Meg Marinis: The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025
What is a climate solution that isn’t getting the attention or funding it deserves?
Something we’ve been discussing in the writers room at Grey’s Anatomy is the way hospitals contribute to and are impacted by climate change. It’s been fascinating researching and hearing from experts on all of the ways a hospital is affected by extreme weather events and is a throughline we’ve been weaving into the show. We’ve told stories about heat domes, wildfires, floods, windstorms, and more. Another area we’ve really focused on is electric ambulances, and why they aren’t more common in the U.S. Ambulances/EMS vehicles are among the most fuel-inefficient and heavily polluting public service vehicles on the road due to the fact that they often idle for hours to power onboard medical equipment. This in turn contributes to significant greenhouse gas emissions and localized air pollution, ironically near people in medical crisis. This upcoming season of Grey’s Anatomy, we collaborated with Rivian on the creation of an all electric ambulance that will be featured in episodes this fall. It’s our hope that by showing this vehicle it’ll help educate the public on this topic and encourage people to push for more research and funding to make these EMS vehicles commonplace in our country.
What gives you hope about the future of the planet?
What gives me hope about the future of the climate movement is the growing sense of community. More and more people are realizing that climate action isn’t just about data or policy, but about taking care of each other. I live in Los Angeles, but I’m from Texas. I know people who have lost homes in fires, and families who lost loved ones in floods. Witnessing their community response and unwavering support for each other has been so incredibly inspiring. Neighbors organize cooling centers during heat waves; health care workers advocate for cleaner air and safer environments; colleagues open their homes when people have nowhere to go. More than ever, I see people understanding that climate justice is intertwined with health, equity, and dignity. That kind of connection makes me hopeful that we’re capable of not just surviving the climate crisis, but building a more compassionate and resilient world in the process.