Climate change is a disruptor of natural systems that have supported humans and other life forms for eons. If left to devolve into crisis and chaos, it will destabilize social order, spawning armed conflict, unseen threats for tomorrow’s generations, and great injustices. 502/812 Climate Change/Crisis/Chaos is a local opportunity to take action on individual, organizational and community levels.
The event will begin with a moderated panel discussion consisting of:
…Justin Mog, Ph.D., UofL Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives, and host of Sustainability Now! Forward Radio,
…Jacob Medley, Executive Director, Metro Office of Sustainability,
…and university professors, climate experts and environmental reporters.
(Business, government, education, health and faith panel discussions are also being considered.) The program could shift from the panel to a ‘committee of the whole’, to focus groups, to individual small groups, terminating with a return to the committee of the whole.
The program is very much still in formation.
Venue and date (early winter) TBA.
Precedent
In 2009 an informal, regional, environmental and sustainability citizens’ network hosted a very successful weekend community event at The Glassworks in Louisville. The event, dubbed ‘The Green Convene’, drew representatives addressing all ‘silos’ – energy, air, water, land use, trees, housing, health, transportation, biodiversity, population, work, immigration, consumption reduction, waste, recycling, factory farms, construction, industry, education, government, media, etc.. Out of that event emerged a regular public forum hosted by the Louisville Sustainability Council, followed by Metro’s 2020 Prepare Louisville, followed in turn, by more complete staffing of Metro’s very competent, but overwhelmed, Office of Sustainability.
The citizens who organized the initial Green Convene had no idea what would develop from the effort. The organizers of 502/812 Climate are acting with the same faith, confident that good will come from the initiative. Good may already be coming from discussions over the past month. Metro Louisville just released their Climate Action Plan Key Player Survey, 8 September 2026.
In the meantime, ‘climate change’ continues to morph into ‘climate crisis’, and threatens to become ‘climate chaos’. It is long past time for a 502/812 Climate Change/Crisis/Chaos event, if not initiating, then reinvigorating local action.
Program
502/812 Climate Change/Crisis/Chaos is not a doom scrolling exercise, or a lecturing. It is a community conversation. The conversation will be difficult. It will touch several delicate topics. The 502/812 Climate Change/Crisis/Chaos program will ask uncomfortable questions. Participants will be challenged. It is hoped the results will include soul searching by individuals, by organizations and by the community at large.
The event will not result in grand answers and solutions to climate challenges. The event is an opportunity to begin a larger, open discussion and initiate community wide action on many levels. It is an opportunity to create deeper unity across silos. We will need that greater unity.
Supporters
Andrew Lawson (Civic Louisville, TreesLouisville)
Ben Reno-Weber (Metro Council member)
Carolyn Waters (Open Waters Consulting)
Christine Brinkmann (Executive Director, Louisville Grows)
Cindi Sullivan (TreesLouisville)
Cindy Green (co-housing)
Clarence Hixson (water)
Claude Stephens (Bernheim Forest)
David Kinloch (energy, hydropower)
Dr. David Wicks (River City Paddle Sports)
Deanna Rushing (data centers, power)
Don Reinhardt (co-housing)
Frank Schwartz (co-housing, ‘good trouble’)
Jackie Green (land use, transportation)
Jean Christensen (facilitator)
Jenniffer Chappell (Metro Council member)
Jim Wayne (Former State Representative, mental health)
John Hartmann (hope)
Justin Mog, Ph.D. (UofL Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives &
…………………….. host of Sustainability Now! Forward Radio)
Kristin Faurest (nature advocate)
Dr. Mark Wourms (Bernheim Forest)
Rachel Harman (built environment)
Rohit Wason (JCPS high school teacher)
Shawn Reilly (TARC)
Virginia Bush (Indivisible Environment Action Coordinator &
………………. St. William Creation Care Team Coordinator)
To list your support, contact: earth.home.40202@gmail.com
Uncomfortable Questions
How do we help the Louisville area prepare as climate change continues morphing into climate crisis, on the way to climate chaos?
What will climate change mean for the Louisville area?
What will our responses (individual, organizational, community) be?
Who is discussing this?
What will be the pace of rebuilding after local flood, fire or wind events?
What will people eat as crops fail?
Are we prepared to helplessly stand by as millions die globally?
What happens when thousands of climate refugees (national & international) show up?
What work is there for them?
Where will they be housed?
Where will those left homeless be?
Will our streets fill with littering panhandlers?
How is peace and safety maintained mid-chaos?
What do today’s citizens need to hear, learn, and change in preparation for tomorrow?
What are we communicating to the public today?
Your help is needed in planning, critiquing, recruiting, administering. Let us know how you can help by contacting: earth.home.40202@gmail.com
Thank you.