From hikes to sustainable cocktails to comedy shows, events addressing climate change are set to pop up around L.A. from Sept. 8 to Sept. 15 as part of the city’s inaugural Climate Week.
Inspired by New York’s Climate Week NYC (which has been described as “Burning Man for climate geeksâ€), organizers hope the mix of fun and flashy events with more serious policy-focused discussions will encourage Angelenos to get involved in climate action and connect them with leaders.
“The climate and sustainability spaces operate in echo chambers,†said JC Arce, co-executive director of the nonprofit organizing L.A. Climate Week, the Collidescope Foundation. “The real impact is reaching that broader audience.â€
Has a UC Berkeley chemistry lab discovered the holy grail of plastic recycling? Maybe, but with a lot of caveats.
Many of the big names in L.A.’s climate activism scene are on the speaker list, including vice and deputy mayors, a White House advisor and even musician Billie Eilish’s mom, Maggie Baird, who founded a nonprofit focused on food insecurity and climate change in 2020.
With more than 100 events spanning eight days, here’s everything to know about Los Angeles Climate Week 2024:
How to participate
At least 5,000 people are expected to attend the festivities across the city. All the events are open to the public, and most are free.
“We want to be able to reach as many people as possible,†said Samantha Lau, an ambassador for the nonprofit organization Plant Based Treaty, which is hosting nine events. “There is an event for everybody.â€
Lau hopes the week will mobilize Angelenos. “You have nothing to lose by just checking us out,†she said. “All the events created are for the community, by the community.â€
Registration for events is available through the L.A. Climate Week website.
What to expect
L.A. Climate Week wants to cut the fatalism that often surrounds the subject of climate change with fun and exciting experiences.
On Wednesday, a group of comics hosts a climate change-themed stand-up show.
Skylar King, who’s performing at the show, said she had a week of long conversations with her fellow performers on how to joke about climate change without desensitizing people to the seriousness of the topic.
“There were some reservations about how we could make this a space that talks about such a serious and depressing subject matter while also serving the purpose of it being a comedy show,†said King.
For some organizers, trying to find the fun side of climate change work is navigating in uncharted waters. Yet, for them, it’s essential work to fight burnout and restore hope among their peers.
Proposed legislation would direct local governments to consider the impact of development on wildlife movement and restrict use of certain rat poisons.
After Climate Week
Organizers want the impact of L.A. Climate Week to last more than a week. They’re aiming to build a coalition of climate-concerned people who, they hope, will inspire meaningful action.
New York’s version of the event has faced criticism for allowing companies to virtue-signal about sustainability.
L.A. Climate Week leadership is trying to draw a contrast. They plan to focus on building meaningful connections in local communities and with nonprofits and continue their work year-round.
“L.A. Climate Week is amazing, it’s exciting,†said Arce, “but there’s so much more work that we’re doing throughout this upcoming year.â€
Notable events
Sunday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 10 p.m. in the Arts District: Opening ceremony with a green carpet, a trippy black-hole simulation and a vegan buffet ($50)
Monday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in West Hollywood: Climate action town hall.
Monday, Sept. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in Santa Monica: Casual few-mile run along the beach
Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. in Highland Park: Presidential debate watch party
Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Arts District: Sustainable fashion show
Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 7 and 9 p.m. in Hollywood: Laugh for the Planet comedy show, featuring Skylar King ($15 with two-drink minimum)
Thursday, Sept. 12, from 3 to 7 p.m. in Culver City: Climate art gallery
Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in East Hollywood: 5K climate run with free soft serve at the end
Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Arts District: Clean energy expo and sustainable business market
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. in Santa Monica: Climate march for oceans
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in Santa Monica: Climate Jeopardy at Patagonia
Sunday, Sept. 15 at 12:30 pm. in Malibu: Tide pool exploration with Heal the Bay
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