Growing up in a Mormon household steeped in political conservatism, Madeleine Hahn was raised in an environment where skepticism towards climate science was prevalent.
Madeleine faced a profound battle as she sought to reconcile her family's conservative political beliefs with her own evolving understanding of the world, with it coming to the fore when she applied for and was offered the opportunity to intern at the Obama White House!
The prevailing sentiment in Madeleines family was that climate change was nothing more than a political ploy, a narrative propagated by opposing ideologies rather than a scientifically grounded reality.
This viewpoint posed a significant challenge to Madeleine's burgeoning awareness of environmental issues as she travelled the world to places as far afield as Samoa, Iraq and Lebanon.
While her upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of faith and family loyalty, her parents also instilled a thirst for knowledge.
This intellectual curiosity has led her to becoming a Gates PhD Scholar at Cambridge University delving deeper into the disparity between culture and the overwhelming evidence supporting the reality of global warming.
Along with two colleagues, Madeleine has established Rootd, an organisation with a mission to mobilise millions by connecting them with the right climate action opportunity for them.
Join us as Madeleine shares the story of her extraordinary journey.