July 2, 2021

Here’s why Grace Nosek wrote young-adult “eco-feminist thrillers” to heat up climate activism (and yes, they are Twilight-inspired): “You cannot build to something beautiful from a place of burnout and defensiveness and unhappiness. Climate activism can be about the things we love already. It doesn’t have to be this separate, anesthetized, boring, sad, dark place. What it really means is caring about the broader human community and your home. We have to create spaces people want to be in, filled with hope and joy and laughter. If there’s no dancing at the revolution, as the saying goes, I don’t want to be there.”

Her aim: “Exposing how the fossil fuel industry’s campaign of misinformation is an invisible threat to democracy. Like Big Tobacco for a half-century, the fossil fuel industry is creating a false narrative, sewing seeds of doubt about climate science – but the public is unaware.” 

A “Game of Thrones” analogy: “We all need to be this Jon Snow telling about the dangers of the White Walkers.”

Here’s what else she’s doing: Founded UBC Climate Hub (a student-led group embedded within the university that empowers young leaders to harness their collective voice and make an meaningful impact both at UBC and around the world); wrote a popular teen eco-fantasy trilogy; hosts a hope-driven podcast called Planet Potluck; collaborating with a team of international climate litigation experts on a textbook; delivering lectures to youth and leaders from around the world; working on a children’s book and poster series; coming out with memes – like creating an over-the-top game show video series where she quizzes her dog (peanut butter helps) to poke fun at the fossil fuel industry’s “outrageous behavior.” 

Her creds: UBC Law PhD candidate and “climate storyteller”; Law degree from Harvard; former Fulbright Fellow and 2018 Trudeau Scholar.

Find out more about Grace Nosek’s climate justice advocacy, partnerships and research.

Listen to the podcast, “Planet Potluck – Hopeful Stories for Climate Action.”


Grace Nosek with her teen eco-fantasy novel series, Ava of the Gaia

Grace Nosek with her teen eco-fantasy novel series, Ava of the Gaia (photo: David Markwei)

Categories

  • Issues of Global Relevance
  • Students as Global Citizens
  • UBC as a Global Actor