Access to all library services will be unavailable on Thursday, May 7, 2026, starting at 11 pm due to server maintenance. Services are expected to resume in the early morning hours of Friday, May 8.
Our climate change anxieties have never been more overwhelming—but they’re also the key to saving the planet. Britt Wray shows us how to embrace our complicated, messy emotions about the climate crisis.
The Malibu Library Speaker Series presents Britt Wray on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 5 pm at Elkins Auditorium on the Pepperdine University campus.
Britt Wray's revolutionary scientific research on the psychological toll of climate change—outlined in her book Generation Dread—reveals a surprising truth: that acknowledging and dealing with climate anxiety helps us find purpose, avoid burnout, and solve both mental health and ecological problems. Wray is a ground-breaking researcher and storyteller, and a growing voice around the mental health effects of climate change. She draws on rigorous investigation and insightful interviews with therapists, activists and researchers to make the scientific case for embracing our climate crisis emotions—especially the ones we’d prefer to ignore.
Wray is a writer, broadcaster, and creator of the weekly climate newsletter “Gen Dread,” whose original research focuses on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. She’s a TED Resident and speaker and was a guest host of the CBC science show Quirks and Quarks as well as co-host of the BBC podcast Tomorrow’s World. Her previous book, Rise of the Necrofauna, was described as a “must-read” by The Sunday Times, and The New Yorker called it one of the best books of the year. Wray has a PhD in Science Communication from the University of Copenhagen and is an advisor to the Good Energy Project for climate storytelling and the Climate Mental Health Network.
This event will take place on campus at Pepperdine University. RSVPs are required. Directions and parking instructions will be available for registrants prior to the event.
Malibu Library, located in the Malibu Civic Center Complex, was established in 1970 by the County of Los Angeles Public Library. Prior to 1970, a bookmobile provided library service to the Malibu community serving residents in Topanga Canyon and along the Pacific Coast Highway.
On April 22, 2012, a grand opening celebration was held to mark the completion of a $6 million renovation of the Malibu Library, designed by the architectural firm of LPA, Inc. and funded by revenue generated from local property taxes.
The new sustainable, LEED-certified library has been redesigned to represent Malibu's sand, sea and sun culture with features such as:
-A replica of the Adamson House tile rug in the main lobby
-A photographic exhibit featuring historical images of the area
-The Children's area featuring a marine life motif, including an 8' by 14' porcelain tile art piece designed by artist Christine Nguyen
-A Teen area that embraces Malibu's surf culture.
