The Climate Minute

Between Dystopia and Utopia: The Climate Minute

The social foundations of the Doughnut Economics model are a baseline standard for human livability that must be achieved for everyone on the planet..  We talk with Cody Harrison about how to use the doughnut to make smarter policies. 

The path beyond gas: The Climate Minute

With the coal industry nearly dead, the battle for the future is between renewable energy (like solar and wind) and natural gas. In electricity generation, that battle will turn on the availability of 'energy storage' systems like large-scale batteries to provide power at peak demand. The good news is a court ruling will allow the storage market to grow nationwide and 'million mile' batteries are on the horizon. But what about the gas we use to heat our homes? States are moving to find ways to replace the leaky gas infrastructure we have, and fresh ideas abound.

Grampa, what was a butterfly? The Climate Minute

Human life is short, geological time is long. It is easy for humans to adapt and accept the losses due to climate change without even noticing. How do we take notice? What should we do?

Building codes and building community: The Climate Minute

We have a last conversation with departing MCAN Executive Director Carol Oldham and learn what is important now. Listen in and then head to "MassClimateAction-dot-org-slash-blog" for the hot links to what we talked about!

Who is to blame? The Climate Minute

The issue of responsibility for climate change has many sides. We discuss a BBC article that provides another way to consider the question. Listen in and then head to

The threat of climate change to pregnant women of color: The Climate Minute

The increase in temperature associated with climate change is a threat to pregnancies and the pollution associated with fossil fuel use compounds that danger. Disadvantaged communities suffer these effects more than others, and so pregnant women are at particular risk. A new report details the findings. Our psychological processing of the pandemic shutdown leaves us still wondering about a ‘wellness economy’, where GDP is not the driver of all our effort. This may be a good thing for a world fighting climate change.Listen in and then head to "MassClimateAction-dot-org-slash-blog" for the hot links to what we talked about!

Clouds may warm us but 90% renewables by 2035 is cool: The Climate Minute

Clouds may seem simple but new calculations reveal an unexpected heating contribution. OTOH, we also learn that renewables are a better bet than ever. Listen in and then head to "MassClimateAction-dot-org-slash-blog" for the hot links to what we talked about!

Juneteenth 2020: The Climate Minute

June 19th commemorates the end of slavery. The day gives us an opportunity to think about how systemic racism and the climate fight are intertwined. Listen in and then head to "MassClimateAction-dot-org-slash-blog" for the hot links to what we talked about!

Aren’t we all anti-fascist? The Climate Minute

The administration’s talk about ‘left wing anti-fascist terror’ groups is an excuse to limit free speech, especially around police protests but also around climate actions. Listen in and then head to "MassClimateAction-dot-org-slash-blog" for the hot links to what we talked about!

Climate change and “disposable people”: The Climate Minute

A deepening understanding of the connection of racism to the causes of climate change is important to our work. Hop Hopkins of the Sierra Club has a good formulation: “You can’t have climate change without sacrifice zones, and you can’t have sacrifice zones without disposable people, and you can't have disposable people without racism. “ We explore.