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Susan Schneider
Learning to Fight the Climate Crisis
Presented by: Susan Schneider
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that humanity has only about ten years to cut global greenhouse gas emissions in half, and the consequences of failure are dire. The technology to solve the climate crisis has been available for years: This is a behavioral challenge. Simply providing information about what’s needed is seldom sufficient, sadly. This talk focuses on learning principles like positive reinforcement - more complex than it might seem. From the fuel efficiency feedback in car dashboards to gamification of all sorts of sustainable behaviors, we can learn to make green choices. Standouts include Seattle’s transportation program, an internationally successful approach getting kids to eat their veggies, and energy efficiency campaigns with surprising incentives. Ample resources offer support for anyone trying to make a difference - at home, at work, and in the community. But can we learn to change quickly enough?
Initially focused on renewable energy, Susan Schneider holds degrees in environmental and mechanical engineering and did an energy efficiency project for US Steel. After a stint in the Peace Corps, she obtained a PhD in psychology, specializing in reinforcement learning. Schneider's award-winning book for the public, The Science of Consequences, covers learning principles and their many applications, including sustainability. A lifelong environmental activist, Schneider was recently President of San Joaquin Audubon, and co-chairs the San Joaquin County Climate Action Coalition. She also recently joined the board of Idle-Free California. (No need to idle a vehicle more than 10 seconds!) Schneider coauthored two chapters in the upcoming Practitioner's Guide to Creating Successful Environmental Behavior Change, and has given numerous climate change talks and workshops. A Visiting Scholar at the University of the Pacific, Schneider is a consultant for Root Solutions, a Bay-area sustainability nonprofit.
To sign-up for the next online speaker event, email
meetings@sacramentoaudubon.org.