The Climate Minute

What was agreed in the Paris Agreement? The Climate Minute Podcast

The historic “Paris Agreement” was made on Saturday December 12, 2015. Climate Hawks everywhere can rejoice at this opportunity to remake the world. Watch the video link below for the reaction in the convention hall, and listen in to the podcast for a discussion of what the final text did (and didn’t) include.

Check out 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

A dispatch from Blockadia: “No Pipelines in MA” - The Climate Minute Podcast

“Blockadia is a place where the future of the environmental movement is being negotiated” according to a recent blog. Across the country, local activists are taking a stand against new fossil fuel infrastructure.  From the tar sands in Canada to kayaktivists in Seattle to pipelines in Massachusetts, resistance is growing. This week we go to the front lines and talk to a Climate Hawk who is working to stop the proposed Algonquin Pipeline in Southern New England.  With a recent study concluding there is no need for the pipeline, an oversized design intended to support the export of gas, and a financial charge to electric customers to pay for Spectra’s pipeline, the Algonquin Pipeline is a bad idea whose time has passed.  We discuss the nuts and bolts of opposition to these kinds of projects, and what motivates us to take action. Despite it’s diversity, the inhabitants of Blockadia share a state of mind that demands a sustainable future.
Check out 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

Making clean energy sausage on Beacon Hill-The Climate Minute Podcast

There is an old saying that goes “You don’t want to watch either sausages or laws get made.” However, sometimes an unpleasant sight can spur a response. The Massachusetts Legislature is locked in a stalled process to raise the solar energy ‘net-metering’ cap, with the House and Senate discussing a bill that is either really bad (House version) or acceptably bad (Senate version.) You can let your representative know we need to support solar fully by checking the ‘Where do I vote?” link. The MA Attorney General commissioned a study the shows we do NOT need new pipelines, which is a boon to activists. Finally, DR notes a concrete example of the harm that might come from the ISDS clause of the TPP.
Check out 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

What's next in a post-Keystone world? The Climate Minute Podcast

The Keystone victory has left us smarter and stronger. What is next? We can fight pipelines, support new wind projects and demand to stop extraction of fossil fuel on Federal land. We discuss.
Check out 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

Keystone is more than a victory: The Climate Minute Podcast

The President recently denied permission to build the Keystone XL pipeline and it is clear that the pipeline opposition movement was crucial to the Mr Obama’s decision. This has been a big, transformative moment for climate activists, and a little self evaluation is worthwhile? What have we Climate Hawks learned about ourselves from all the effort over the last few year? We discuss a few possible answers.
Check out 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

TPP in the sunlight, Exxon in the dock: The Climate Minute Podcast

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is mostly an agreement among corporations, not among real people or even nations. The text was finally opened for public scrutiny last week. Let’s just say there is a lot of discussion that needs to happen! On top of that, Exxon-and the fossil fuel industry in general- is suddenly at legal risk over their efforts to obstruct climate progress.  We discuss.

Check out 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

KXL RIP? The Climate Minute Podcast

Big news this week- Trans Canada blinked first and has asked for a ‘suspension’ of the Keystone XL pipeline applications. Climate Hawks should be proud of leading this fight.  Keystone is part of the ‘supply’ of fossil fuels. Carbon emissions result from the demand for (or use of) fossil fuels. Should activists target one or the other, or both? Good question. We discuss.

Check out 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

Witch Hunt in Washington; The Climate Minute Podcast

Halloween is very scary for climate scientists this year. In Washington, the House “science” committee is on a witch-hunt for researchers who publish inconvenient truths. With nearly unlimited subpoena power, these new inquisitors are intimidating individual scientists by demanding years of unrelated emails and internal documents, demands that come with associated legal costs and career disruption for each researcher. This effort to ‘chill’ the work of scientists is destructive in many ways. We discuss.

Check out 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

Technocrats to the rescue? The Climate Minute Podcast

Moral imperatives aside, exactly what will it take to bring society to a clean energy system? Venkatesh Rao in the Atlantic Monthly argues that only a “World War II” scale effort will suffice, but goes on to point out that war was won by many faceless bureaucrats who carried out wise policy. If there is no single technology or super-human leader to guide us, can we trust ‘the gu’mint’ to do the right thing? 

Check out 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

In the Interest of National Security: The Climate Minute Podcast

Does climate change constitute a threat to our national security? That begs the question: What is “national security?” If you think national security is about the functioning of our government, or if you think it is about a citizen’s personal security, a pretty strong case exists that climate change is a real threat.  We discuss that, plus Bill McKibben’s most recent act of civil disobedience.

Check out 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