In a September 20, 2023 interview, Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees (Yale World Fellow ’10) talked about his journey from journalism to the ballot, how questions of identity shape his approach to politics, how to fix our broken political systems – and how he battles “eco-pessimism.” 

 A high-profile climate champion, Rees believes the battle on climate change will be won or lost in our cities. Seeing cities not as national possessions but rather as international assets, Mayor Rees believes city leaders cannot deliver within their urban boundaries if they are not active on the world stage.