Climate Action Figures
A safe place for youth to share steps they are taking to mitigate climate change.
Climate Action Figures
Season 3, Episode 9: Julia
Join John Whidden as he introduces Julia who delves deep into the complexities of food systems, shares her work with Food Futures in Ottawa, and connects these systems to climate change. Julia also discusses youth activism, sustainable consumption, and finding hope in climate action.
00:00 Introduction to Climate Action Figures
00:29 QuickFix of the Week
00:54 Meet Julia: Youth Activist
01:54 Understanding Food Systems
04:59 Food Futures Initiative
07:19 Youth Engagement and Political Change
11:25 Food Systems and Climate Change
13:23 Can the Climate Crisis Be Solved?
15:58 Julia's Journey and Advice for Youth
19:31 Julia's Climate Action and Final Thoughts
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Hi, I'm Julia, and you're tuned into Climate Action Figures.
John:Hello and welcome to a brand new edition of Climate Action Figures. My name as always is John Whidden, and this week on the show you get to meet Julia. First this week's QuickFix. Last week after Alida and I finished recording, she shared a QuickFix that actually made me laugh out loud, she said we could share it with you this week. So she said, I am notorious for turning out lights. Some members of my family suggest that I may be a vampire. I just like to save electricity. Plus reduced lighting creates more ambiance around your house. So, welcome, Julia.
Julia:Hi, John. Thanks so much for having me.
John:What do you think about that QuickFix?
Julia:I love it. I think it's a Great way to kind of set the tone in the family to be that, you know, lead by, lead by example, lead by doing. But hopefully no one's, uh, you know, reading while she's doing that or something like that. So yeah, it's a good fix.
John:now, that was last week. Uh, before that, Emma was on Climate Action Figures a couple of weeks back, and she recommended we talk with you and she described you as a youth who is doing great things around food systems. We certainly appreciate that Emma made that connection.
Julia:I, I met Emma through, you know, climate organizing and activism in Ottawa and met her at one event, and then you start to see, you know, oh, I met her at the next event, and the next event, and the next event. So yeah, it's a pretty cool community to tap into, once you start seeing familiar faces, cool!
John:It's kind of neat how you, you hear the names and then you see the people, and then you see them again and you, you build those relationships. It's great.
Julia:Yeah, exactly.
John:So let's start, Julia, with that term food systems. How would you define that?
Julia:Food systems are really complex and they're intentionally complex. Um, because it kind of is looking at our. Our food system, which a lot of people don't really pay much attention to as a system, um, in all of its different inputs. So that's anything from our biological systems, our social systems, our economic system, our political system, and how that all kind of relates to food in addition to agriculture.
John:So,
Julia:what does
John:that look
Julia:like? Environmental systems. We're thinking about soil health. We're thinking about, um, water input. We're thinking about biodiversity of crops. Um, when you think about social systems in food, you're looking at, uh, food in culture and food in history and how that's connected to people's stories and families, and, really deep ties to to history and political systems. We're thinking about policies that govern how our food is bought, sold, um, priced, that's more economic systems as well. So adopting a food systems lens is really zooming out to see the role that food plays in our lives in all these really complex and often hidden ways. It's starting to think about food, not just from the experience that we usually have at the grocery store, buying something, cooking with it, and then it's kind of outta sight, outta mind. You're starting to think about how did that apple get to me? What was, you know, the quality of the life for the farmer that grew, that apple. What was the soil like? What were the conditions behind the growth of that apple? Where's that apple going when the core is no longer used? And you're starting to really see all the different ways that our food interacts with us every day, and it's
John:starting to make
Julia:those things visible.
John:You said intentionally complex. Why intentionally? Tell us about that.
Julia:Whenever people talk about something in a really simplistic way, um, it's easy to ignore especially the climate impacts that that has. And oftentimes when we take a moment to start to see things as it is, um, sort of all the different tendrils in which this, sometimes simple thing as, you know, eating three times a day how that's connected to all these other systems, we can start to bridge those connections and see how, oh, maybe this, this interest, whether political interest, ideological interest is starting to make its way through and influence all these other factors. And when we start to You start to be um, it can make us smarter smarter. we say, link arms when we're advocating for a policy change that is both connected to labor rights when you think about farming is connected to biodiversity, when you're thinking about farming is connected to soil health and then is also connected to say, food literacy and how youth, for instance, are learning how to cook and feed for themselves. Um, and so you start to see all these, all these connections across the board that, uh, maybe. Previously, if you weren't thinking more in a systems lens, you could, you start to kind of compartmentalize them and make them simpler than they are.
