Listening to Build Trust for Climate Action: Perspectives

As the world contends with the "wicked" problems posed by global warming, those seeking solutions must engage with a wide range of stakeholders bringing different assumptions, cultures, perspectives, and capacities. Skill-building often focuses on pitching, presenting, storytelling and messaging, but listening is itself a critical skill in building trust. We bring together an Ashoka fellow whose "radical listening" methodology has helped build a network of rainforest communities working to improve health and preserve globally important resources; an anthropologist whose influential Vaccine Confidence Project seeks to bridge divides and who sees parallels in building trust for climate action; and an adviser in human and planetary health to European Union president who can speak to building trust among global leaders. Finally, we will hear Stanford researchers and their community-based partners on how to build successful collaborations. Students will be responsible for pre-reads, class participation, and post-class reflections.