Hi there,
I get it — climate change is scary. I understand the temptation as a news consumer to avoid the apocalyptic headlines and bleak statistics. Grappling with my own fear of the climate crisis a few years ago, I knew there had to be more than bad news.
It’s been my reporting beat ever since.
This year, I spent months following a group of teenagers on their quest to save the world from the climate crisis. I spoke with local water agency officials and cemetery employees about how they’re saving and recycling water during this historic drought. I visited a farmer who’s using a fraction of the water to grow his tomatoes in his hydroponic greenhouse. I hiked with people who have dedicated their time to saving the remaining few hundred acres of a unique habitat on the peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains. And I interviewed the environmentalists who have spent years trying to save Southern California’s iconic Joshua Tree from climate-induced extinction.
There’s no greater antidote to the fear of an ever-present and worsening problem than a sense of agency and empowerment. So as a reporter, I set out to find solutions, because solutions give us that agency, and that keeps people listening.
Recently, I put together a story about how climate anxiety is influencing family planning decisions, and it features the voices of members who were willing to share their stories with me. I never cease to be amazed by the overwhelming support from our members. When I ask them for their help with a climate story, they never fail to pull through.
Donate by midnight tonight to help KCRW unlock a generous $25,000 match from KCRW Board member Madhu Pocha and the O’Melveny Firm. That could be $50,000 to support the work that makes KCRW special and you can count yourself as a member of this one-of-a-kind community.
Thank you,
Caleigh Wells
KCRW Healthy Communities Reporter
P.S. It’s also the final hours of our New Year’s Eve Sweepstakes.* Donate by midnight tonight to be automatically entered to win — an unforgettable VIP New Year’s Eve celebration at The Bungalow Santa Monica including dinner, dancing, pampering, and a night’s stay at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows for you and three friends.
*No contribution necessary to enter. Rules can be found at KCRW.com/give
