Last week as New York welcomed more than 6,500 people from over 100 countries to attend 600 events to mark Climate Week, the stakes felt higher than ever before. As the world grapples with the everyday impacts of climate crisis, the time is nigh to galvanize global action to one of the most significant challenges of our time.
Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane, the United States’ first national humane organization, has been on a mission to inspire action through environmental awareness throughout her career. As one of the less than 25% of women to lead global charities, and in a space that has become hyper-politicized, she has firsthand insights into the cultural and political cost of championing a cause long cast as idealistic and abstract. A reality she is determined to change. Her current focus is on biodiversity – the essential species and habitats that underpin the ecosystems supporting our various industries and human livelihoods.
To coincide with climate week, she took this topic to Capitol Hill, where she presented an advanced screening of American Humane’s latest documentary, Escape from Extinction Rewilding, narrated by Meryl Streep, which opened in theaters on September 27.
I spoke to Dr. Ganzert about her role as a female leader and activist at a time when urgency and commitment is in dire need, and how she maintains momentum for her organization in the battle against indifference, misinformation, and politicization.
How to make people care?
Since it first hit the headlines in the 1970s, the topic of Climate Change has been fraught with avoidance and denial. For a time made easy by the fact that its impacts were not visible, yet now they are almost impossible to ignore. Climate disasters such as wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and heatwaves are now everyday news stories. It is estimated that in the USA, from 2017-2023, 5,500 people died in climate disasters, costing >$1 trillion in damage.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Philanthropist Lois Pope, joined by country music singer and activist … [+] Getty Images
You might think that considering these terrifying realities, Dr. Ganzert’s work would be easy. Yet the battle for public attention and action is greater than ever before. This summer while temperatures reached such highs in particular states, pharmacists warned of the risk of evaporation and life threatening damage to mail-order medications, new denial, a viral approach to climate denial claiming global warming will be beneficial at best, harmless at worst gained significant momentum on YouTube.
Dr Ganzert says her work has shown that while there will always be a level of denial, much of the avoidance is rooted in priorities, a key of which is economic. Her aim is not to undermine but to address the competing priorities and remind people that the environment and the economy are two sides of the same coin. Protect one, and you protect the other. Ignore either, and we risk losing both.
The Power Of Storytelling
Behind the scenes at The San Antonio Zoo’s conservation efforts featured in “Escape From Extinction … [+] MRB Productions via Axios
So when the public sentiment is one of stress and uncertainty, how can you capture the attention of a cause that can seem so abstract? For Dr Ganzert, one of the oldest and most powerful ways to capture attention is through storytelling. Stories told with the intent not to incite fear, but to demonstrate the power of change.
Unlike many environmental documentaries that can seem scolding and alarmist in their push for hard-hitting impact, “Escape from Extinction Rewilding” is a look at real-world efforts happening right now to turn developed or blighted areas back into viable habitats for threatened species. This is not just a story; it’s a call to action.
“Preserving biodiversity is critical for wildlife and is key to human survival,” Dr. Ganzert says. “The existence of every living being— plants, animals, and people—is intertwined. Removing too many Jenga blocks could cause the whole tower to crash down. Storytelling is a powerful tool that connects people with wildlife that lives beyond their backyard,” she shares. “Documenting powerful stories of hope, spirit, and survival helps viewers better understand these species’ challenges and the need for innovative conservation efforts like rewilding to protect them. After all, you cannot protect what you do not love, and you cannot love what you do not know. This aims to create a sense of urgency, but more so hope. ”
Fighting misinformation the old-fashioned way
Yet we know hope alone is not a strategy for success, especially on Capitol Hill. Climate change has become a highly politicized, divisive partisan battleground, with discussions trapped in an ongoing tug-of-war over policy and priorities. We have seen the fare of dignitaries, politicians, scientists, and celebs who have championed this cause with little collective or corrective action. I asked Dr Ganzert what makes this moment and this campaign any different?
She says environmental policy cannot be written in a vacuum or it risks misinformation. “A lot of folks love fly-ins,” she shares, but I believe it has to be about a lot more than that. It’s about all of us working together. I spent the guts of nine months going door to door, office to office, to pave a runway for a meaningful and sustainable conversation this week. Good old-fashioned shoe leather is used to get this message heard.”
However, we know if politics is anything, it is a game of sides, but one she says she does not want to play. Her focus is on telling a real and compelling story that cuts through the political noise and humanizes the impacts of the ecology of our planet.
“Climate change knows no political party, no presidential candidate,” she shares. “The reality is no matter what your politics, we all need to eat, we all depend on clean water, fertile soil, and stable climates—farmers, ranchers, and fishers around the globe rely on these ecosystems. This is not about sides; it’s about basic economics. We need legislators and policymakers across the board to understand the scale of impact and ensure every weapon at our disposal should be deployed to fight it.”
The Paradox of AI
GATERSLEBEN, GERMANY – APRIL 22: Petri dishes containing sprouting barley embryos that have received … [+] Getty Images
The most significant weapon of our time is, of course, artificial intelligence, a potential game changer in environmental conservation. It holds the promise to revolutionize how we monitor ecosystems, manage resources, and combat climate change. However, its use also raises significant concerns due to the energy consumption and resource demands. The question that arises is how we can harness its potential while mitigating its negative impacts?
She shares that the balancing act of climate justice and artificial intelligence is one of the toughest that we will face in modern times. The benefits and risks are both equally enormous and these two worlds need to meet in very intentional way.
She points to the example of technologies like advanced gene editing, which aims to resurrect extinct species or at least restore their critical functions within ecosystems. “Imagine restoring species that were essential to pollination or forest maintenance but were wiped out by human activity?” she says. Yet these same AI models can increase the use of harmful pesticides in agriculture when prioritizing food yields over the environment, again applying additional pressures on biodiversity.” She shares that active and intentional transparent dialogue between environmentalists and industry, is the only way forward. We need earnest collaboration across government, industry, and academia rather than a blind hope in pipe-dream technologies.
Maintaining Momentum and Hope
While a balanced use of AI brings new hope for Dr Ganzert is hugely inspired by engaging with younger generations, who she says have experienced the human-animal bond like no other. “Pet ownership has skyrocketed; attendance and zoos and aquariums has reached record numbers. This is exciting as the future of biodiversity lies with the next generation who understand that animals and nature make us better humans. They see the issues clearly, and humanely. Not marred by political agendas which have no basis in science or facts.”
While the challenges are increasingly complex and nuanced, her leadership remains grounded in creating and advocating for solutions. On November 5th, Dr Ganzert will show Escape from Extinction Rewilding Documentary to the British parliament as part of a global campaign that also includes screenings next Spring for the European Union parliament in Brussels. She is seeking to share a key message with all audiences, regardless of political leanings. That is our planet is in serious and undeniable danger and the future of our ecosystems depends on our willingness to innovate thoughtfully and collaboratively on a global level.