RECAP: Building Climate Resilience, Internally and Externally, in a Time of Crisis - NYC to LA
In the wake of the recent climate disasters in Los Angeles, the urgency of our global crisis has never felt more real. Many of us have loved ones in California, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of extreme weather. It’s a stark reminder that we are no longer just facing a climate crisis—we are in a climate emergency.
Yet, amidst this reality, we gather for an essential conversation. Resilience isn’t just about rebuilding cities after floods and fires; it’s about strengthening our communities and ourselves from within. How do we cultivate inner resilience to face these escalating challenges? How do we stay grounded in the face of fear and uncertainty?
At our event, we explored these questions with a panel of experts—from urban design to climate investment, sustainable innovation, and integrative eco-arts therapy. We opened with a grounding meditation, anchoring ourselves in the present before diving into solutions. Read on for key insights from our panelists and practical resources to help you build both climate and inner resilience. Because in times like these, our ability to adapt, support one another, and stay connected is more crucial than ever.
Big thank you to Kat Lakey, Co-Founder of the Psychedelic Assembly, for suggesting this collaboration, and to their entire stellar team!
Meet the Panel: Voices in Climate Resilience
To deepen our discussion on resilience—both climate and personal—we welcomed an incredible lineup of experts, each bringing a unique perspective on tackling the climate emergency.
Ravi Kurani shared how growing up amidst the wildfires of Southern California shaped his passion for sustainability. After studying mechanical engineering and working at the intersection of climate, water, and poverty alleviation, he founded a company focused on water safety before turning his attention to impact investing in climate solutions.
Thaddeus Pawlowski brought a powerful perspective from his upbringing in a flood-prone Pennsylvania town devastated by extractive industries. After working on urban resilience in New York City for 15 years, including post-Hurricane Sandy recovery, he now leads Columbia University’s Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes, helping cities plan for climate adaptation.
Helena Wasserman is a climate investor dedicated to mobilizing capital for solutions that combat climate change. As part of a network of 400 investors, she helps fund innovative projects like seaweed-based solutions, ensuring that money flows into impactful climate ventures.
Mor Keshet, an integrative eco-arts therapist, focused on addressing climate anxiety and trauma. She discovered the transformative power of nature-based therapy during the pandemic and now specializes in eco-art therapy, helping individuals navigate the emotional weight of climate change through creative expression and connection to the natural world.
Finally, Marissa Feinberg, founder of Psychedelics for Climate Action (PSYCA), shared her personal journey of blending environmental activism with mindfulness. Her experiences—from co-founding an impact-focused coworking space to exploring the connection between psychedelics, nature, and consciousness—led her to a deeper understanding of how inner resilience fuels climate action.
With this diverse range of expertise, our panel set the stage for a dynamic discussion on the intersection of climate resilience and inner strength.
Redefining Climate Resilience: More Than Just Adaptation
Before diving deeper into solutions, our panelists reflected on what climate resilience truly means—not just in terms of environmental adaptation, but also our inner capacity to navigate uncertainty.
Thaddeus Pawlowski emphasized that resilience is fundamentally about embracing change rather than resisting it. Unlike "sustainability," which often implies maintaining the status quo, resilience is about adaptability in a chaotic world. He framed resilience as an antidote to fear, allowing people to move forward rather than feeling paralyzed by uncertainty. He also pointed out that climate resilience cannot be separated from broader systemic issues, such as the modern "attention economy" that dominates our focus and limits our ability to act on urgent crises.
Helena Wasserman highlighted another aspect of resilience: commitment to climate action despite shifting trends. In the climate tech world, some investors are rebranding themselves to sound more appealing in the current political and economic landscape—moving away from the explicit "climate" label. She argued that staying the course, rather than pivoting to more immediately lucrative industries like AI, is an act of resilience in itself.
Mor Keshet brought the conversation back to personal resilience, describing it as capacity-building—the ability to hold seemingly conflicting emotions at once. She emphasized the importance of making space for joy, awe, and connection, even while confronting climate grief and existential uncertainty. True resilience, she argued, is the ability to feel deeply without being consumed by despair.
