Editor’s Introduction – Volume 5 Issue #2

As I note in the Seismic Shift article in this issue times are changing. It is clear that climate change is by no means at the top of the socio-political agenda even though 2024 will be the warmest year on the planet since pre-industrial times. Climate change induced extreme weather events and their repercussions continue to increase in frequency and intensity as populist forces that deny the threat of climate change ascend in North America.

This issue of the Reader provides a brief summary of the recent and extremely fraught Conference of the Parties in Azerbaijan. The articles that follow focus on two themes that relate to community issues: how do we talk to one another about climate change in a constructive way and how can we continue the work of responding to climate change at the community level? Did We Hear Helene provides an on the ground account of the impacts of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Seismic Shift considers the changing times and their implications for the work of preparing to respond to the accelerating impacts of climate change. It turns out there is a lot to feel good about at the local level. Our book review section continues to introduce the reader to some of the excellent climate change science fiction published over the past few years.

We are happy to re-introduce the Paint, Line and Draw section in this issue of the Reader. Climate change is addressed through images and poems in this section. This time, Paint, Line and Draw features work by psychiatrist, climate activist and painter, Diane de Meschino and well known, west coast poet, Scott Lawrance.