Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Braiding Sweetgrass was written by Kimmerer in 2013. Kimmerer reflects and discusses the dichotomy between her indigenous identity and scientific education. Throughout the book, she shares stories of her Potawatomi history and culture while weaving in ecological and scientific anecdotes. She details stories of Native American environmental wisdom and how a return to that model of stewardship may be our best chance to stop the exploitation of the planet.
On Fire by Naomi Klein
Written in 2019, On Fire advocates for a Green New Deal more ardently than ever. The long-form essays and detailed storytelling depicting the horrifying effects of climate change that are happening before our very eyes persuade the reader that there is no other time to act. Recommended by volunteer Anthony Variano.
This Changes Everything by Naomi Kein
This book, which is homonymous with the documentary, explains that capitalism will not save us from the climate crisis. The book frames the climate crisis through the economic framework that caused it and served as inspiration for the documentary. Recommended by volunteer Sid Farrar.
No One is too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
Our House is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and Planet in Crisis by Greta Thunberg
Both of Greta Thunberg’s books are inspiring reads directly from the mind of one of the youngest and most well-known climate activists of my generation. No One is Too Small to Make a Difference is a collection of Greta’s speeches alongside powerful images from her global protests. Conversely, Our House is on Fire tells the story of Greta and her family. It is primarily narrated by her mother, Malena Ernman, but includes sections from her father Svante and her sister Beata. It is an incredibly personal story of how climate change can lead to tense and stressful lives at home. Recommended by volunteers Anthony Variano and Sid Farrar.
Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change by George Marshall
This book is a personal favorite because I love anything that explains how we think. Marshall does a phenomenal job making neurobiological processes accessible and easy to understand. Marshall combines his own research with testimonies from individuals with outstandingly differing opinions on climate change. As silence is the worst response to climate change, Marshall dictates how we can change the narrative around climate change to avoid it. Recommended by volunteer Emily Barnard.
Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out by Bill McKibben
The End of Nature by Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben is the founder of 350.org (and he’ll reappear later on this list in the Newsletter section) and is credited with offering one of the earliest and most widespread warnings about climate change through the book Falter. The End of Nature is described as an “impassioned plea for radical and life-renewing change.” Falter serves almost as a summation of what has happened in the 30 years since The End of Nature was written. It takes the abstract concepts discussed in the latter and realizes them in the daily lives of millions of people around the world. Recommended by volunteer Susan Delattre.
We are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathon Safran Foer
Eating Animals by Jonathon Safran Foer
We are the Weather serves almost as a sequel to Foer’s first book on the subject, Eating Animals. Both books center food—what we as individuals eat, factory farming, monocultures—as a backbone of the climate crisis. The systemic issues with global agriculture are garnering more attention with each passing year. Foer highlights these matters on multiple scales, individual to industrial, and explains why these problems came to be. (Eating Animals also has a documentary that serves as an adaptation and extension to the book.) Recommended by volunteer Sid Farrar.
Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
As one of few fiction books in the genre of climate literature Ministry of the Future tells a story of a climate and political disaster in the near future. Although the novel is dense and detail-heavy, by the end of the book the reader has a heightened understanding of the nuances—as well as the bigger picture—of climate change. It is a high effort, high payoff read! Recommended by volunteer John McNeil.
How to Avoid Climate Disaster by Bill Gates
Recommended by volunteer Laura Zilverberg
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine Keeble Wilkinson
Recommended by volunteer Erica Mack
As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock by Dina Gilio-Whitaker
Recommended by volunteer Erica Mack
Carnival Lights by Chris Stark
Blending fiction and fact, Carnival Lights ranges from reverie to nightmare and back again in a lyrical yet unflinching story of an Ojibwe family’s struggle to hold onto their land, their culture, and each other. Carnival Lights is a timely book for a country in need of deep healing.
In August 1969, two teenage Ojibwe cousins, Sher and Kris, leave their northern Minnesota reservation for the lights of Minneapolis. The girls arrive in the city with only $12, their grandfather’s WWII pack, two stainless steel cups, some face makeup, gum, and a lighter. But it’s the ancestral connections they are also carrying – to the land and trees, to their family and culture, to love and loss – that shape their journey most. As they search for work, they cross paths with a gay Jewish boy, homeless white and Indian women, and men on the prowl for runaways. Making their way to the Minnesota State Fair, the Indian girls try to escape a fate set in motion centuries earlier.