This multifaceted discussion set the tone for the rest of the evening—highlighting that resilience isn’t just about responding to disasters but about sustaining our capacity to act, think, and feel in the midst of complexity.
From Innovation to Awareness: Tackling Climate Resilience in Different Spheres
Each panelist shared how their work directly or indirectly contributes to climate resilience—whether through technology, urban planning, investment, or mental health. They also reflected on the unexpected challenges they’ve encountered along the way.
Ravi Kurani highlighted his work in water conservation, particularly a project that used robotics to analyze water chemistry on California farms. By optimizing fertilizer use, his technology helped reduce over-fertilization by up to 60%, mitigating both soil degradation and water contamination. This small but powerful intervention showcased how precision technology can address larger climate challenges, such as groundwater depletion and saltwater intrusion.
Thaddeus Pawlowski discussed his experience in urban planning and policy, especially in helping coastal communities recover after disasters like Hurricane Sandy. A major challenge he faced was helping communities embrace change—particularly when people naturally want to rebuild exactly as things were before. He reflected on the difficulty of engaging communities in long-term resilience planning during moments of crisis, acknowledging that these conversations should involve trained therapists to support those coping with loss. He also touched on his involvement in a resilience-focused political action committee, working to ensure that climate resilience remains a priority in upcoming elections.
Helena Wasserman underscored her commitment to keeping climate investment at the forefront, despite shifting economic trends. While some investors have pivoted toward more lucrative industries, such as AI, she remains focused on mobilizing capital for climate solutions. She shared an exciting recent investment in sustainable seaweed farming, supporting a large-scale cooperative in the Philippines. Seaweed, she explained, is a versatile and sustainable resource that requires no fertilizers or freshwater and helps protect coastlines while providing economic opportunities for small farmers.
Mor Keshet is working on a framework called Integrative Eco-Art Therapy, designed to mend the fractured connections between individuals, communities, and the natural world. She emphasized that disconnection—from nature, from each other, and from our emotions—has fueled both environmental destruction and a collective numbness. One challenge she faces is breaking through societal apathy; many people resist conversations about systemic change and prefer to stay within the comfort of the status quo. She stressed the importance of helping people reconnect with their emotions, as true behavioral change can only come when we allow ourselves to fully feel the urgency of the crisis.
This discussion illuminated the many ways resilience can take shape—through technology, policy, financial commitment, and emotional reconnection. While the obstacles are significant, each panelist demonstrated the power of staying engaged, adapting to challenges, and finding innovative ways to move forward.
Climate Resilience in New York City: Urban, Political, and Emotional Challenges
The panel turned its focus to the state of climate resilience in New York City, exploring both structural solutions to urban climate challenges and the personal resilience needed to navigate these crises.
Urban Climate Resilience: What Needs to Change?
Thaddeus Pawlowski laid out an ambitious vision for what New York City must do to become more climate-resilient. While post-Hurricane Sandy federal aid led to some major infrastructure projects, such as levees and new laws for reducing building emissions, much more remains to be done. He argued that the city needs to:
Expand congestion pricing and reduce car dependency by shutting down more streets to traffic.
Transform urban infrastructure by tearing up unnecessary concrete, planting more trees, and restoring natural ecosystems like marshlands.
Electrify buildings through a large-scale investment fund and a Civilian Climate Corps to train workers in green infrastructure.
Restructure taxation to generate funding, such as taxing vacant luxury properties to support climate adaptation efforts.
Pawlowski warned that relying on federal aid is no longer viable and that local and state-level action is crucial for making New York more resilient.
The Urban Heat Crisis and Small-Scale Climate Solutions
Marissa Feinberg expanded on the urban heat island effect, explaining how New York’s concrete-heavy landscape absorbs and retains excessive heat, exacerbating climate change impacts. She pointed to potential solutions, such as:
Increasing green spaces and tree coverage.
Using reflective materials on rooftops (leveraging the albedo effect to reduce heat absorption), citing her the climate physics research of her father, Dr. Alec Feinberg.
Encouraging practical individual choices, like driving lighter-colored cars to minimize heat emission.
Feinberg also touched on the political landscape, emphasizing the challenge of maintaining a nonpartisan climate focus in a time when climate action is being disregarded at the highest levels.
