Climate Week Reflections

Last week I attended my third climate week

I must say, it was by and large detached from the present day reality of

fascism in America.

Neither online nor in person was there a collective exchange regarding the protests which took place around the world and outside the UNGA

Of course my assessment is limited by the perspective of events I attended and my social media bubble — however — it cannot be understated how little mention of the administrations’ violent policies and genocidal regime came up in events featuring media outlets, international policymakers, and leading justice organizations.

How frightening it is for this movement to be so far removed from the nature of our nation.

This does not give me hope for the upcoming COP30

Leaders like Gustavo Petro (Columbian President), Micheál Martin (Taoiseach of Ireland) and Alexander Stubb (Finland President), do give me hope!

On a very different, yet similar note—the climate space remains wholly exclusionary–dare I say ableist toward neurodivergents—particularly those on the spectrum.

Not once in the three years of attendance have I attended a climate week event that offered any sort of accommodation or basic consideration for ASD.

Close your eyes (well read this first then close your eyes)

And imagine you’re attending a quintessential climate week event.

You’re in a large room donned in bright fluorescent lighting,

The room is packed and loud.

Glasses are clanking, mixers are shaking, folks are bumping into you, and there is something close to elevator music playing on the speaker so you can barely hear the person leaning in for you and the other two people standing by can hear them repeat the last thing they said.

Ah yes, the casual networking over cocktails before and/or after the main event.

Can you hear it? Smell it? Taste it?

Now imagine that experience as someone with ASD

Your senses are heightened

You struggle with social cues and speaking to more than one person at a time,

You’re overstimulated

The hors d’oeuvres are a textural landmine.

No one is being honest and

no one forgives your faux pas.

Next year—if we’re still allowed to have Climate Week—

I’d like to see all shades and shapes of the movement honored and uplifted.

Use the momentum of NYCW and the upcoming COP30

to remind us of our true purpose.

This is a call:

for connection and collaboration for the

betterment of the world.

To make all happier and healthier;

to bare witness to each other—

our grief as well as our beauty.

To stand by each other,

to fight for each other;

but most of all, to love each other,

radically.

To do so, we must act proactively,

be it protest, mutual aid, art exchange,

or policy change.