July Newsletter
Zahra Biabani is a climate activist, speaker, writer, and entrepreneur. Based in Texas, she attended Vanderbilt University, where she pursued environmental studies. As a result, she developed a strong passion for advancing inclusivity and diversity regarding ecological issues, namely how we can all foster more climate optimism. What eventually started as a blog has led her to many other endeavors. For example, the launch of her upcoming book, Climate Optimism: Climate Wins and Creating Systemic Change Around the World, and the first rental clothing company for vetted sustainable and ethical fashion brands In the Loop.
Zahra focuses her work on educating others about the importance of social justice in the environmental movement, as well as how to develop a mindset that embraces climate optimism. Whether speaking at an event, writing her next book, or overseeing her fashion brand, she is determined to overcome the climate crisis in more ways than one.
Learn more about our engaging conversation with Zahra in our exclusive EMA interview below.
Starting from the beginning, what led to your passion for environmental justice work?
I was really involved in social justice work but didn’t see the connection with the environment until 2017, when Hurricane Harvey impacted my home state of Texas. I saw that people lacked help from the government, such as the example of Fema, which spurred my passion for environmental justice. Unfortunately, most people impacted and not being helped are black and brown. My hope is to right future social wrongs brought about by climate-related disasters.
I identify as a climate optimist and believe there is no point in fighting for a future if you don’t believe in it. Unfortunately, our brains are attracted to negative news, but there are examples of wins for our pursuit of a more sustainable future. That’s what I want to showcase through my work
How did that passion develop into creating a movement for systemic change? Was it an “Aha” moment or an eventual build-up?
I started out channeling my thoughts about the movement in a blog. That began gaining traction, and then I started developing a good following on my social media, which I credit primarily due to the pandemic. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as many came to my channel to hear my thoughts and gain insights on ways to be proactive regarding climate change. After that, I began expanding into other passion projects, in which I realized the best step for me to take was to focus on self-branding.
Systemic change means a lot to me, so I began prioritizing climate optimism to foster that. My other upcoming book, In the Loop, goes into further detail about the topic. When it comes to trends on progress, I classify that into "3 spheres." The first is the streets (movements), an example being climate justice. The second is the courts (arguments for rights of nature). This is more focused on litigation and the regulatory environment, with an example being in Minnesota, where wild rice would be able to grow uninhibited by fracking or pipelines. The idea is to give nature its rights, not just our rights. The final sphere is the markets (institutional divestment). This is seen more and more with ESG being discussed at the board level of a company
One thing I never thought I would be passionate about and pursue was being in the startup space, fundraising, and going through capitalism. For a while, I thought systemic change was only achieved by working in a nonprofit. Seeing money as a form of social good for an enterprise didn't hit me until later. However, I don't feel venture capital is the solution for all climate challenges. We need as many hands on deck now compared to before. If I can be part of that force from different angles, I feel I am doing some good.
As your brand continues to grow with more engagements and projects, why do you believe you have gained the momentum you have so far?
I am both surprised and encouraged at the reception I have been gaining. I notice that we put pressure on people with platforms to say and do something about today’s social issues. In a sense, it’s good that people are held accountable by their audience. I make sure to be as transparent as possible with my audience, which is why they resonate with me. At the moment, my audience growth has not stagnated. Because of covid, I feel it allowed me to grow a more loyal and specific audience that is still with me now.
Here at EMA, we've always believed that storytelling is at the heart of galvanizing climate action and sustainable living. But we also know that the story can't be homogenous, and we can reach more individuals when a diverse and inclusive group of people are sharing their stories. We like to think of ourselves as a giant microphone, which we are happy to hand off to activists, artists, and companies that are doing good. That said, our microphone wouldn't be effective without the fantastic support of our Boards.
After years of success with our Executive and Corporate Boards, we decided that it was long past due to include the incredible voices of the next generation of climate leaders: activists, advocates, and educators. So, with the help and guidance of Wanjiku 'Wawa' Gatheru, our EMA Activist Board Chair, we put together an inspiring group of individuals. So, while the Activist Board will continue to grow, we want to welcome our inaugural group: Zahra Biabani, Genesis Butler, Nalleli Cobo, Kristy Drutman, Isaias Hernandez, Aditi Mayer, Kevin Patel, Maya Penn, Alán Sneider, and Abbie Richards. We encourage you to seek out their work and support them on their missions.
After a hugely successful IMPACT Summit, we are thrilled to have two new additions to our Executive Board! Before hosting a panel with Toyota on infrastructure solutions, actor & activist Ronen Rubinstein announced that he's joining the EMA Board. Further, filmmaker and activist Eli Roth joined our Executive Board after inspiring us all to do more to save sharks.
Our Boards are integral to EMA's mission, which is why we are thrilled to add so many unique and inspiring voices in 2022.
