Audrey Depelteau, director of the ETSU Innovation Lab, was chosen to be a mentor in the first Climate Reality global virtual training event held in July.
She was one of 500 leaders from around the world who collectively mentored over 10,000 participants. The training focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I’ve been very active in the Climate Reality program since 2013,” said Depelteau. “I became a mentor for the first time about a year and a half ago, and it was at the Atlanta training in March of 2019.”
Climate Reality is a nonprofit organization seeking to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis. It is led by Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, as well as Climate Reality CEO and President Ken Berlin. Climate Reality has over 21,000 leaders in 154 countries.
“What I really appreciate about the Climate Reality Program is it stays current, and it is really bringing in the social injustices that climate change really puts on underserved communities,” said Depelteau.
Depelteau said coal plants and chemical digs are generally placed in underserved areas, and as a result, cancer rates in these areas have been skyrocketing. She said a big part of her training was learning how to not just protect the environment, but also doing it in a way that is socially just for everyone.
Depelteau started her mentoring in March 2019 with Al Gore’s top three farm managers and his presidential campaign manager. In October 2019, she attended the inaugural, invitation-only gathering of The Climate Underground, a two-day conference hosted by Gore at his Caney Fork Farms in Carthage, Tennessee. She has been invited to attend again this year, but the conference will be virtual due to COVID-19.
This summer there were two Climate Reality programs. One in July and one in August where they trained over 9,000 new leaders. Depelteau mentored in July’s program.
“I get to work with and meet these incredible people,” she said. “It’s just an incredible program.”
Depelteau said the key to solving the climate crisis is teamwork and encouraged students to play a role and be responsible.
“It’s not one person,” said Depelteau. “It’s not the one Greta [Thunberg], it’s not the one Al Gore that’s going to do this. It’s every single one together.”
Depelteau studied environmental toxicology at Albany Medical College’s Center for Environmental Toxicology and Pathology and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
At ETSU, her role with the Innovation Lab is assisting aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to develop their ideas from concept to commercialization in the technological fields. The lab offers wet and dry lab space, office space, an entrepreneur resource center, meeting rooms and an innovation studio.
Outside of work, Depelteau enjoys organic gardening, hiking, swimming and paddle boarding. She was a downhill ski-racer and ice hockey player, captaining the men’s ice hockey team she played for. She is also an animal lover and has many pets, ranging from parrots to dogs and cats, many of which are rescues.
“I have had and I still do have an incredible life,” said Depelteau.
For more information about Climate Reality visit https://www.climaterealityproject.org/
