While climate change is global, the impacts and many of the innovative responses are local. Through local field trips, videos, movies, presentations, panels, and discussion this session will explore the ways in which people along the Gulf are responding to climate change and the ways in which climate change intersects with issues of justice, race, power, and economics. Attendees will leave with an appreciation for the complexities of climate change work in Louisiana; ideas for understanding and navigating complexity in the places they live and work; and a deepened respect for the skill that local leaders bring, We hope attendees will leave an informed optimism for the ways in which Earth and space science might contribute to a more just, resilient, and abundant future for everyone.

We’ll begin with an analysis of New Orleans’ “Living with Water” program, which is meant to transform the city’s relationship with water in ways that advance resilience. We’ll check in with the local communities that launched Thriving Earth Exchange projects the last time AGU was in New Orleans. Finally, we’ll have the opportunity to learn from the people of Ilse de Jean Charles – a community proactively working to relocate themselves in ways by combine Indigenous and scientific knowledge into integrative models for sustainable community. Finally, we will learn about collaborative efforts to addresses land loss in the delta region through a canal refilling project that links three Tribes, non-profits, volunteers, and academics. All these projects are examples of community-led science and collaborative solutions science. In all these cases, we will hear about what is working, some of the lessons-learned so far, and some of the challenges still to overcome. We’ll also hear from the community leaders and scientists involved about how scientists and community leaders can work together to make tangible change.

The format of the sessions will include in-person field trips, video field-trips and video-diaries, and even snippets of production films, all designed to give attendees the chance to see demonstration projects first person. We will also invite people who live in the region a chance to speak directly to their experience and offer their advice for scientists who want to participate. Interactive panels and smaller group discussion will allow attendees to dig deeper into issues and explore complexity.