Shailene Woodley Advocates for Ocean Conservation and Climate Action

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Actress Shailene Woodley, known for her roles in films and television series like “Big Little Lies” and “The Descendants,” is highlighting the interconnectedness of ocean health and climate change through her recent advocacy work.

Woodley, 33, who grew up near the ocean, shared her deep-rooted passion for marine conservation during a recent interview. “There’s a spiritual experience that I have when I’m in the ocean,” she said. “I think it’s why surfers become addicted to surfing. It is an addictive tranquility that’s difficult to find anywhere else, and so in that pursuit, yes, I find it incredibly important to protect the natural resources that is the ocean.”

Statistics about the ocean’s impact on life on Earth underscore her commitment; Woodley noted that 50% of the world’s oxygen is generated by it and that coastal communities depend entirely on its health.

Woodley has been a member of the leadership team for Conservation International (CI) since 2016 and recently joined its board. CI’s mission focuses on fieldwork that combats climate change through innovative policies and scientific research. Woodley’s approach to climate activism embraces the concept of intersectionality, emphasizing that environmental issues cannot be resolved without addressing socioeconomic conditions globally.

“It’s really intersectional,” she stated. “You can’t address the environment without addressing bureaucracy and various socioeconomic situations. When you view it holistically, it becomes clearer how intertwined the health of nature and people are.”

The emotional toll of fighting for climate change solutions can be heavy, Woodley admitted. She expressed the frustrations often felt in activism, stating that getting results can feel isolating and disheartening. “You get told ‘no’ 100,000 times before you even get half a ‘yes,'” she explained. “It can feel really lonely, and it can feel really frustrating when the same door that you’ve been knocking on has no movement forward.”

Despite these challenges, Woodley encourages activists to channel their frustrations into motivation. “I have the choice to use that anger as fuel for defensive action or offensive action,” she said, advocating for proactive steps over resignation.

Woodley also emphasizes the role of community in climate activism. “It’s really easy to get lost in the macro vision of everything because the world feels so overwhelming,” she said. To counteract despair, she suggests fostering love within communities, which can inspire change on a larger scale.

As advice to those wanting to take part in climate action, Woodley urged individuals to actively engage with their communities. “Find your community, seek your community, grow your community, and protect it at all costs,” she said, highlighting the strength that lies in collective action.