We've Set Fire to a Bunch of Our Ships

What happens when environmental work that has taken decades to build suddenly disappears?

For years, USAID supported efforts around the world to protect forests and wildlife, reduce pollution, strengthen local communities, and address the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental degradation. But when the agency’s programs were abruptly shut down, the loss went far beyond funding.

In this episode, Leah speaks with former USAID environmental leaders Hadas Kushnir and Monica Bansal, who are now examining the impacts of the withdrawal of USAID’s environmental programs. They share what they heard from people around the world—and what those conversations revealed about the relationships, expertise, and long-term work that were lost. Their full findings will be published in a forthcoming report, Beyond the Funding Gap, out after Labor Day through their initiative, Momentum for the Environment.

From man-eating lions and piranhas to landfill fires, plastic waste, and community conservation, this conversation explores what USAID’s environmental work actually looked like on the ground. It’s also a story of why environmental challenges in one part of the world can affect all of us.

What did we lose when that work stopped? And what might it take to rebuild?

If you want to support environmental work that’s still active on the ground, Hadas and Monica’s team has curated a pipeline of vetted, shovel-ready projects at www.oneearthpartners.com. You can also reach them directly at [email protected] to talk through what fits your interests.

Guest: Hadas Kushnir and Monica Bansal, co-founders of Momentum for the Environment Initiative and former USAID environmental leaders

Topics: USAID’s environmental and climate work, biodiversity loss, community-based conservation, the agency’s dismantling, localization, and the forthcoming Beyond the Funding Gap report

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