September 24-30 is Climate Preparedness Week, an annual week of service, learning, and action presented by Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW), the Massachusetts Library System, and libraries across the Commonwealth.
Read on to find ways to learn, engage, and connect with others around this critical issue. Together, we can find paths to prepare and adapt to the impacts of this phenomenon in a way that is thoughtful, just, equitable, and respectful of all beings.
Events
For full event listings and registration information, please click the event titles. See the CREW website for a full list of Climate Preparedness Week events statewide.
Climate Preparedness Week Keynote: How to Prepare for Climate Change with author David Pogue
On Friday, September 24 from 2 - 3 p.m., join the Massachusetts Library System for a presentation by David Pogue, author of How to Prepare for Climate Change. Find a print or eBook copy from the BPL through our online catalog.
Talking Trash & Recycling with Keep Massachusetts Beautiful
On Wednesday, September 29 from 1 - 2 p.m., join Keep Massachusetts Beautiful for a presentation and discussion of ways we can all reduce waste and improve recycling.
The Talking Trash & Recycling program is an interactive presentation that will teach you what really happens to trash and recyclables in Boston. You will learn ways to reduce the amount of trash you generate, improve your recycling habits, make small changes to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, and help Boston achieve its solid waste reduction goals. We also provide an overview of MassDEP's RecycleSmartMA program.
Community Film Discussion—Fire & Flood: Queer Resilience in the Era of Climate Change
On Wednesday, September 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m., join your neighbors for a community discussion of Fire & Flood: Queer Resilience in the Era of Climate Change.
This 104-minute documentary tells the story of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the fires in Santa Rosa, California, two near-simultaneous climate-related disasters in the fall of 2017, through the voices of LGBTQ+ people who lived through them and were part of the community response. The documentary also explores the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ communities to climate disasters and lifts up queer and trans strategies for resilience, transition, and survival. This program is presented in partnership with JP@Home Climate Legacy and Extinction Rebellion.
Booklists
Before, during, or especially after the Climate Preparedness Week events, check out some of the recent books below to continue your learning and engagement. We have a whole array of fascinating new titles on climate preparedness, science, economics, and creative responses to help you think about adapting to the coming world. There's also a special list to help you build on one of this year's most high-profile climate-related books, Elizabeth Kolbert's Under a White Sky.
Preparedness and Policy
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At the household, municipal, and national level, collective action is needed to adapt to the effects of climate change. Check out these books to learn how we can prepare for and respond to what's coming (and to what's already here).
The Science of a Changing World
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From the mathematical details of climate modeling to projected changes in wildlife habitats, these works reveal how scientists have understood where we are and help us think about where we're going.
Climate Change and the Crises of Capital
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When it comes to climate change, the debate over the responsibility and reformability of our economic system smolders on. In these books, authors spanning the spectrum of opinion summon the specter of capitalism to see what it portends for our changing world.
Intersection, Introspection, Inspiration
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Climate change can seem like a depressing subject, but some have found a way to find hope amidst its uncertainties. These authors have used it variously as a lens to envision a better future, a mirror to better understand themselves, and an opportunity to secure a more just world for all.
If You Liked ... Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert
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No matter what part of Kolbert's book intrigued you the most, the BPL has titles to help you dig deeper into the wide range of topics she covers. The titles are organized in roughly the order in which the topics appear in Under a White Sky.
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