Episode Details

Angry and Ready: Dana R. Fisher's Climate Call to Action

In this month's Citizens’ Climate Radio, host Peterson Toscano introduces listeners to the fiery and determined voice of Dana R. Fisher, a veteran in the climate change movement with nearly three decades of experience. Fisher, the author of “Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action,” delivers a searing critique of the fossil fuel industry and the ineffectiveness of incremental policy changes. This episode challenges listeners to consider the strategies needed to combat climate change and our roles in this fight.

Dana R. Fisher: The Voice of Urgency

Fisher doesn’t hold back as she reads from her latest book, calling out the covert interference of fossil fuel industries in IPCC reports and the lack of robust action from elected officials. Fisher argues that while volunteer advocacy is valuable, it’s not enough. She calls for a shift from incremental change to systemic overhauls, pushing citizens to become "troublemaking rebels" to force the hand of those in power.

"Incremental policymaking is going to be the death of us all," Fisher warns, urging the need for more aggressive and organized activism. She emphasizes that the timeline of the climate crisis is not dictated by political cycles but by the rapidly accumulating greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

Rebels, Advocates, Helpers, and Organizers: We Need Them All

Drawing from discussions from Episode 93, Peterson revisits the four roles change-makers play: advocates, rebels, helpers, and organizers. While most Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers fit the advocate role, Fisher stresses the need for more rebels and organizers to amplify the pressure on decision-makers.

Fisher’s call to action is clear: systemic change requires bold, sometimes uncomfortable actions. Peterson admits to his own discomfort with disruptive demonstrations but acknowledges their necessity in the broader strategy for climate action.

"While I deeply respect the work of groups like Citizens’ Climate Lobby, it's clear that advocacy alone isn't enough. We need more rebels, more organizers, and more systemic change to truly address the climate crisis." –Dana R. Fisher.

About Dana R. Fisher

Dana R. Fisher is the Director of the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE) and a Professor in the School of International Service at American University.  Her current projects include evaluating how federal service corps programs expand their climate-related work.  Fisher is a nonresident senior fellow in the governance studies program at The Brookings Institution and the chair of the political sociology section of the American Sociological Association.  She was a Contributing Author for Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Review (IPCC AR6), writing about citizen engagement and civic activism.  Her media appearances include ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, PBS Newshour, and various programs on NPR, BBC, and CBC. Her words have appeared in the popular media, including the Washington Post, Slate, TIME Magazine, Politico, the Nation, and the American Prospect.  Dana earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has authored over eighty research papers and book chapters and has written seven books.  For more details, see www.danarfisher.com. 

Follow Dana R. Fisher on