When we think about climate advocacy, people often jump to the international conferences and swaths of public land being fought over. Chris Applegate, a member of the Sierra Club and seasoned environmental activist, paints a different picture. Applegate explains how this crisis is about more than the climate; it is about the people fighting for a change. Applegate talks about how one of his goals is to give young activists something to strive for.
“The critical thing is what can we do to provide people, everyday people, a sense of inspiration,” said Applegate.
The environmental movement is going through a shift in regards to its values and members. Making up a new generation of activists, young people have helped prevent the gatekeeping that is often seen within the outdoor industry.
Applegate explains how the outdoor industry is often exclusive, especially with the high prices of popular gear from brands like Patagonia and Merrel. In recent years, micro-organizations and media influencers have helped make the outdoors more accessible.
Applegate emphasizes that there are many within this industry who have worked tirelessly to make space for this wave of activists, but he concedes that there is still work to do.
“We should be welcoming everybody regardless of what you wear, what your identity is or what your political beliefs might be,” said Applegate. “This needs to be an all-inclusive movement.”
When asked about the most important environmental issue happening right now, Applegate was hesitant to name a single cause. Instead, he believes the greatest issue is intersectional between climate and justice.
“We can not tackle the climate crisis without tackling societal issues,” Applegate said. “How do we balance ensuring we have affordable housing and a living wage while promoting a clean energy revolution that is equitable and just?”
This “clean energy revolution” refers to the ambitious goals of organizations like the Sierra Club to move this country away from fossil fuels and towards greener energy sources. With the recent change in administration, activists like Chris Applegate are hoping to see shifts in environmental policy.
Applegate laments the damage the Trump administration has caused to the environmental movement, specifically identifying the 25 million acres of public land that the past administration put up for sale. Despite the hope that this change in leadership will benefit the environmental movement, Applegate explains there is still a need to keep pushing.
“We are going to see the administration taking steps. Are they going to be perfect? Absolutely not. Are they going to do everything I want? Probably not, but we have an administration that does look at this more seriously,” said Applegate.
Applegate explains how on average, it takes 12 years for a wilderness bill to make it through Congress. This is an enormous amount of time considering how fast disasters like the Colorado wildfires are destroying vast stretches of public land.
“This work is not easy. When you set these inspirational goals, it doesn’t mean that it will happen overnight or that we are going to achieve this quickly,” said Applegate.
Applegate ends the interview with a call to action, explaining how public land protection is not just about proximity.
“Public lands are something that are entrusted to all Americans, regardless if you live in New York City or you live in Craig, Colorado,” said Applegate. “These lands are everybody’s, but the most impact is felt by local communities. We want to listen to these communities, but we want to balance that with knowing this is entrusted to all of us.”
It is easy to see environmental issues as a battle between activists and the government, but in reality it has more complexity. Applegate shows us that this movement is not just about helping save the Earth. It is about giving everyone an equal voice to fight for the planet we live on.
