In this opening episode of the Meliora Student Takeover Season we’re tackling the California wildfires—with a focus on Los Angeles—and what they reveal about a growing sustainability crisis. With lives, ecosystems, and the future of our planet at stake, wildfires are leaving a trail of devastation across the globe— from loss of life and property to widespread environmental and economic disruption. In regions like Southern California, once-seasonal fires are becoming longer, hotter, and more destructive, threatening lives, wildlife, and vital infrastructure.
This crisis isn’t just a natural hazard—it’s a sustainability emergency. It directly challenges the aims of Sustainable Development Goal 11: to create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. LA’s wildfire reality shows how far we still have to go. These repeated disasters raise urgent questions: how can we prevent future wildfires? And what do they mean for global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Forest Goals and climate resilience?
Host: Jasper
Guests: Alice, Hannah, Meg, and Claudiu
