"What You Should Know About Climate Change – with Aimée Christensen" The Space In Between podcast with Leigh Morgan

On this week’s episode of The Space In Between, Leigh sat down with Aimée Christensen — a longtime climate leader, a bridge-builder, and someone whose roots run deep in both global halls of power and the soils of Idaho – her home state. With retrenchment on the fight against global warming in full swing at the federal level, this episode is key for anyone wanting the ‘real story’. My conversation with Aimée is rich with wisdom, clarity, and the kind of humility that comes only from decades of doing the work — through hope and heartbreak.

The Headlines

We began with the truth that sadly, no longer whispers — it roars. Wildfires, rising seas, collapsing ecosystems: these are no longer predictions; they are the daily news. And yet, as Aimée reminded us, even amidst this heaviness, good work is being done. Innovation, resilience, and cross-boundary collaboration are emerging in powerful ways, often from the most unexpected places… and despite challenges from the current administration.

She shared stories from the global stage — the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, where as a young activist she persuaded then-Senator Al Gore to give voice to her generation. She explained how those early experiences taught her that boldness, when rooted in collective purpose, can shift even the most rigid systems. And she hasn’t stopped since.

The 3 Bigs: Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience

Aimée offered a simple but profound framework for climate action: mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. The more we reduce emissions and restore ecosystems now, the less suffering we’ll see later. That may sound technical, but it’s deeply human. Because beneath all the jargon is a basic truth: when we protect the planet, we protect one another.

We talked about the Inflation Reduction Act — what it got right, where it fell short, and how its benefits are showing up in surprising places, especially in rural communities and red states. We named the tension: the same communities that once opposed climate policies are now fighting to keep the jobs and investments those policies made possible.

That’s not hypocrisy — it’s complexity. And it’s a chance to build bridges.

“Nature,” she said, “is our best investment.” Aimée also noted that Indigenous Peoples’ wisdom and practices can show us how to live in more reciprocity with the environment.

Strategies for Progress: Global and Local Matter

We grounded the conversation in the local, too — because climate isn’t just about policy or protest. It’s about home. Whether it’s Idaho farmers transforming their land with regenerative practices, or community leaders designing solar microgrids in vulnerable neighborhoods, the path forward will be built from the ground up.

Throughout our time together, I was reminded of something Aimée modeled with quiet strength: that bridging divides isn’t about softening your values. It’s about knowing them well enough to meet others where they are — not to persuade, but to connect. And when connection happens, so too does change.

Aimée’s Final Words of Inspiration

We closed with a wish — Aimée’s wish — that each of us might remember the wonder of the natural world. That we might recall the fireflies, the rolly-pollies, the crisp air after a storm. That we might let that memory lead us — not into despair, but into action.

Because the Earth is still speaking. And if we listen — together — we just might find our way.

Helpful Links:

Aimée’s organization, Christensen Global: https://www.christensenglobal.com/

Her annual Sun Valley Forum: https://www.sunvalleyforum.com/