The Climate Minute

What about Environmental Justice? The Climate Minute Podcast

Stephen Hawking, you are among the stars. Your brilliance illuminated our world; you will be missed. This episode is a continuation of our environmental justice focus from Thursday. Arnold Schwarzenegger promises to terminate fossil fuels, using lawsuits as his weapon of choice. We cover recent EJ news from Uniontown, AL, Flint, MI, Bismarck, ND, and Puerto Rico. Bill McKibben advises us all to protest any new fossil fuel infrastructure. Tune in to hear the details.

More questions than answers: The Climate Minute

Join our philosophical journey through politics on today’s podcast. Should an organization dedicated to educating the public about science accept money from people with anti-science views? We visit several examples of museums who received millions to be vague about topics such as climate change. The President’s State of the Union did not mention climate change – unsurprisingly—but we were disappointed that so few of the Democrats responses addressed the problems with “beautiful, clean coal.” Can climate hawks force climate change amelioration to the top of the list for candidates? How would a candidate fare if they focused solely on a climate platform? Along those lines, we discuss New Jersey’s new governor, Phil Murphy, who included climate issues in his platform. Governor Murphy rejoined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), hoping to get back some of the money lost when Chris Christie pulled them out of the agreement. Tune in for more!

Green fields around a BlackRock? The Climate Minute

NYC and the state of New York are divesting. Plus, financial giant Blackrock wants more social benefits from corporations. This is a big deal. Listen in.

Hope or Fear? The Climate Minute

A recent study suggests that some men regard protecting the environment as un-masculine behavior. Can that be real? We also review climate communications- does fear work better than reason? And can the Google algorithm be gamed to shows denier links first? Listen in!

Bomb-o-what-is-this? The Climate Minute

As the East Coast settles in for a storm that has ‘undergone bombogenesis,’ we discuss the important stories of 2017. Listen in.

Doug Jones good, Ajit Pai bad: The Climate Minute

Will the end of net neutrality make climate activism harder? Perhaps- groups like 350 have used the open internet to organize globally. Since the tax bill in Congress is so bad for renewables, last Tuesday’s election of Doug Jones might have real consequences for climate if he can be seated soon. Listen in as we discuss.

Imperfect allies: The Climate Minute

There is a lot going on in Bonn this week, at the annual climate conference. In addition to working out the details of the Paris Accords, there were protests of the US gummint shilling for coal, and protests against Jerry Brown for not being pure enough. Listen in as we discuss.

Power outages in Boston and San Juan: The Climate Minute

Last week’s storm gave Boston a little taste of the bitter circumstances in Puerto Rico. We ask how the island can be rebuilt in a sustainable model, especially with the departure of Whitefish Energy Holdings. On a different island, New Zealand considers offering a home to climate refugees. Back in Boston, we consider the implications of a hurricane in Boston proper. Listen in.

When is it time to discuss climate? The Climate Minute Podcast

Question: What do the Las Vegas shooting and this season’s hurricanes have in common? Answer: It is always too soon to discuss the ‘politics’ until it is too late to bother. The common refrain to ‘be sensitive to the victims’ following disasters needs to be challenged. In the immediate aftermath of these events, we can and should focus on the causes and possible responses. One way to do that is to propose bold new ideas, and allow them to move to the mainstream of our national discussion. Listen in!

100% Renewables Now! The Climate Minute Podcast

Bill McKibben makes a clear declaration in his new article on how we can get to a sustainable future:
It’s the call for the rapid conversion of energy systems around the country to 100 percent renewable power—a call for running the United States (and the world) on sun, wind and water. What Medicare for All is to the healthcare debate, or Fight for $15 is to the battle against inequality, 100% Renewable is to the struggle for the planet’s future. It’s how progressives will think about energy going forward—and though it started in northern Europe and Northern California, it’s a call that’s gaining traction outside the obvious green enclaves.
Listen in as we discuss!