John:Now this ties into an organization you have spent some serious time with called Food Futures in Ottawa. Do you want to tell us a little bit about Food Futures?
Julia:So I launched when I was working at Just Food, Food Futures, and that's really targeting the demographic 18 to 25 year olds and getting those youth interested and knowledgeable about advocating for municipal food policy at the local level. So that's anywhere from learning how, Ottawa City Council works, learning about opportunities to delegate to city council and what angles really work, volunteering, note taking at the Ottawa, gathering where all these different advocates come together across, you know, whether they're working on biodiversity, whether they're working on housing, whether they're working on food justice, coming together to share solutions at the municipal level. So really giving youth access to different channels to engage at the municipal level, for something that can often feel really far away from power, which is the demographic of youth. Food Futures helps build those skills to learn how to engage in a strategic way, informed by adults who have kind of been in this world for a long time. And in that process, really honing in on what is it that makes our youth voice powerful and how we can start to leverage that to, to make change in the city.
John:Now. Food Futures, you mentioned, I didn't realize you'd actually started that organization. That's very cool. Uh, what, what's your hope for that uh, Food Futures in the future.
Julia:Great question. we officially reached our, like, cohort one. So first cohort there was 15 youth. They signed on to, you know, be a part of it for a year. And in our second cohort we have eight remaining that are still really engaged and looking to bring on some new members. And with the election coming up in the city of Ottawa, um, we wanna really be engaging youth around Ottawa in capturing their youth voice about really what matters to them and presenting that to candidates to say, you know, this is what people are concerned about and not just focusing on the concerns, but we also want to sort of crowdsource from a youth perspective what an ideal food future for us could look like and come up with some creative ideas and really stretch our imagination about what is possible.
John:All this talk about, uh, you know, elections makes me wonder if, if you are excited by the recent results of the New York City election.
Julia:Yeah, it's very exciting. Um, when we're talking, you know, talking about the people's official plan, looking at that systems thinking, not now looking at homelessness just from, it's like, again, isolated, issue. But looking at, at, at a broader scale, how is that connected to mental health? How is that connected to food security? How is that connected to housing? And really starting to see a leader bring together different issues to look, to address a root rather than just kind of, uh, bandaid solutions is, is really inspiring at, in such a, know, urban core that um, hopefully can lead by example and start to just see those ideas that we were just talking about, um, that we're trying to kind of crowdsource in Ottawa and see how things can be different. Sometimes it does take some leaders in other far away places to, to try things and just show how things can be different, and I think that's an exciting time for sure.
John:I was talking with a very astute friend who happens to be a fan of the show. So hi to David out there. Uh, he, he was just wondering if this kind of new, exciting, young leadership is going to hit the old school structures and disintegrate, or will he have success? The bigger question, I guess for you, Julia, is, what keeps you from despairing when you see how little youth are listened to by the old-school structures around us?
Julia:Even before maybe these last five years, the ability to kind of turn away or ignore some of the most pressing issues of today was easier. And I think the reality is now, it's not invisible. It's actually really loud. And even those people who have experienced, um. the most privilege or have been sort of separate from food security issues housing crisis, rising cost of living. Um, a lot of these things are, are right in most people's faces now, and so I think people are feeling pretty disillusioned by the solutions that have typically been presented. And so I think there is an appetite for change and I hear you about, you know, coming up against what feels just like a cement wall sometimes. but there, There's a shift, there's an agitation right now, and I think. historically agitation can be met with, false kind of promises that can further disillusion people. And maybe, um, you know, what we're seeing now is often like scapegoat to different marginalized groups as the problem and really avoid, again, the root issue, which is mass, mass inequity on like a, a global scale. And when we start to actually address that inequity and we see how it, how it is so pervasive across all of these different aspects of our life, we can start to get closer to naming the problem in an honest way. And then hopefully once we name the problem in an honest way, we can start to see solutions that are actually addressing that problem and we won't be so swayed by, by those false solutions. And, um, I think he's he's really speaking to that hurt that people are feeling. He's not ignoring it, he's not pretending that it doesn't exist, but he's trying to, uh, offer solutions in a different way. And I think it's, it's courageous and, um, definitely in this political climate, especially in the US you know, uh, very bold and, and I, I am excited by it. It's, um, haven't felt that way in a while.
