Our thinking

The Goods: Grist 50

20 September, 2024

In the midst of the headlines about the ever-increasing risks and impacts of climate change, in this week’s Goods we wanted to bring your attention to this year’s Grist 50 list, which spotlights the 50 most inspiring activists from across the US who are tackling some of today’s greatest climate challenges, through technological advancements, grassroots activism, media and policy reform, and more. Who knows, you may be inspired to act yourself?

Tackling the impact of the communications industry, Duncan Meisel, executive director of Clean Creatives, is working to cut ties between PR firms and the fossil fuel industry. By encouraging creative agencies to pledge not to work with polluters, Meisel is taking aim at the oil and gas sector reputations and their often misleading narratives about climate change.

Working to set new standards for reusable packaging systems, Amy Larkin, co-founder of PR3, is leading efforts to facilitate an effective transition to reusable containers. Switching to reusables comes with significant logistical challenges, and by collaborating with corporations, policymakers, and environmental groups, Larkin hopes to make reuse systems scalable and reduce plastic pollution.

With monocultural food systems in her sights, Wendy Johnson is incentivising and supporting farmers to follow her lead and transform their farming practices to more sustainable, climate resilient and climate friendly agricultural systems.

This is just a glimpse of the inspiring changemakers featured in this year’s list. Read more inspiring tales from some of the most exciting climate leaders in US in the full list here.

By Lucy Bell