The Climate Minute

Ten billion things to unpack: The Climate Minute

Jeff Bezos of Amazon has established a $10 Billion dollar fund to address the climate crisis. We have ten billion questions to ask. Listen in.

Confusing pathways on the search for truth: The Climate Minute

Action on climate depends on estimating what CO2 levels will exist in the future decades. Scientists use assumptions about, for example, CO2 levels in the year 2070 in order to perform calculations of warming. Recently, there has been discussion about the plausibility of the highest emission 'pathway.' We consider some of the implications. Head to "MassClimateAction-dot-org-slash-blog" for the hot links to what we talked about!

Injustice in Canada, leverage in Massachusetts: The Climate Minute

An environmental injustice is happening in British Columbia, where yet another pipeline is being built against the wishes of the indigenous people. The names are different but the story line is familiar. One common theme is that banks like JP Morgan Chase are providing the funding. This gives us an opportunity to fight far away injustice right here at home.

MCAN helps local light plants: The Climate Minute

Municipal Light Plants (MLP) in Massachusetts are a great opportunity for reducing emissions and experimenting with new ideas. MCAN recently held a summit of activists from MLP towns. Listen in as we learn from MCAN’s Clean Energy Program Director.

Fracking wastewater is radioactive: The Climate Minute

Rolling Stone magazine has published an expose of the irresponsible disposal of radioactivity material from fracking wells. It is a scandal and a shame, and can be attributed to the intentional blindness of regulators in local, state and federal agencies. Responsible management of this radioactive waste would impose significant cost to the producers- costs that now are borne by the people who live near the well. We must pay for this ‘externality’ in the present. Listen in.

Emergency Podcast: Nathan Phillips explains his #Hunger4JusticeMA

Listen to Prof. Nathan Phillips of BU speak about why he is in the 4th day of a hunger strike protesting the injustice happening in Weymouth. Please call Governor Baker and Commissioner Suuberg and say “I am calling to urge you to meet the three demands that will allow the ongoing hunger strike of Nathan Phillips to cease.” The Governor’s number is 617-725-4005, and Commissioner Suuberg’s is 617-292-5500x71098. Follow @NathanPBoston and #Hunger4JusticeMA.

Net zero of what? The Climate Minute

In his State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Baker announced a “Net Zero by 2050” climate goal. It is good that the state is setting a path, but the ambiguity around the definition of net-zero leaves lots of area for wiggle. We discuss.

How should we spend those nine billion dollars? The Climate Minute

The utilities have committed $9B of your monthly payments to upgrading gas pipes. The new idea is to replace underground gas lines with ‘just the right temperature’ water lines. Then ‘heat pumps’ can cool or warm your home, instead of dangerous methane gas. It’s so crazy it just might work! We discuss.

A failure of imagination? The Climate Minute

A Federal Appeals Court rejected a case brought by children demanding a right to a stable climate. We discuss this case, called Juliana, and the general state of legal action on climate.

The Money Pipeline: The Climate Minute

Exxon needs JP Morgan Chase more than Morgan needs Exxon. If the money pipeline from the banks to the fossil fuel majors ever shut down, new oil exploration would stop almost overnight. That’s why Blackrock’s letter and McKibben’s arrest are so important. We review.