The Climate Minute

CT pulls out, but ND goes all in: The Climate Minute Podcast

Climate news this week contained progress and tension.  Grassroots opposition has slowed pipeline progress in MA, RI and NH, so CT decided to pull out of the whole concept. On the other hand, in North Dakota the confrontation keeps spiraling, it seems due to a militarized response from the police. Listen in as we discuss.

Can oil intimidate journalism? The Climate Minute Podcast

The Dakota pipeline confrontation is turning increasingly harsh. Journalist Amy Goodman was charged with rioting (but then released), Native Americans and Hollywood actresses were strip-searched and a movie maker was charged with 45 years worth of offenses. Does this mean ‘big oil’ is feeling the heat of grass roots protest? Let’s hope so! Listen in.

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 do Kigali, Montreal and your air conditioner have in common? The Climate Minute Podcast

Your air conditioner is full of super greenhouse gases, just waiting to escape and warm the world. This week the world did something about that- it agreed to the “Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.”  This will phase out the gases- known as HFC’s- and reduced the rate of warming. Listen in as we discuss.

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

Waters poisoned in Carolina, at risk in Dakota: The Climate Minute Podcast

The fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline goes on, with court rulings, the arrest of journalists and a ‘truck attack’ on protestors. The flood waters from Hurricane Matthew are now poisoned with animal waste and perhaps coal ash. The good news is that the airline industry has taken the first baby steps toward controlling emissions. We discuss it all!
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 hard rain’s gonna fall: The Climate Minute Podcast

“I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests, I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans….It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.”
Bob Dylan won a Nobel Prize this week. His art can be (and is) continuously re-interpreted. That is the definition of great art!  At the same time, the debacle at Samsung could be the logical outcome of the desire for smaller, more energetic batteries. What are the implications for storage of renewable energy? Finally we discuss such far out ideas as funding climate work from the DOD, or even using carbon fees for a universal income. Listen in, because it’s time “for my boot heels to be wanderin’”
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

Matthew tours the coast: The Climate Minute Podcast

Hurricane Matthew took a tour up the Eastern Seaboard this week. We take a look at events from a Climate Hawk’s perspective. Listen in!
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

One small step for the planet, a giant leap for mankind: The Climate Minute Podcast

This week, the world took an enormous step toward climate sanity. With a vote in the EU parliament, enough countries with enough carbon emissions have ‘ratified’ the Paris Agreement to allow it to ‘enter into force.’  All that jargon means the agreement is law in the countries that agreed to it, including the US of A. That is a big deal, especially since the next President will not be able to withdraw our country from the agreement. The battle to actually generate clean power isn’t over however, since some people in the Senate hope to force the acceptance of burning wood to make electricity. This proposal raises complex issues, but the simple answer is  “Not a good idea.” Listen in.
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

McKibben checks his math and yes, 942 is still greater than 353: The Climate Minute Podcast

The planet passed a woeful milestone this month. The annual minimum of CO2 in the air occurs in September at the end of the Northern Hemisphere’s summer-is greater than 400ppm. Given the long lifetime of CO2 in the atmosphere, it is unlikely that you or I, or anyone living, will see a planet with less than 400ppm in the remainder of our lives.  At the same time, Bill McKibben notes that humans have already built enough mines and drilled enough wells to pollute the air beyond safe limits. That said, there is NO need to explore for new fossil fuel deposits, or even to exploit the ones the industry knows about. New wells are a waste of money, since we cannot use the oil. (Tell that to your investment advisor!) Listen in as we discuss.

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 pivotal day in court for the clean power plan: The Climate Minute Podcast

A profoundly important legal battle played out in a Washington DC courtroom this week. At issue was the very legitimacy of the methods used in the Clean Power Plan. We discuss (in ‘keep it simple, stupid!’ terms) the issues and implications. Listen in!

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

Clean Power Plan heads to court, again: The Climate Minute Podcast

The President’s Clean Power Plan is back in court this week, with big implications for Climate Hawks. Lamar Smith continues his witch-hunt, but the SEC is turning its eye toward Exxon’s possible shareholder fraud.  Finally, the Paris Agreement maintains steady progress toward full ratification. That is good news! Listen in.
Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.org/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