Set in a summer of hippie Vietnam War protests and the moon landing, Carnival Lights also spans settler arrival in the 1800s, the creation of the reservation system, and decades of cultural suppression, connecting everything from lumber barons’ mansions to Nazi V-2 rockets to smuggler’s tunnels in creating a narrative history of Minnesota.
“MN350’s Food Systems Team is changing the way we think about food. On our new podcast, Nourish by MN350, we feature visionary leaders who are creating the regenerative, inclusive, local food economy we need to meet the challenge of climate change. We’ll introduce you to real-world examples of the food system we’d like to create, discuss how their work is addressing the issues created by the industrial food system, and invite you to take action in support of our guests’ work and the work of MN305’s Food Systems Team.”
The YIKES Podcast hosted by Mikaela Loach and Jo Becker
“There’s a lot to make us Yikes in this world. From the climate crisis to racism to activism and resisting oppressive systems, it can all get a bit overwhelming. Yikes is a podcast that leans into the “Yikes” of the world rather than letting it overwhelm us. We break down the issues in an accessible intersectional and nuanced way to guide us towards action together.”
How to Save the Planet hosted by Alex Blumberg and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
“Does climate change freak you out? Want to know what we, collectively, can do about it? Us too. How to Save a Planet is a podcast that asks the big questions: what do we need to do to solve the climate crisis, and how do we get it done? Join us, journalist Alex Blumberg and scientist and policy nerd Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, as we scour the Earth for solutions, talk to people who are making a difference, ask hard questions, crack dumb jokes, and — episode by episode — figure out how to build the future we want.” Recommended by volunteers Kayla Heinze and Laura Zilverberg
Climate Cast (MPR News)
“MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner with the latest research on our changing climate.”
The Climate Connections Podcast hosted by Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz
“The program informs a national radio audience how climate change is already impacting our lives and features the voices of diverse people and organizations that are taking action to reduce carbon pollution and increase resilience to climate impacts. The series connects the dots between climate change and energy, extreme weather, public health, food and water, jobs and the economy, national security, the creative arts, and religious and moral values, among other themes.”
Think: Sustainability hosted by Marlene Even and Sophie Ellis
“From waste to wealth, and grids to growth, the show digs into the impact of consumption across all areas of life — it tracks the movements, discoveries, and technologies making way for a sustainable future.”
The Jane Goodall Hopecast
“Jane Goodall blazed the trail and changed the world. Now, she’s studying new subjects – humans! This brand-new podcast will take listeners on a one-of-a-kind journey as they learn from Dr. Goodall’s extraordinary life, hear from change-making guests from every arena, and become awed by a growing movement sparked by Jane and fueled by hope.”
The Sustainable(ish) Podcast hosted by Jen Gale
“Grab yourself a cuppa, and snuggle up on the sofa ready for a good old chinwag. Get inspired by fabulous people doing wonderful things to help us all to live a bit more sustainably while you’re walking the dog, doing the school run, or cooking the tea…!”
The Mother Earth News and Friends
“Welcome to the Mother Earth News podcast, where we get down-to-earth with your favorite eco-celebrities and experts to bring together conversations that are as informative as they are enjoyable. On these podcasts, we will be talking with homesteaders, artisans, and sustainability experts to deliver the homegrown advice and expertise that MOTHER EARTH NEWS is known for!”
So Hot Right Now hosted by Lucy Siegle and Tom Mustill
“To save the world, we need to change the story. Nature and the climate are in crisis. To survive, we must use our most powerful tool – communication. Telling these stories can be difficult and dangerous. But done right, they can change the world. Join environmental journalist Lucy Siegle (The Guardian, The One Show) and wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill (Greta Thunberg/#NatureNow & BBC Natural History Unit) as they learn how to communicate better from those who do it best. Legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, singer and activist Ellie Goulding, UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres, Native American Veteran, and Organizer Krystal Two-Bulls, and other master communicators all share their hard-earned insights. Informal, personal, and passionate, these conversations will give you the tools to play your part, whether you’re phoning your dad or addressing the United Nations.”
Green Dreamer hosted by Kamea Chayne
“If we’re headed towards ecological destruction, dehumanization, and disconnection from the things that matter most, simultaneously endangering Earth’s lands, waters, and biodiversity… Then we must ask: What for? Green Dreamer with Kamea Chayne is a podcast that curiously and critically explores our paths to collective healing, ecological regeneration, and true abundance and wellness for all.” Recommended by volunteer Erica Mack
Climate Justice: These accounts center environmental justice as a central theme of their content. They center BIPOC voices and raise issues that may be excluded from mainstream climate discourse.
