Author, Journalist and Founder of CCAN
Mike Tidwell is an award-winning author, journalist, and climate advocate whose work has helped shape the national conversation on the human dimensions of climate change. As the founder and executive director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, he has spent more than two decades leading campaigns for clean energy and stronger climate policy throughout the Mid-Atlantic. His books—including The Ravaging Tide, The Ponds of Kalambayi, and his latest, The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A Story of Climate and Hope on One American Street—combine firsthand reporting with deeply personal storytelling, revealing how global environmental challenges unfold in the lives of ordinary people.
His latest book follows the disappearance of the century-old trees lining his Maryland neighborhood, using their decline to explore the realities of a warming world while also highlighting the resilience and determination of communities searching for solutions. The story weaves together the experiences of neighbors, scientists, and public servants—including Congressman Jamie Raskin—to show how climate change is reshaping both landscapes and lives. Tidwell's writing has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and National Geographic.
Throughout his career, Tidwell has worked alongside many of the movement's most influential voices, including pioneering environmental author Bill McKibben. Together, they have helped translate climate science into public action, demonstrating the power of storytelling, advocacy, and civic engagement to inspire hope in the face of unprecedented environmental change.
