A Hopeful Horizon for Climate: Bridging Communications, Cognition, and the Science of Hope

Molly Kawahata is an award-winning speaker, strategist, advocate, ice climber, and former Climate Advisor to the Obama White House. Her unique expertise in climate communications combines rigorous scientific knowledge with astute psychological insights, enabling her to craft messages that resonate deeply and drive action. Whether it's engaging with policymakers, businesses, or the public, Molly focuses on how to transform complex climate issues into compelling narratives that motivate change within broader audiences. She is the Founder of Systemic Impact Strategies, a consultancy specializing in organizational development, climate strategy, communications, and the science of hope.

Her life story, depicted in Patagonia's film, THE SCALE OF HOPE (2022) intimately explores her pursuit of climbing steep ice faces in Alaska, her personal journey with mental health, and her work to transform societal narratives by infusing them with hope and empowerment. The film has resonated with audiences worldwide, amassing over one million views on YouTube, streaming on Delta Airlines, and being inducted into the permanent collection at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Molly has been asked to speak at institutions such as Google, Nike, Harvard, the U.S. Congress, global IMAX audiences, and the Kennedy Center presidential monument. She is an Advisory Board Member to the Environmental Voter Project. In her free time, Molly is an avid ice climber, with a particular passion for scaling technical ice routes in Montana and the Central Alaska Range. 

UVM Planetary Health Summit: Whole Health for People and Planet
Hosted by the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Vermont
October 16 - 17, 2024
go.uvm.edu/phsummit24

At UVM’s Whole Health for People and Planet Summit, members of the Osher Collaborative and the UVM community gather to explore opportunities to address challenges to human and planetary health. Researchers, educators, and clinicians across disciplines share and discuss work that connects Planetary Health, Integrative Health, and Healthcare and is based on the foundational principles of Whole Health (physical, mental, social, spiritual, community, and ecological well-being), Reciprocity, Relationships, and Hope. As UVM launches its Planetary Health Initiative, the Whole Health for People and Planet Summit is designed to create connections and inspire action.