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The Climate Minute examines current news on global warming, climate change, renewable energy and the prospects for progress on international negotiations, carbon taxes and clean energy policy.
Episodes
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
MA Legislature misses its chance at greatness: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
Thursday Aug 02, 2018
So the MA Legislature took a swing and missed. No, they fumbled a great chance. No, they dropped the ball. No, they struck out. No, they choked. No, they “could’a been contenders.”
OK, sports metaphors don’t work for everyone.
The MA Legislature, like Frodo at the Crack of Doom, looked into the abyss of demands from the fossil industry and lost heart. Unfortunately, Gollum was not there to bite the ring off.
OK, LOTR references are too opaque.
The MA Legislature had the chance to make our state the nation’s leader in clean energy policy, and they failed. It is as simple as that. Constrained by a rigid hierarchy of power in the House and beholden to powerful corporate energy interests, our elected officials ignored visionary policies passed by the Senate and produced a milquetoast, uninspired energy bill that only a utility could love.
As climate hawks, we will take the 2% RPS in this bill but focus on electing true clean energy advocates. And, by the way, we will return to the next legislative session with renewed commitment.
As they used to say about the Red Sox, “Wait ‘til next year!”
Thursday Jun 28, 2018
After Kennedy, what to do next? The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Jun 28, 2018
Thursday Jun 28, 2018
The retirement of Anthony Kennedy is bad news for climate hawks (along with lots of others.) That bad news comes together with cruelty on our borders, against both children and Muslims. How should we interpret these events and formulate a path forward? Listen in.
Sunday Jun 24, 2018
Sunday Jun 24, 2018
The Massachusetts Senate recently passed "An Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future", otherwise known as the “Pacheco Bill” after Senator Mark Pacheco who introduced it. The bill has so many good aspects, it is hard to fit them all into a single podcast! Listen in as we discuss a lot of them. Now the bill awaits action in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It could face a much tougher time there, and need the support of all climate hawks! Join the MCAN Legislative Action Team to help out.
Sunday May 27, 2018
We all live in Flint-The Climate Minute Podcast
Sunday May 27, 2018
Sunday May 27, 2018
Scott Pruitt’s EPA withheld a report about poisonous chemicals in drinking water, and then barred CNN and AP reporters from a meeting about it. Plus the “jerks at FERC” want to ignore the greenhouse gases from pipeline content, Exxon wants permission to cook it’s books on monitoring methane leaks, and Gina takes a potshot at Bill, or did she? The answers to your worries? Vote in November.
Sunday May 20, 2018
Actors in New Orleans and poison in the water-The Climate Minute Podcast
Sunday May 20, 2018
Sunday May 20, 2018
Two examples of deception this week: Entergy paid actors to testify in favor of a power plant in New Orleans and the White House is hiding a ‘nightmare’ report on water quality. And, by the way, Jupiter is changing our weather…very slowly. Listen in.
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
Science strikes back on Saturday April 14: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
Thursday Apr 12, 2018
This Saturday, April 14, the March for Science will happen in Boston. The theme of this year’s Boston march is “Science Strikes Back!” This year, our focus is on being proactive—advocating for science-based public policy and getting more people involved in science. In particular, the spotlight will be on climate change, where the science so needs to be heard. We discuss some of the bills in the MA Legislature, one on environmental justice, one on home energy scorecards and a climate hawk’s dream from Senator Pacheco. Listen in.
Sunday Apr 08, 2018
Scott Pruitt IS the swamp: The Climate Minute Podcast
Sunday Apr 08, 2018
Sunday Apr 08, 2018
President Trump talked about “draining the swamp” as a major part of his campaign platform and yet he put in an EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, who appears to be the definition of “the swamp” that Trump promised to evacuate. We highlight some of Pruitt’s worst offenses including scrapping the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, instructing EPA staff to boldly deny the dangers of anthropogenic climate change, removing decision-making power from regional EPA directors, and accepting illegal gifts – in the form of cheap rent – from a fossil fuel energy lobbyist. Take some deep breaths before you dive in on this one – it may make you see red!
Thursday Apr 05, 2018
Healy, Baker and the click-happy lobbyist: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Apr 05, 2018
Thursday Apr 05, 2018
Massachusetts continues to demonstrate it’s leadership on climate issues. Maura Healy gets a win over Exxon and fights door to door greenwashing scams. Charley Baker gets a thumbs up for a ‘point of sale’ energy audit but a thumbs down for a poison pill proposal to put natural gas in a ‘clean peak power’ package. The Northern Pass finally gets rejected, and a pipeline lobbyist lurks on constituent emails, but then cleverly hits ‘Reply all’ to comment. Hmmm….
Thursday Mar 22, 2018
The judge held a science class: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Mar 22, 2018
Thursday Mar 22, 2018
In a court case about global warming impacts brought by Bay Area cities against big oil companies, the judges has asked for a tutorial on the scientific basis for the suit. That is a refreshing approach, since the truth has a certain stickiness in legal proceedings. We discuss the general situation and the eight specific questions the judge posed. Listen in.
Thursday Mar 08, 2018
An Act to promote a clean energy future: The Climate Minute Podcast
Thursday Mar 08, 2018
Thursday Mar 08, 2018
This week’s storm, the second ‘once in a century’ kind of storm this year reveals that we need a coherent statewide policy to develop clean energy. Senate bill 2302 (An Act to promote a clean energy future) sponsored by Senator Pacheco gives us a blueprint to build that future. Listen in, then call your Senator.