“Climate Change and Civic Engagement clearly articulates the need for increased civic engagement and ramping up the ways that civic engagement has enacted change.”—Stanford Social Innovation Review
"This book offers an opportunity to reflect on the diverse and divergent political and policy strategies that have been used over the last few decades to address our warming climate. As we search for hope in these dark days of federal denialism, Paul Almeida provides us with the tools to seek the audacious objective of not only addressing global climate challenges, but also improving the quality of life of those most impacted."—Martha Guzman Aceves, former US EPA Regional Administrator, Region 9 (Pacific Southwest)
"An uplifting treatment of the most epic battle of our time—the fight for decarbonization and a just transition in an era of climate denialism and rising authoritarianism. Almeida combines riveting case studies of civic engagement and public policy successes with original empirical data to produce a compelling story that has never been told and must be heard."—David N. Pellow, Distinguished Professor and Dehlsen Chair of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
"Almeida is one of the deepest thinkers in the global climate action space, theoretically and empirically. This book effectively presents the complex dynamics of the battle between climate denial, decarbonization, and just transitions at multiple levels of social and political life, moving with ease between scientific concepts and the dynamics of civic engagement and social movements in the struggle for planetary survival. A fascinating read for professional and nonprofessional readers alike, this book will be consulted for many years to come."—Joyashree Roy, Distinguished Professor, Asian Institute of Technology
"This insightful and fascinating book maps the real achievements of climate and social justice movements in recent decades and at all levels, from global to local. Almeida also documents how these movements faced a matching surge of opposition and obstruction, capturing both the urgency and the difficulty of truly just climate civic action."—Kathryn Hochstetler, Professor of International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science
"Incorporating insights from environmental sociology and social movement theory, Almeida addresses the critical question of how to build a climate movement that can influence public policy and industrial practices. This accessibly written book fills an important need for student-centered texts on climate change, offering both a sober diagnosis of the urgency of the climate crisis and pathways to a more hopeful future."—Suzanne Staggenborg, Professor of Sociology, University of Pittsburgh
"The leading social movements expert in America turns his attention to ecological justice in this tactically sophisticated analysis of the biggest question of our time."—Samuel Cohn, Professor of Sociology, Texas A&M University
"Focusing on one of the most critical issues that the world will have to address, this book lucidly recounts the gains made by climate and environmental justice movements and outlines the possible paths forward for our society: progress or denialism. A significant advance in the study of social activism, this book will appeal to students, scholars, activists, legislators, and NGOs."—Victoria Carty, Professor of Sociology, Chapman University
"Climate Change and Civic Engagement provides historical and ongoing contexts to climate action in a readable format, demonstrating that climate action works through multiple levels, actors, and responses. Almeida uses empirical work to show the ways civic engagement can lead to a sustainable and equitable climate future."—Camila Alvarez, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of California, San Diego
