Showing articles associated with Josh Ettinger
Josh Ettinger is a DPhil (PhD) student in Oxford University’s School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE) and Environmental Change Institute. He is a co-founder of 26,000 Climate Conversations – a new Oxford student-led initiative that seeks to build support for climate action through interpersonal conversations in the lead-up to the United Nations COP26 conference.
Josh's interdisciplinary research explores the notion of 'teachable moments' in the wake of extreme weather events. In particular, he is exploring the ways in which individuals attribute extreme weather events to human-driven climate change, as well as how these perceptions might influence environmental attitudes, behaviours, and decision-making.
Why is Oxford a good place to work in research related to environmental challenges?
Successfully tackling environmental challenges requires collaborative thinking across diverse perspectives and disciplines. That’s why I specifically came to Oxford for my post-graduate studies. There are experts here across almost every key field related to environmental challenges, including physical and social sciences, and thus an immense community of expertise to draw upon. The student body and local community are also extremely active on environmental causes and sustainability, so it’s an exciting place to be.
What is the biggest environmental challenge facing the planet right now?
I’d say one of the biggest environmental challenges right now is the question of climate justice and equity. How can we finally start making real, significant cuts to global emissions, while also balancing sustainable development and making sure no one is left behind?
Despite the challenges, are you optimistic about our future?
I like the term “stubborn optimism” coined by Christiana Figueres. We do not necessarily need to be optimistic about future prospects, but we can choose to be hopeful and determined as we seek to tackle the challenges we face. However, I do think we are now on the verge of a major global tipping point for climate action, so the case for optimism is growing every day.
More about Josh: https://talkclimatechange.org/