The Emotional Toll of Climate Crises
Mor Keshet brought the conversation back to mental health, revealing that climate anxiety is becoming a widespread issue. She shared insights from a pediatrician who reported that over half of daily cases in their practice are related to mental health struggles. Many people feel emotionally paralyzed by financial stress, existential dread, and the overwhelming pace of crises.
Despite this, Keshet sees a growing hunger for deeper meaning and connection. Many people—especially younger generations—are moving beyond materialism and seeking community-driven, purpose-filled lives. However, she also noted rising nihilism, particularly among young people who feel the weight of the climate crisis yet see few solutions within reach.
Balancing Urgency and Emotional Well-Being
The discussion highlighted a crucial paradox of climate resilience: While urgent action is necessary, people also need emotional space to process their fears without becoming overwhelmed or numb. Striking this balance is essential—both for individuals trying to stay engaged and for communities working to implement long-term solutions.
This conversation underscored that climate resilience is not just about infrastructure and policy—it’s also about human resilience. As New York City faces growing climate challenges, solutions must address both the physical and emotional landscapes of the city and its people.
Looking Ahead: Concerns and Reasons for Hope
As the discussion neared its close, the panel reflected on the challenges that lie ahead and the reasons they remain hopeful despite the uncertainties of the climate crisis.
Concerns for the Future: The Need for a Unifying Vision
Helena Wasserman acknowledged the overwhelming number of climate issues and solutions, emphasizing the need for people to focus and execute rather than becoming paralyzed by the sheer scale of the crisis. She noted that 18% of global VC capital now flows into climate tech, signaling that the industry is no longer niche but a significant force in the global economy.
Ravi Kurani introduced the concept of "Infinity Thinking", which refers to large-scale, focused investment in a singular goal—akin to the U.S. government’s space race. He argued that a major challenge in climate action is the lack of a clear, collective mission, as seen in historical projects like Bell Labs’ research initiatives or the Apollo program. Without this kind of strategic focus, he worries that climate solutions may remain fragmented rather than achieve a breakthrough movement.
Thaddeus Pawlowski expressed deep concern about corporate accountability and environmental justice, particularly in urban areas. He pointed out that companies like Amazon profit enormously from cities like New York while contributing to environmental harm—yet they are rarely held accountable. He criticized the unchecked rise of last-mile warehouses that flood communities with pollution, particularly in lower-income areas. However, he sees hope in young activists and community organizations that are increasingly pushing back against these injustices.
Signs of Hope: Emotional Resilience and Collective Action
Despite the challenges, the panelists saw clear signs of hope and progress:
The climate sector is expanding rapidly, with thousands of solutions already in motion. (Wasserman)
Innovative climate projects are emerging in places like Brooklyn’s New Lab, showcasing new technologies and solutions. (Kurani)
Young people are demonstrating moral clarity and resistance to harmful status-quo behaviors, rejecting the pursuit of materialism at the expense of the environment. (Pawlowski)
Mor Keshet highlighted the emotional transformation she witnesses in her Climate Cafés, where people initially express nihilism and despair but leave with a greater capacity to hold both grief and hope. She introduced the Climate Emotions Wheel, a tool that helps people articulate and process their emotions around climate change. She emphasized that grief is a reflection of love—if people are feeling deep ecological grief, it means they deeply care about the planet.
By expanding our emotional capacity, Keshet argued, we can also expand our capacity to take action. The more people allow themselves to fully feel the urgency of the crisis, the more they can envision solutions and move forward with purpose.
Final Takeaway: From Feeling to Action
The panel’s final reflections underscored that climate resilience is both an external and internal process. From political advocacy and technological innovation to emotional well-being and community activism, resilience requires collective focus, accountability, and the ability to hold complexity without succumbing to despair.
By fostering both systemic change and emotional resilience, we can move beyond overwhelm and into meaningful, sustainable action.
Bridging Consciousness and Climate Action: How the Psychedelic Community Can Get Involved
As the discussion wrapped up, the panel explored how the psychedelic and consciousness community can actively contribute to climate resilience efforts—whether through direct engagement, local action, or supporting existing initiatives.
