Climate Change – The Issue That Dropped Off the Political Radar

Live Friday, Jul 17, 2026 | 11am PST

Overview

As extreme weather intensifies, public discourse about climate change has almost but disappeared — some pundits call it the “hush-hush” syndrome. Climate scientists predict El Niño could be the most powerful event of the century, a “monster” phenomenon. But governments and corporations have been scaling back their climate commitments, while misinformation spreads about clean energy, its growth, and its costs. How are climate scientists bridging the disconnect between shifting federal policy and climate messaging on the one hand and, on the other, the extreme weather conditions we are all experiencing — from drought to floods to sea rise? How are communities on the frontlines adapting and building more resilience?

Speakers this week will tackle these questions, spotlight solutions and resilience strategies, and talk about what it means for our communities now and in the years ahead.

Related Coverage

• ‘Every Heat Extreme is Hotter’: Scientists, Organizers Fight Climate Silence

Guest Speakers

• Prof. Karen McKinnon, Associate Professor of Statistics and the Environment, UCLA
• Mark Valentine, Senior Advisor, Omega Resilience Awards and Founder, ReFrame It
• Shina Robinson, Resilience Projects Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network

Presented by ACoM