Bill McKibben (born 1960) is a pioneering American environmentalist, author, and journalist who received the Thomas Merton Award in 2013. Often cited as the first person to alert a general audience to the climate crisis, McKibben has spent decades bridging the gap between scientific warning and grassroots mobilization.The Power of the PenIn 1989, McKibben published The End of Nature, the first book for a general audience about global warming. Since then, he has authored over 20 books, including:Deep Economy (2007): A call for a shift toward local-scale, sustainable economies.Eaarth (2010): An argument that we have already created a new, tougher planet.Falter (2019): An examination of the existential threats posed by climate change and technology.Global MobilizationMcKibben is a co-founder of 350.org, the first planet-wide grassroots climate movement. The organization’s name refers to 350 parts per million, the atmospheric concentration of $CO_2$ that scientists consider the safe upper limit for human civilization. He has spearheaded massive campaigns, including:Fossil Fuel Divestment: A global effort that has seen trillions of dollars moved away from oil and coal.Keystone XL Pipeline: Leading nonviolent protests that resulted in his own arrest and successfully delayed the project for years.A Legacy of StewardshipNow a Senior Advisor at 350.org and founder of Third Act (an organizing movement for people over 60), McKibben continues to advocate for a "just transition" to renewable energy. His 2013 Merton Award recognized his "prophetic" voice and his ability to turn ecological despair into collective, hopeful action.