Expanding the Meaning of Sustainability: Breanna Draxler in Choices for Sustainable Living

Choices for Sustainable Living has been a trusted sustainability curriculum for campuses, businesses, communities, and changemakers for decades. With our new edition, Ecochallenge.org is highlighting contributors who bring fresh, inclusive perspectives to sustainability education. One of those voices is environmental journalist Breanna Draxler, whose essay, initially featured in YES! Magazine, ‘Justice at the Heart of Climate Activism’, appears in the Community chapter.

We spoke with Breanna about her journey into environmental journalism, the intersections of justice and climate, and why expanding our definition of the environment is essential for building a sustainable future, together.

About Breanna Draxler

Breanna grew up in rural Wisconsin, where the outdoors was a constant backdrop to her childhood. That early connection to nature guided her path into environmental studies during college. But instead of chemistry and biology, she found herself drawn to philosophy and creative nonfiction writing.

“I discovered this thing called environmental journalism. I didn’t realize there was a field dedicated to this work, and I felt like it was really sort of designed for me.”

Since then, Breanna has built a career telling stories that connect the environment to people’s lived experiences. Most recently, she served as Deputy Editor at YES! Magazine, where her role evolved from climate editor to environmental justice editor, reflecting a growing focus on intersectional issues, such as Indigenous sovereignty and racial justice.

Climate Justice at the Center of Community

Breanna’s essay in the new Choices for Sustainable Living book was shaped by a pivotal moment in recent history.

“This came out in the wake of the 2020 uprisings. We were seeing a massive collaborative, mainstream shift toward racial equity… I think for a lot of people, for the first time. For many people, this was already well known and understood… the pandemic laid bare the social inequities that have long shaped our society.”

As the pandemic exposed inequities in health, housing, and safety, many began to see how deeply social justice and environmental justice are intertwined. For Breanna, it was critical to highlight how these movements build on decades of organizing led by frontline communities.

“The definition of the environment needs to be broader. It needs to really be more inclusive of more places and people and the things that we interact with in our daily lives.”

Her piece challenges readers to rethink what counts as “environmental” work and to view justice as central, not peripheral, to climate solutions.

Intersectional Environmentalism Today

Climate activism is changing rapidly — and Breanna believes intersectionality is at the core of that shift.

“The environment includes our homes. It includes our schools and our cars and our trash. … Everyone has a vested interest in improving the health and sustainability of these spaces.”

She emphasizes that frontline communities have long been leading this work, even if it wasn’t labeled “environmentalism.” By centering those voices, climate activism becomes more representative and more effective. This perspective aligns with the sustainability education approach of Choices for Sustainable Living, which asks readers to consider both social and ecological aspects of change.

Redefining Expertise and Solutions

Breanna’s career began in science journalism, but her perspective has expanded. She argues that addressing the climate crisis requires more than technological fixes — it requires rethinking who counts as an expert and whose knowledge shapes solutions.

“Our definition of science should include Indigenous ways of knowing and decades, centuries, millennia of research that they have collected and passed down orally. We also need to broaden our definition of ‘experts’... Somebody living in a frontline community and experiencing pollution firsthand absolutely makes them an expert in what it’s like to feel the effects of climate change. That should have as much weight as somebody who studies it in a laboratory.”

By broadening what we recognize as science and expertise, Breanna highlights that the path forward must be both innovative and inclusive, grounded in justice as much as data. It’s an essential lesson for anyone engaged in sustainability education and advocacy.

Looking Forward: What’s Next for Breanna?

With YES! Magazine ceasing publication after nearly three decades, Breanna is stepping into new projects. One she’s especially excited about is the Climate Blueprint for Media Transformation, a collaboration with the Solutions Journalism Network and Covering Climate Now, which guides journalists as they move into the future of climate journalism. You can explore her ongoing work at breannadraxler.com.

Why Her Voice Matters in Choices for Sustainable Living

Breanna’s essay reminds us that sustainability is about more than recycling bins or carbon footprints — it’s about people, power, and justice. By weaving together housing, racial equity, Indigenous sovereignty, and climate action, she helps readers see that these issues are inseparable.

Her contribution embodies what the new edition of Choices for Sustainable Living is all about: sparking deeper conversations, amplifying diverse voices, and equipping communities with a sustainability curriculum that connects climate justice to everyday choices.

Explore the New Edition

Ready to dive deeper into sustainability education? The updated Choices for Sustainable Living book is now available — updated for classrooms, green teams, and anyone ready to explore what sustainability means today.

👉 Check out Choices for Sustainable Living in our online store, available in paperback or ebook - both come with a link to a free audiobook version!

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