Overview
This course builds from the learning, discussions, and activities undertaken during the first year of MACAL, with a particular emphasis on leadership in the context of the complex challenges and uncertainty of climate change. We will begin by exploring the notion of resilient leadership. What is resilient leadership? What do we need to do individually and collectively to sustain momentum in the climate action space? How do climate action leaders support their own resilience and contribute to the resilience of others?
These questions frame this unit’s seminar and activities, which focus on the implications of climate change for mental health and wellness of those leading the work, and the resilience of the organizations, communities, and people with whom they work. Engaging in climate work involves engaging complex challenges, the direct and potentially traumatic consequences of climate impacts, and the anxiety, fear, and distress of facing the ongoing uncertainty and loss that climate change fuels.
Cultivating resilience in yourself and others is an essential and core component of climate action leadership. This seminar will engage guest speakers and learning activities that support your thinking about resilience and you may choose to draw on this learning to further refine your Climate Action & Resilience Leadership Plan. At some point you may decide to share all or parts of your plan in your blog, as part of your open-learning as an emerging climate action leader.
Activities and Assessment Overview
Please see Schedule for important dates for this Unit.
- Unit 1 Activity 1 – Complete required readings.
- Unit 1 Activity 2 – Attend Synchronous Seminar – see Schedule for date/time
- Unit 1 Activity 3 – Contribute to the MACAL course community through discussion and blogging.
Unit 1 – Activity 1 Required Readings
Cross, R., Dillon, K., & Greenberg, D. (2021). The secret to building resilience. Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2021/01/the-secret-to-building-resilience
Sister True Dedication (2021). 3 Questions to Build Resilience — and Change the World. Ted Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/sister_true_dedication_3_questions_to_build_resilience_and_change_the_world/transcript
Zucker, R. & Rowell, D. (2021). 6 Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty. Harvard Business Review
Ray, S. J. (2022, Sept. 6) Doing Nothing for the Planet. One Earth Sangha
Optional
Folke, C., Carpenter, S. R., Walker, B., Scheffer, M., Chapin, T., & Rockström, J. (2010). Resilience thinking: Integrating resilience, adaptability, and transformability. Ecology and Society, 15(4), 20.
Renjen, P. (2021). The Journey of Resilient Leadership: Building Organizational Resilience. Deloitte Global Resilience Report. https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2021/03/29/the-journey-of-resilient-leadership-building-organizational-resilience/?sh=65666abe458f
Unit 1 – Activity 2 Seminar (Synchronous)
Please attend the Unit 2 Seminar – see Schedule for dates. This seminar will be an opportunity to connect with each other and explore strategies and approaches to supporting mental health and wellness of those leading climate action work, and what tools they can use to cultivate the resilience of the organizations, communities, and people with whom they work. as a climate action leader.
Unit 1 – Activity 3 Contribute to the MACAL course community
This is a reminder that really is in place for the entire program – to take time to review and comment on other blogs posts from your MACAL student peers prior to considering how to craft your next