During UC San Diego’s winter quarter, CMBC organized a reading group centered on “What if We Get it Right? Visions of Climate Futures” by SIO alumna Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (PhD ‘11). This book explores potential futures for our climate, through essays, interviews, and art. As the text prompts readers to re-imagine what we believe is possible, Dr. Johnson writes about solutions and possibilities that exist at the intersection of policy, science, and socio-environmental justice. 

We extended an invite across our SIO and main campus communities to join the reading group, beginning in late January and culminating in a final community event in mid-March. 23 students, faculty, and staff joined us across winter quarter. The reading groups consisted of four biweekly small group discussions about the book, and utilized the official “What if We Get it Right?” reading guide. Throughout the reading group, participants identified their own capacities for climate action, and worked to co-vision possible climate futures together. 

Theodora’s small group takes their book discussion outside with a campus litter cleanup on Scripps campus.

To celebrate the end of the reading group, members from all of the reading groups came together and applied what they learned from the book to participate in a final, larger discussion about takeaways from “What if We Get it Right?”.

Stephania presents her answers to the discussion questions at the reading group celebration.

Additionally, everyone at the final wrap event worked to create a visual representation of a collective climate future in the form of a massive collage. Utilizing donated magazines and recycled materials, many hands worked to construct the collage. Attendees to the celebration also brought images of themselves to include in the collaborative collage, so that each individual could see themselves within the visualized and co-created future. Through the collage, some envisioned a climate future with sustainable agriculture and collective action, while others included images of scientific empowerment, abundant wildlife, and conserved oceans. The final product was expansive and inspiring, and the collage is currently displayed in the CMBC office. 

Members of CMBC gather around a table to assemble the climate future collage.

The group members’ commitment to create positive climate solutions didn’t just stop at the final celebration event. For Earth Day on April 22nd, reading group members reunited at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps to educate members of the public about climate futures. CMBC extends thanks to Nan Renner and her colleagues at the Birch for creating this fantastic opportunity to continue the conservation around climate solutions.

Collaborative climate solutions station at Birch Aquarium for Earth Day.