Abby Holmberg

Climate justice focuses on the social aspects of climate change, addressing the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities who often contribute the least to pollution but face the worst consequences. While many climate solutions emphasize technological “magical fix-alls,” climate justice works to resolve inequalities while improving related social issues like education, housing, and healthcare. It prioritizes including affected communities in planning and action because those living with environmental degradation have the most important perspectives to share. By elevating these voices, society can become more connected through learning about others’ experiences and collaborating on solutions.

As an environmental science student, I am fascinated by the interaction between human and natural systems and the creative solutions to human-caused climate change. At Drexel, I aim to explore as many facets of environmental science as possible to develop a well-rounded perspective and create more equitable solutions. Over the summer, through the STAR Scholars Program, and the fall of 2024 and into 2025 through the ASURS Fund, I worked with the Climate Pedagogy Incubator to build a toolkit for relationship-driven university-community partnerships in climate justice education.

The toolkit emphasizes the importance of building relationships and understanding the people involved in a project before starting the work, fostering equity and care in partnerships, especially with communities historically wronged by universities. Outside of college I am on the board of GreenAllies, an organization focused on empowering high students to become environmental leaders. I also am beginning my first co-op position at the Philadelphia Water Department, working in the Planning and Research Department.