggle to protect their sacred ancestral lands from environmental destruction. While Occidental Petroleum departed in 2002, Colombia's

The U'wa people continue their decades-long, nonviolent struggle to protect their sacred ancestral lands from environmental destruction. While Occidental Petroleum departed in 2002, Colombia's national oil company Ecopetrol now intensifies oil exploration activities, particularly around the Magallanes platform.

This exploration encroaches on U'wa ancestral territory and the spiritually significant Cubogón River. U'wa spiritual leader Berito Cobaría emphasizes their ancient wisdom: oil, or "Ruiria," is the Earth's blood, and its extraction causes a slow environmental death. This perspective aligns closely with modern climate change warnings.

Read more: http://amazonwatch.org/news/2014/0417-colombias-uwa-two-decades-later-fighting-on

For millennia, Indigenous communities have been environmental guardians, using traditional knowledge to live in balance and protect flora and fauna. They safeguard 80% of the world's biodiversity,

For millennia, Indigenous communities have been environmental guardians, using traditional knowledge to live in balance and protect flora and fauna. They safeguard 80% of the world's biodiversity, and protecting these lands and waters is crucial for climate mitigation, as these biodiverse areas are major carbon sinks. Indigenous peoples are the ancestral owners of nearly half the intact forest in the Amazon Basin.

Nemonte Nenquimo, a Waorani leader and co-founder of Ceibo Alliance and Amazon Frontlines, stresses that respecting Indigenous peoples' rights to their territories is vital for protecting the Amazon rainforest, our climate, and global life. Recognized by Time's 100 most influential people and a Goldman Environmental Prize winner, Nenquimo advocates against oil drilling on ancestral lands.

Learn more at Amazon Frontlines and explore more Bioneers videos.

Indigenous communities are vital guardians of Earth's biodiversity, safeguarding 80% of what remains globally. Their traditional knowledge and ancestral ownership of vast areas, including nearly

Indigenous communities are vital guardians of Earth's biodiversity, safeguarding 80% of what remains globally. Their traditional knowledge and ancestral ownership of vast areas, including nearly half of the Amazon's intact forests, are crucial for mitigating the climate crisis, as these biodiverse regions serve as major carbon sinks. Respecting Indigenous peoples' internationally recognized rights is paramount for protecting our planet's most important rainforests, climate, and life.

Nemonte Nenquimo, a Waorani leader and co-founder of Ceibo Alliance and Amazon Frontlines, champions this cause. Named one of Time's 100 most influential people and a Goldman Environmental Prize winner, she fights against oil drilling on ancestral lands. Learn more about Amazon Frontlines and explore Bioneers videos.

Global food production must increase by 70% by 2050, yet farmers are disappearing, and communities struggle for healthy food. Could solutions to these complex issues emerge from unexpected places,

Global food production must increase by 70% by 2050, yet farmers are disappearing, and communities struggle for healthy food. Could solutions to these complex issues emerge from unexpected places, like a Spanish desert and a Brooklyn parking lot?

Matt Bodnar, a Forbes "30 Under 30" honoree and partner at Fresh Hospitality, invests in innovative food and technology ventures, including vertical farming startup Square Roots. His work, which also spans commercial real estate with Fresh Capital, explores how strategic investment can address these critical challenges.

This talk was presented at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.