Today's guest is Benji Backer, Founder and President of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC).
ACC is focused on building a grassroots movement amongst the right-of-center space for climate action, with 150 chapters across the country. Benji is a passionate environmentalist and out to change the minds of people who think conservative and climate change advocate don't belong in the same sentence.
We have a great discussion in this episode about Benji's upbringing, what led him to care about climate change, how he reconciles that with his conservative viewpoints, and the fact that the Republican Party hasn't necessarily put climate change as a front and center issue. We also talk about ACC's work and their theory of change. And no conversation would be complete without covering the roles of innovation and policy, and the current polarized political climate and path forwards from here.
Enjoy the show!
💥 Starting TODAY at 8am PST / 11am EST / 4pm BST, Benji will be answering questions in the #c-mcj-ama channel for 48 hours. Set your reminders, and get your questions ready!
In today’s episode, we cover:
An overview of the American Conservation Coalition and the work they do
Benji's background and his passion for the environment
His transition from conservative activist to climate activist
How he reconciles his passions and conservative viewpoints
The two-party system and its shortcomings
Increasing polarization in the US
Who controls the narrative in Washington vs. who gets bills passed
The Build Back Better Bill
The Republican party's shift away from conservation in the early 2000s
Issues with the climate narrative leaving people out
Benji's views on how to balance self-interest and taking action on climate solutions
The role of government in addressing the climate crisis
Consumer behavior changes
The intersection between of climate change and environmental justice in cities and rural communities
Benji's key priorities over the next 12-24 months
ACC's Climate Commitment plan
Who he wants to hear from
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