John:Good to hear a different voice from south of the border.
Julia:Yeah.
John:uh, I've taken us down a big tangent, which is very interesting and important, but let me reel it back and focus back on food systems. How do food systems tie into climate change?
Julia:So I showed you that, um, graphic at the beginning, which is one that I really refer to because it's a great way to kind of visualize what I'm talking about with food systems. When you're talking about food systems and climate change, again, we're looking at how our resources are used, so from a, water resource allocation, we're looking at soil, which is one of the most complex and finite resources that we have in, in Canada, and you know, it is so precious and such something to be so sacred and, and really taken care of. Um, and with climate change and increased natural disasters, not, not so natural, you know, climate disasters that now that we refer to them more accurately, um, all of these things that support our food systems are, are more and more threatened, whether that's drought, whether that's flooding, whether that's monoculture, all planting the same thing. You know, really resource intensive for one type of species, reducing biodiversity, which impacts our pollinators, which therefore impacts the rest of our food system. These are all connected to a changing climate, and all these issues start to become more and more exacerbated. Also when we start to think about how vulnerable we are. Canada alone imports around 90% of our seed supply. So when we start to see things like that and the vulnerabilities we have to protecting our own food sovereignty as a nation and our connections to the globe, we start to think about food systems, advocacy, food justice issues, apart from climate change, people feel that they can access, that food systems conversation a little bit easier when sometimes environmentalism can feel like a conversation they don't know enough about to contribute to, but I eat three times a day. This matters to me. It's
John:Right,
Julia:in right in front of my face. And so, um, I think we're gonna be confronted with that, that more and more.
John:right. This leads to a question that I asked last week, and I'm gonna ask you, uh, maybe it'll be a regular question from now on, Can the climate crisis be solved within the current economic framework, economic structure?
Julia:I find that very hard to believe when our system is designed with profit in mind, as the main metric of success and our built within capitalism is a, a shortsightedness. And if we're not thinking long-term about the impacts of the decisions we make today and if our main driver for our decisions is profitability, then the system is functioning the same way it was designed to right now, and we'll keep prioritizing that. And we're coming up against some very real tipping points and have already surfed past them. And the market isn't, isn't really getting us there as it promised to if the profitability will not align with these kind of emergency circumstances. I think it's, it's moving too slowly and so there are very real value shifts that that need to happen in how we make decisions. And I think if those decisions are always being governed by how profitable something is, then it will never make sense in the current model. And then we're gonna be too far gone. I think, um, ultimately we need like a massive reorientation of values. And right now we have all the evidence in the world to show us that things are in a really scary place we're not responding in the way that reflects that reality in our current model. And so something really needs to change at a scale that aligns with the risks that we're looking at head on and that we have all the knowledge about. And that will take courage and it will, it will be different and it will be hard and it won't be as convenient. And, will also be a lot, a lot of good that comes out of it. those are the types of conversations that I hope we start to have more and more of.
John:Wow, I, I have to say. When I was in my twenties, I had not thought that much about maybe anything. But most youth, I dare say, are not that concerned about food systems, nor have they thought that deeply about food systems. How did it catch your attention and interest?
Julia:I was coming out of my, master's program in political economy and my, research was comparing Canada's COVID versus climate response to show that, you know, when a crisis is made a priority, all these political windows become available, things can really, can, can really start to change. And through that. Very interdisciplinary degree where you look at a lot of these different things and how they all kind of relate to, to climate change. Food systems is a part of that. And so, um, I started to look more and more into that work and then, and found it through, through a job, and then started to go deeper and deeper into that. got me to start the Food Futures group and now even working in northwestern Ontario for a contract right now, um, I'm still connected to the work because I, I think it's so important and I think, um. Food is a unique entry point. I think a lot of people, like I mentioned earlier, have a hard time seeing how climate connects to their every day. but the reality is like food is a, is a more approachable way to kind of meet people. It's a core part of how we gather. It's a part of our identities. and there's a huge climate component too that I think people are becoming more and more, more aware of, and I think that's inspiring and it's a cool, way to, to get through to people.
