On "Disruptive Activism": My Interview With Climate Scientist Peter Kalmus

With COP27 largely a failure, we must focus on new and creative ways to confront the fossil fuel industry

I wanted to share my full conversation with the great climate scientist Peter Kalmus on the concept of “disruptive activism” – something that Peter is uniquely experienced with. Among many other significant actions, Peter has chained himself to the doors of a Chase Bank to protest the bank’s financing of the fossil fuel industry. He also organized blockages of airports to stop private jet travel.

We spoke a few days ago as COP27 came to a close. This event seems to have been largely taken over by fossil fuel lobbyists and governments that were seeking to greenwash their reputations and promote their new for-profit technologies. While institutional venues such as COP may be ineffective in addressing the ongoing climate catastrophe, Peter had many encouraging ideas on productive avenues that citizens can take to create the necessary change to save the planet.

Watch the full interview below.