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Climate Action Is a Personal Journey: A Conversation with Joel Pedersen

09/28/2021 11:51:49 AM

Sep28

by Marta Karlov

Interviewing Joel Pedersen was a little intimidating, in a good way. After all, he has dedicated his career to researching, publishing, and teaching chemistry and environmental science-related subjects in highly regarded institutions of higher education. In fact, he just moved to the Johns Hopkins University to join the faculty in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, after serving as professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the Departments of Soil Science and of Civil & Environmental Engineering since 2001. Among many other accomplishments, Joel runs the Pedersen research group, which conducts research on the impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products on the food we eat, and on neurogenerative diseases. 

        

Joel graciously agreed to speak with me, even while in the process of packing up his house and office. And what I learned from him gave me hope—because like all of us, Joel is also continuously learning and searching for what his personal contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be. So, we’re in this together—all of us in a personal journey to put what we know into practice in our daily lives. 

From a young age Joel showed an interest in the natural world, and his parents and extended family encouraged him to learn more. He grew up in the 1970s in Southern California, when environmental consciousness was increasing for all the wrong reasons. As a boy he remembers not being allowed to play outside because of pollution, and reading in the media about fires, oil spills, and endangered species. “I also went to an experimental elementary school taught by hippies,” he said, where he was further exposed to these issues. 

Joel prepared for medical school with an undergraduate degree in biology. However, a stint working in environmental microbiology with a faculty member led him to shift to a graduate degree in environmental science and engineering. During grad school he decided to pursue a career in higher education after he realized that as faculty member he could marry his interest in science with writing, which he has always enjoyed. Most students starting a science degree don’t realize how important writing is to develop their ideas and disseminate knowledge about important issues. 

Over time, his concern about climate change grew: “What I learned about in classes and in research, what impacted me personally was related to health concerns, exposure to chemicals, and impact on ecosystems; as climate change awareness has grown, it has become a larger factor influencing me personally and professionally.” 

In his personal life Joel ran an experiment that greatly influenced him. He explored eating a kosher diet, which, as he explained, “made me more attuned to what I was eating and where it came from and led me to begin thinking about animal welfare.” His kids became pescatarians, and he and his wife soon followed. 

More importantly, his adoption of new habits to benefit the environment happened over time: “First, I learned about the negative impacts of meat, then I became pescatarian … this awakening happened over time, and I was able to put it to work through work and my personal life gradually.” 

The recent release of the 2021 Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been a wake-up call for many of us. According to Joel, who had already read parts of the report when we spoke, “It brought us sobering news.” He added, “Climate change is upon us, there are going to be further changes that won’t be reversible over timescales we will experience, our children and great-grandchildren will be living in a different world. Think about them, seriously. They will live in a different earth that won’t be as comfortable.” 

When I asked what we could do as individuals to evolve our own journeys, Joel offered that his knowledge of the issue is much greater than his actions, and that he knows that this must change. Thus, he is still learning, just like most of us—together searching for a path forward. And we are not too late. 

One simple thing we discussed that all of us can do is engage in climate change as a community of Jews—through the songs we sing, the psalms we read, the books we discuss—letting the wisdom in our tradition guide the actions we choose. 

Per Joel’s suggestion, the Environment and Climate Change Action Team at TBE is holding a discussion of the book We Are the Weather, by Jonathan Safran Foer, on November 16. Among other things, the author attempts to explain the disconnect between our awareness and our actions, and the difference between those who don’t know and don’t act versus those who do know and fail to act. Which are we? As Joel’s story underscores, each of us gets to choose our personal journey, and our Jewish tradition can help us chart it. 

October 7, 2024 5 Tishrei 5785