John:Julia, clearly you find it important to lead other youth, maybe younger than yourself or your age, to find ways to have their, develop their voice and have their voice heard. Totally random question, if you could sit down with every 16-year-old on Earth for two minutes, what would you say to them?
Julia:Oh my god, every, okay. Uh, no pressure! My my first thing I would say is if you're feeling stress, it makes sense, as a young person, I think it's very easy to feel stressed out about your future right now. And I would've maybe wanted that validation. I now refer to the, or refer others to the climate wheel, the climate emotions wheel. Sometimes when I was a young person, I was feeling all those emotions at the same time. You're not alone in that. And it makes a lot of sense. The next thing is that you have immense power more than you think, and you don't need to be everything. Um, there's something for you to contribute and there's something for everyone's role to play and so if you feel really connected to climate change and, and, and wanting to make a difference, don't spread yourself too thin to the point when you, you know, lose steam, or completely, you know, put yourself into like a really, really dark place about the future. There's a place for, for joy and community and celebration and lightheartedness and humor, uh, in the world we're trying to build. And, and you are a critical element, but it's not all on you. And so link arms with people that care, keep doing things that, that bring you joy and meaning. And, um, find a way to, To think about the future and, and find your place in, in making it a better world, bit by bit.
John:Wow, that sounds like a speech that could get you elected Prime Minister. Very wise words. Thanks for sharing that. Now I feel like we could talk for hours, but uh, we need to bring it to a close today, and before we do, we need to hear about your climate action. What have you chosen today?
Julia:I've really started to, uh, really think about how, how I consume and, and think differently and really ask myself is that a need? And you know, there's some things that are, that are wants and that feel really good. But, um, really trying to think about our, our culture of disposability and, uh, we always think we can just order another, another thing, just order another one if that breaks just order, another one. And I think that's like, that's kind of a dangerous, um, convenient thing and it, it makes a lot of part of the process pretty invisible. So, yeah, holiday seasons are coming. I'm thinking about, even the thing I'm gonna buy for someone, I don't want it to end up in a landfill. Think about it. Take a beat. Are they gonna really appreciate this thing? Um, do I need this new thing? Just kind of reframing how we consume and not being so, um, shortsighted about it. And also mending what you've got. I don't, I have no idea how to darn or how to embroider, but I'm trying, and I wanna put a little strawberry over a hole in my thumb and I'm, I'm giving it a go. So. Get crafty with it. Maybe it's, maybe it's fun, you know?
John:More great advice from Julia. You've given us a lot to be hopeful about today, Julia, if I could ask you in a phrase, what gives you hope?
Julia:Hmm. The biggest thing that gives me hope is that. All of the spaces that I've been in that are all, you know, climate oriented, whether it's, you know, climate action, we've got truth on our side, we have all the evidence on our side. And we also have a, a lot of love at the root of a lot of activism is just like an immense desire for people to be okay and for people to have the things that they need to live well. And for that to extend beyond even humans, you know, that, that we're, we're caring for, for things outside of ourselves. And I think that's a pretty cool thing to get behind It might, it might be hard. It's gonna ruffle feathers, it's gonna, you know, it's gonna be abrasive and you're gonna come up against people that don't, that don't believe in that. But ultimately, I think it's a really compelling thing to get behind. And, um, on the other side, there, there can be like a lot of hate and division and, uh, I don't think that that can last very long before we loop back around to, to really wanting community again. And so, That's what, that's what gives me hope. And uh, I think a lot of people around the world are, are connecting dots right now. People are linking arms behind issues and starting to connect the dots, and that's an inspiring place to be in. And historically we've been there before and I think it's a, it's a good time to kind of really sink into that and see each other's humanity in the process. Everyone has a role to play, so that's what gives me hope.
John:Well, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to connect some dots for us today, Julia.
Julia:Thank you so much for having me. I allowed to, to leave with one parting quote? That's kind of my
John:Absolutely. Julia's parting quote.
Julia:It's by an amazing author and, and person Robin Wall Kimmmerer. Okay, here it goes. I refer to this often: Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair, not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.
John:Beautiful. We will be back next week, same time, same place to hear from another wonderful climate action figure. Until then:
Julia:Go figures!