Localizing Climate Action
Thaddeus Pawlowski emphasized the importance of focusing on local efforts, particularly in cities like New York, where corporate and political forces shape national and global trends. He pointed out that many of the systemic issues driving climate inaction—materialism, corporate influence, and media control—are deeply rooted in cities like New York. Changing New York, he argued, could have ripple effects far beyond its borders. He also encouraged participation in Resilience PAC, a political action committee advocating for climate-focused leadership.
Resources for Climate Engagement
Ravi Kurani shared several practical resources, including:
Work on Climate (WOC) – A Slack community for those looking to work in climate.
New Lab at the Brooklyn Navy Yard – A hub for climate innovation and startups.
His podcast, Liquid Assets – A series focused on water-related climate solutions, policies, and technologies.
Helena Wasserman introduced the Earthshot Prize, an initiative led by Prince William to fund climate innovations. She highlighted how funding networks create a ripple effect, bringing attention and investment to emerging climate solutions, such as the sustainable seaweed project her firm recently backed. She also mentioned her own fundraising program, Unstoppable, for climate founders and angel investors.
Emotional and Spiritual Tools for Climate Resilience
Mor Keshet encouraged the audience to engage in climate-aware mental health resources, pointing to:
Climate Psychology Alliance of North America – A directory of climate-aware therapists.
Climate Emotions Mandala Project – A creative practice for processing climate grief, accessible via her website.
She also emphasized integrating the sacred into daily life as a tool for resilience. She encouraged the consciousness community to view this crisis as an opportunity for transcendence and transformation, drawing on ancestral and indigenous wisdom. Old, sustainable ways of being, she argued, may hold the key to surviving and thriving in the face of environmental and societal shifts.
Next Steps: Turning Conversation Into Action
Marissa Feinberg closed the conversation by underscoring the power of community action. She highlighted that even amid political and economic uncertainty, localized efforts can have a tangible impact. Inspired by the night’s discussions, she proposed forming a working group focused on bridging consciousness and climate resilience in New York City.
For those ready to co-lead a climate-consciousness initiative or develop a community-driven project, she invited them to connect and explore next steps.
A Call to Action: Engaging in Climate Resilience at Every Level
This conversation reinforced that climate resilience is multifaceted—it’s political, technological, emotional, and deeply personal. Whether through direct action, investment, community engagement, mental health support, or spiritual integration, everyone has a role to play.
The challenge is vast, but so is the opportunity. As the psychedelic and consciousness community seeks new ways to navigate and transform reality, it has a powerful chance to help reimagine and build a more resilient world.
Final Reflections: Local Action, Climate Solutions, and Global Innovation
As the event wrapped up, Wendy Brawer, founder of Green Map, took the stage to share local climate resilience efforts and practical ways for people to get involved. She highlighted:
Street Tree Stewardship – A simple but powerful way for individuals to care for urban greenery through NYC’s Parks Department.
Artificial Turf Ban Advocacy – A proposal to ban artificial turf in city parks due to its harmful environmental and health impacts, particularly in environmental justice communities.
Engaging in Local Politics – Emphasizing that NYC’s primary elections in June are crucial for influencing climate policy.
Direct Action & Economic Boycotts – Encouraging participation in Rise and Resist protests at Fox News and nationwide boycott movements targeting companies that neglect social and environmental values.
Innovative Climate Tech – Sharing information about waste heat recycling through Sharc Energy and Urban Soils Institute's research on growing plants in saltwater for future food resilience.
Brawer left the audience with a motivating call to action: "We have so much to do, and we can all do it every single day."
Bringing a Global Perspective to Smart Cities
Aarti Tandon, from Smart City Expo USA, introduced Smart City Expo, a major event focused on urban sustainability and resilience. She challenged the outdated notion of "smart cities," arguing that a city cannot be smart if it still has homelessness, hunger, and poor infrastructure.
Tandon shared how global cities like Paris and regions like the Middle East are leading the way in sustainable urban innovation. She emphasized that the U.S. has much to learn from international models, particularly in preparing for major events like the upcoming Olympics and World Cup, which require cities to manage large populations sustainably.