@intersectionalenvironmentalist
Sustainable Living: These accounts are guidance for individuals who want to lessen their personal carbon footprint. They offer money-saving and zero waste tips to help you reduce your environmental impact.
Non-Profits: Here’s a list of other nonprofits doing great work. Some of these have local chapters as well as national ones. Check out their pages to learn more about their dedicated causes and see how you can get involved. Be sure you’re following us @mn350.climatemovement and @mn350action
Informative: If the stunning photographs featured throughout these accounts don’t catch your attention, their information will. Follow these accounts for a wide range of environmental coverage from sustainability to wildlife and meaningful paths for climate action.
@unep
Climate Change Effects: Sometimes, it’s difficult to visualize the real implications that climate change is causing globally. These pages offer insight and accounts from people around the world battling the pressing impacts of climate change.
Available to watch for free on YouTube
Patriot Act—Available to watch on Netflix or YouTube
The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion
Available to stream on Netflix (requires subscription)
Available to rent or buy on Prime Video
Available for free on YouTube
Available on Kanopy
Available to stream on Netflix
Available for free on YouTube
Available to stream on Prime Video (requires subscription)
Available on Kanopy
Available to rent or buy on Vimeo
Available to stream on Kanopy (with account)
Available to stream on Kanopy (with account)
Available to stream for free on PlutoTV
Available to stream on Kanopy
Available on Prime Video
Available to stream for free on PlutoTV
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
Available to stream on Kanopy
Available on Prime Video
Available to stream for free on PlutoTV
Available to stream on Kanopy
Available to buy or rent on YouTube and AppleTV
Available for free on tubi
Available to stream on Prime Video with a subscription
Available to stream on Kanopy
Available to stream on Kanopy
Available to stream on Prime Video with a subscription
Available to stream on Kanopy
Available to stream for free on YouTube
Available to stream for free on PlutoTV
Available to stream for free on YouTube
Available to stream on Kanopy
How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change
Available to stream for free on YouTube
LN3: 7 Teachings of the Anishinaabe Resistance
Available to stream for free on StopLine3.org
“Want to be up to date with MN350 events and other climate justice happenings? Sign up for our newsletter! Our dedicated writers will send you regular updates on the latest local news, volunteer opportunities, or anything you might need to know to participate in fighting for climate justice around the state.”
The Climate Crisis – The New Yorker
“Bill McKibben, a contributing writer to The New Yorker, is a founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org and the Schumann Distinguished Scholar in environmental studies at Middlebury College. He writes The Climate Crisis, The New Yorker’s newsletter on the environment.”
“I created this newsletter to expose and explain the forces behind past and present inaction on the most existential threat of our time. If you sign up, you’ll get original reporting and analysis on the climate crisis at the top of your inbox every morning, Monday through Thursday. I believe that’s where news on this emergency deserves to be: the top of your inbox, every morning. And I believe that news should arm you with the knowledge you need to effectively fight this crisis. I also believe we should probably have a little fun while we’re fighting. So there will be some fun things, too. Maybe drag queens? IDK. TBD.”
Today’s Climate (Weekdays): “Our no-nonsense daily digest of the day’s must-read headlines from around the web, curated by our expert staff.”
Breaking News (Daily): “Don’t miss a beat. Get a daily email of our original, groundbreaking stories written by our national network of award-winning reporters.”
ICN Weekly (Saturdays): “Our #1 newsletter delivers the week’s climate and energy news – our original stories and top headlines from around the web.”
Inside Clean Energy (Thursdays): “Dan Gearino’s habit-forming weekly take on how to understand the energy transformation reshaping our world.”
“Our weekly digest includes articles posted at our website, plus “Climate Connections” radio stories aired M-F.”
“Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Our goal is to use the power of storytelling to illuminate the way toward a better world, inspire millions of people to walk that path with us, and show that the time for action is now.”
“Get the latest climate news from NASA or the latest posts from the Ask NASA Climate blog.” A monthly newsletter.
“We are a community of businesses joining forces to create pathways to action, connecting companies to resources and working together to create solutions. We shine a light on success stories and recognize companies for their great climate work which in turn inspires more companies to act.”
“A newsletter from POLITICO for leaders building a sustainable future.”
“It has always been a radical act to share stories during dark times. They are regenerative spaces of creation and renewal. As we experience the desecration of our lands and waters, the extinguishing of species, and a loss of sacred connection to the earth, we look to emerging stories. In them we find the timeless connections between ecology, culture, and spirituality.” Weekly on Sunday mornings.
Still looking for more resources? Check out this list put together by MN350 Editor Laura Zilverberg in 2020.