The Climate Minute

Storm clouds in the oil fields: The Climate Minute Podcast

The future of progress on climate is tied to the future of the fossil fuel industry. Now that the Paris Agreement is in place and oil prices are falling, what should a Climate Hawk think about that industry’s next steps?  Listen in as we discuss some aspects of the story.

Presidential Climate Hawks - The Climate Minute Podcast

The President announced plans for a historic visit to the Arctic, to highlight the issue of climate change. Will he visit the Chukchi Sea oil rig? Mr Obama, along with most of the Federal Government has been sued by youngsters under the Public Trust Doctrine .

The reading list:
•    President Obama announces a trip to the Arctic
•    Is he sincere or cynical?
•    Jimmy Carter as the first Climate Hawk President
•    EPA and the Colorado spill
•    A new lawsuit under the Public Trust Doctrine
Find the live links at our blog: http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Reaction (and Over-reaction) to the Clean Power Plan- The Climate Minute Podcast

The opinions and reaction to the President’s Clean Energy Plan have come quickly and loudly, from both the left and right of the political spectrum.  It is important to know what all the talking heads are saying, but as Mother Nature points out (here channeled by Julia Roberts), the planet doesn’t need us-we need the planet.  The laws of physics will be obeyed no matter what James Hansen or Mitch McConnell say. Listen in!
The reading list:
•    NYT Op-Ed
•    USA Today Op-Ed
•    350.org Press Release
•    James Hansen on MSNBC
•    Opposition to the plan
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

The Clean Energy Plan - The Climate Minute Podcast

After years in the making, the Obama Administration released the final version of America’s Clean Power Plan. It’s a pretty significant achievement, the first serious effort to control carbon emissions in the US. We discuss the context in which the plan was created, and review some top-level aspects of the plan itself.
The reading list:
•    The EPA's description of the plan
•    Vox explains the plan
•    Will we have more RGGI's?
•    The Guardian's report
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Meanwhile, on Planet Cecil - The Climate Minute Podcast

Finally, an off-shore wind project begins construction, the Obama administration releases a climate plan, and the legal concept of a Public Trust gains ground. We discuss.
The Reading list:
•    RI wind project begins construction!
•    The President's plan is about to become real.
•    The political implications of the Prez' plan
•    Jim Hansen's "Public Peer Review" paper
•    ED Schultz, Climate Hawk
•    The Public Trust Doctrine makes another step forward.
•    RIP Cecil, and the planet?
Check out live  links at our blog,  https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

News from a court in Holland and from one in DC- The Climate Minute

This week a Dutch court set a landmark,  the TPP fight moved to a new phase and the SCOTUS made a decision that could be important for the President’s clean energy plans. We discuss. Listen in!
The reading list:
•    Urgenda's information on the Dutch Court case.
•    The Guardian on the Dutch case
•    EPA on our climate future
•    Why the TPP fight is not over!
•    The Clean Energy Plan's parallel to the ACA
•    The Comet Lander wakes up!
•    What an owl's wings can do for a wind turbine.
Check out live  links at our blog,  https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Meanwhile, down at the Court House...The Climate Minute Podcast

There are several court cases proceeding that are important to Climate Hawks. We discuss:
The reading list:
•    Clean Power Plan
•    "Stop Picking on Larry Tribe!"
•    Divest Harvard
•    The Necessity Defense
•    Dutch lead the way.
Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/meanwhile-down-at-the-court-house-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

MA Guv subverts state's national enviro leadership status- The Climate Minute Podcast

New Governor Charley Baker’s Executive Order 562 would substitute weak federal environmental standards for the existing superior state regulations here in Massachusetts. Based on overheated rhetoric claiming that state regulations are “confusing, unnecessary, inconsistent and redundant” the governor orders “each secretariat, agency, department, board, commission, authority or other body”… “to promptly undertake a review of each and every regulation” and retain only those which do “not exceed federal requirements.” The rule means that any Massachusetts environmental regulations stronger than their Federal counterparts will be dropped, and the weaker Federal ones will be used. Our state is a national leader in many areas, including the fight against carbon pollution and global warming. The regulations that embody that leadership are now at risk. If we rely on the Federal regulations, Massachusetts’ environmental policy will be set by the likes of Senator Ted Cruz. Think that is a good idea? There is more. Listen in.   
Here is a reading list:
•    A report in the Globe
•    Good news for the Associated Industries of Massachusetts
•    A sober analysis
•    Some comments from BlueMassGroup
•    The Governor on the radio
•    Hints of things to come.
Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/ma-guv-subverts-states-national-enviro-leadership-status-the-climate-minute-podcast/
Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

From Tehran to Paris- The Climate Minute Podcast

Are there any parallels between the Iran deal and the COP21 negotiations coming up in Paris? There may be. What are the new methods for climate deniers now that the science is winning? We discuss.
•    A backgrounder on the Iran deal
•    Is climate denial in retreat?
•    The new denier strategy?
•    Will states rejecting the EPA's plan be boycotted like Indiana?
Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/from-tehran-to-paris-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre

Dr. Evil vs Gandhi- The Climate Minute Podcast

Do the ends justify the means? If a Climate Hawk could be as nasty as “Dr. Evil” seems to be, should she? We consider, because it is important to "Know Thine Enemy."

Blogger Dave Roberts tells us about a PR man proud to be called Dr Evil, and wonders if Climate Hawks could or should use the same methods. What is even more troubling, Roberts argues that he is just a cog in a (climate denial) machine.

A well-respected guy named Mohandas Gandhi argued that the means were even more important than the ends, and in some sense the same thing. Building a just, durable and sustainable future requires just methods. (That doesn’t imply you can’t be aggressive, or use the truth attack the bad guys!)

The TPP is coming up for a vote. Reich and Trumka call for a debate.  Senator Bernie Sanders speaks about the media's failure to engage the topic. On the other hand, nothing is stopping YOU from speaking.  Go here, type in your zip code and get your Congressman’s email address. Just write “No fast track of the TPP.” He will know what you are talking about!  

Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog,https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/dr-evil-vs-gandhi-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.
…Ted McIntyre