Bringing Climate Action Down to Earth: Breaking Down Siloes in the Climate Justice Movement in Canada
Amanda Harvey-Sánchez (she/her)
Building on my embedded position as a long-time activist in the climate justice movement in Canada, I explore some of the challenges and possibilities climate justice activists (and researchers) are facing today. Specifically, I attend to how climate justice activists are devising social movement strategies in a moment when climate change is viewed as interconnected with multiple social justice causes. I argue for a conceptualizing of climate justice not as a stable solution to past, present, and anticipated injustices but rather as an emerging framework for actualizing activist projects amidst the ever-evolving climate crisis.
Amanda Harvey-Sánchez is a PhD candidate in Sociocultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto. She is a climate justice organizer, activist-researcher, and educator. Her doctoral research explores the lived experiences of activists organizing for climate justice, and the practices and collaborations that facilitate and hinder transformative and holistic climate justice action. Using community-based participatory research approaches, Amanda is currently working with activists in Toronto to address local needs and strengthen and expand existing community networks needed to address the climate crisis.
Amanda Harvey-Sánchez is a PhD candidate in Sociocultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto. She is a climate justice organizer, activist-researcher, and educator. Her doctoral research explores the lived experiences of activists organizing for climate justice, and the practices and collaborations that facilitate and hinder transformative and holistic climate justice action. Using community-based participatory research approaches, Amanda is currently working with activists in Toronto to address local needs and strengthen and expand existing community networks needed to address the climate crisis.
Why Climate Change Action Gets Stuck and What to do About it
Matt Hoffmann (he/him)
This talk begins with a vexing puzzle. There is a troubling and recurring pattern in response to climate change: climate action (at many levels—cities, provinces, federal, global) gets started but tends to run into obstacles and stalls or even backtracks. Drawing on multiple examples from a five-year research project, Matthew Hoffmann explains why that happens and explores the possibilities for getting unstuck and catalyzing the kind of transformative change we need to head off and navigate the climate emergency.
Matt Hoffmann is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto Scarborough and co-directs the Environmental Governance Lab. He teaches classes on environmental and sustainability politics and global governance. His research on climate change and environmental politics has been published in 4 books and over 50 journal articles and book chapters. He also regularly contributes to media outlets such as The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and The Conversation. Professor Hoffmann was co-editor of the journal Global Environmental Politics from 2017-2022 and currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for the environmental NGO, Green Economy Canada
Matt Hoffmann is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto Scarborough and co-directs the Environmental Governance Lab. He teaches classes on environmental and sustainability politics and global governance. His research on climate change and environmental politics has been published in 4 books and over 50 journal articles and book chapters. He also regularly contributes to media outlets such as The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and The Conversation. Professor Hoffmann was co-editor of the journal Global Environmental Politics from 2017-2022 and currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for the environmental NGO, Green Economy Canada
From Waste to Electrification: Powering the Electric EVolution
Devon Gray (she/her)
The increasing impacts of climate change have necessitated regulations globally for the transition to net zero carbon emissions. In Canada, proposed regulations will require all new vehicles sold to be 100% zero emissions by 2035. With this transition to electrification comes an increased need for battery materials and manufacturing. Battery metals are traditionally obtained through mining and are a limited resource. Recycling of existing batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, allows us to recover these metals and reuse them in new manufacturing. This supports the production of electric vehicle batteries and helps build a path for a circular economy. I will discuss how we can use chemistry to recycle battery waste to make new batteries and how that supports climate change initiatives.
Devon Gray is a member of the Hydrometallurgy Group at Hatch, an engineering and management consultancy firm. Her work in hydrometallurgy involves the use of aqueous chemistry to recover metals from ores and recycled materials. Her work includes recycling of lithium-ion batteries to recover metals and generate battery-grade materials for manufacturing. She received her Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Queen’s University, specializing in Chemical and Process Engineering. She then received her Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada. Outside of work, she enjoys playing music and is working on building a playable Lego piano.
Devon Gray is a member of the Hydrometallurgy Group at Hatch, an engineering and management consultancy firm. Her work in hydrometallurgy involves the use of aqueous chemistry to recover metals from ores and recycled materials. Her work includes recycling of lithium-ion batteries to recover metals and generate battery-grade materials for manufacturing. She received her Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Queen’s University, specializing in Chemical and Process Engineering. She then received her Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada. Outside of work, she enjoys playing music and is working on building a playable Lego piano.