Bill McKibben

Climate movement leader Bill McKibben appeared at The Progressive Forum to discuss his book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization. Acclaimed historian Douglas Brinkley co-interviewed McKibben. The event took place at Congregation Emanu El, Houston, Texas, on September 11, 2025. This page also features McKibben’s previous appearances in 2019, 2014, and 2008. 
SHORT: Solar is the Costco of energy: cheap, ready to use, and available in bulk. The solar industry is booming, and the economics show that solar is no longer an “alternative” energy. (3:47)

More Bill McKibben Videos

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Bill McKibben, Douglas Brinkley, and Randall Morton. Entire Q&A (1:11:03)
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SHORT: Local and state actions can spur solar adaption. American home solar is three times as costly versus Australia and Europe because of unnecessary permitting processes. (5:52)
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SHORT: Douglas Brinkley and Bill McKibben offer historic perspectives on today’s extreme inequality. Widely distributed renewables is a path to a fairer society versus scarcity-based energy. (6:11)
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SHORT: Why Trump’s war on solar power will fail. Red state Texas is producing clean energy faster than any other state because it’s the cheapest way to meet growing demand and build a more stable energy grid. (3:40)

Background

Bill McKibben is a contributing writer to The New Yorker and a founder of Third Act which organizes people over the age of 60 to work on climate and racial justice. He founded the first global grassroots climate campaign, 350.org, and serves as the Schumann Distinguished Professor in Residence at Middlebury College in Vermont. He has written 20 books about the environment, including his first on the climate crisis, The End of Nature (1989). 

Bill McKibben Updates

 

Thanks to videographer BEND Productions

Thanks to our photographer CJ Martin

For citing this website as a source: ProgressiveForumHouston.org

Thanks to Bill McKibben for permission to post the video contents of all the events on this page. We welcome visitors to share this exciting educational material.