She invited attendees to Smart City Expo on April 2-3 at the Javits Center and provided a special discount code “PSYCA20” for 20% off to encourage participation.
A Call to Keep the Momentum Going
Marissa Feinberg closed the event with a final reminder: local action matters. With so much power in the hands of community members, she proposed forming a working group focused on bridging consciousness and climate resilience in NYC.
The night ended not just with inspiration, but with a roadmap for action—from tree planting and climate tech innovation to political advocacy and global collaboration.
The message was clear: resilience starts with us, and the time to act is now.
Q&A Highlights: Solutions, Global Perspectives, and Climate Innovation
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where audience members posed questions on practical solutions, international climate policies, and the power of innovation.
Tackling Forever Chemicals (PFAs) in Agriculture
Question: If you had $10 billion to address the contamination of farms by PFAs (forever chemicals), how would you use it?
Ravi Kurani responded by highlighting existing technology that removes PFAs from water using advanced filtration systems. He referenced a startup called Aclarity, which uses membrane-based filtration to purify contaminated water. His approach? Deploying these systems across affected farms to improve water quality and reduce contamination at the source.
Comparing European & American Climate Approaches
Question: How does Europe’s approach to climate innovation compare to the U.S., and what can we learn from it?
Helena Wasserman shared that European environmentalism is deeply ingrained in culture, with stronger policies, public funding, and early climate education. Nordic countries, in particular, provide significant public funding for global climate initiatives.
Follow-up Question: What can the U.S. learn—and what does the U.S. do better?
While Europe excels in policy and public support, the U.S. has unmatched speed and scale in executing big ideas. New York, in particular, is a place where bold climate initiatives can gain rapid traction and funding. Despite its challenges, this ability to mobilize capital and implement change quickly is a major advantage for the U.S. in tackling the climate crisis.
These exchanges highlighted both the innovative solutions being developed and the importance of learning from global best practices while leveraging the unique strengths of different regions.
Final Q&A Highlights and Closing Reflections
The last round of audience engagement brought forth resources, scientific insights, and opportunities for continued action.
Expanding Climate Resilience Resources
Thor Thors, former Chair of Solar One, introduced their new resilient education center at Stuyvesant Cove Park, which is part of NYC’s East Side Coastal Resilience Project. He invited the panel to host future discussions in the space, emphasizing the power of personal narratives in climate dialogue rather than relying solely on statistics.
Paul Mankiewicz, an urban ecologist, delivered an impassioned scientific perspective on how plants, water systems, and biodiversity can naturally combat climate change. He discussed:
Green infrastructure, including rooftop gardens and stormwater capture systems that could significantly reduce NYC’s urban heat island effect.
The role of marshlands in carbon sequestration, stressing that rebuilding wetlands and coastal ecosystems is critical for climate mitigation and biodiversity.
Biological solutions to pollution, such as mussels filtering water pollutants and fungi helping restore soil health.
His overarching message: Nature already provides the blueprint for resilience—our task is to restore and support these systems.
Closing Reflections: Bridging Psychedelics and Climate Action
Marissa Feinberg wrapped up the night with a call to action for the psychedelic and consciousness community to play a more active role in climate efforts.
She invited participants to co-lead working groups (email her to get involved) and help shape new climate initiatives with Psychedelics for Climate Action (PSYCA) and The Psychedelic Assembly.
She emphasized that traditional climate action has made progress, but new approaches—integrating mindfulness, systems thinking, and expanded consciousness—can evolve climate solutions further.
The goal is to move beyond just awareness: "How do we evolve climate action together in a more conscious way?"
The event concluded with an open invitation for attendees to continue the conversation, contribute ideas, and take part in collective action—both locally and globally.
Final Takeaway: Climate Action is a Collective and Conscious Effort
This night reinforced a powerful truth: climate resilience isn’t just about policies and technologies—it’s about people, connection, and rethinking how we engage with the world.
With science, activism, spiritual awareness, and innovation working together, the path forward isn’t just about adaptation—it’s about transformation.
PLEASE NOTE - This blog was created using AI transcription and editorial support to capture key insights from our event.