“I was absolutely terrified. … I remember feeling extremely anxious.” On April 6, 2022, Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, took a ride into downtown Los Angeles, where he was preparing to handcuff himself to the door of a JPMorgan Chase bank with three other scientists. “There was a moment,” he recalls of the decision to participate in civil disobedience, “when I realized I just had to do it, to summon that courage.” He was part of a group of over 1,000 activists in nearly 30 countries worldwide, rallying under the banner “1.5C is dead, climate revolution now!” led by Scientist Rebellion, a group of scientists, academics, and students dedicated to disruptive, nonviolent action to raise awareness about the global climate crisis. “I was really scared,” Kalmus admits during a phone call, worried about his colleagues, the police, and most of all, his employer’s reaction. “I thought there was a high chance I’d lose my job, which was my biggest concern.” However, he felt he had exhausted all other options. For Kalmus, engaging in civil disobedience was the result of years spent trying to bring attention to the climate emergency through other means. With a significant portion of the population in denial about the urgency of the crisis, Kalmus felt he had no choice but to take this step, which he believes has been the most impactful.
Joining a global day of action in 2022 to ban private jets, Peter Kalmus and local activists chained the doors of a private airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, highlighting the disproportionate carbon emissions of the wealthy [Courtesy of Will Dickson].
In a speech that went viral worldwide that day, Kalmus became visibly emotional, shedding tears as he addressed the crowd: “I’m here because scientists are not being heard. I’m willing to take a risk for this beautiful planet – for my sons,” he struggles to say through the tremor in his voice. “I’ve been trying to warn you for so many decades, and now we’re heading towards a catastrophe.” After a confrontation with police and spending eight hours in jail, Kalmus faced misdemeanor trespassing charges, which were later dropped. While the first arrest was exhilarating and liberating, it also led to a lengthy investigation by NASA’s ethics and human resources departments. The stress from the investigation caused Kalmus’s diverticular disease to flare up. While waiting for the inquiry’s outcome, which ultimately ruled in his favor (Kalmus is still employed by NASA and spoke to Al Jazeera in a personal capacity), he felt that the institution made a mistake by not supporting his activism, as he believes climate activists are on the right side of history.
Activists from Scientist Rebellion block a bridge in central Berlin during the global ‘1.5C is dead, climate revolution now!’ protest on April 6, 2022 [Christian Mang/Reuters] Potential impacts on employment, health, and professional reputation are significant factors when scientists publicly speak out about climate change, especially when emotions are involved. Scientists like Rose Abramoff have faced consequences for their activism. Abramoff was fired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Kentucky after unfurling a banner with Kalmus during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in December 2022. She has since taken on research fellowships and continues to advocate for climate action.
Rose Abramoff speaks after she and another activist chained themselves to the fence surrounding the White House – a federal offence – in 2022 [Courtesy of Will Dickson] Eco-anxiety is a growing concern for many individuals feeling frustrated by the lack of urgency surrounding the climate crisis. Studies have linked rising temperatures to increased emergency room visits and spikes in suicide rates. Climate-related stress can lead to despair, hopelessness, and other mental health issues. “Anxiety about death is similar to anxiety about climate change,” says psychologist Susie Burke from Australia, emphasizing the need for coping strategies such as acceptance and commitment therapy.
Overall, scientists like Kalmus and Abramoff are taking bold actions to bring attention to the climate crisis, despite the potential personal and professional risks involved.
