The Climate Minute

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

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

The Pope and signs of hope- The Climate Minute Podcast

Pope Francis came to town this week and spoke openly about the need to address climate change. That was remarkable all by itself, but there were several other heartening signs- from new Senate bills to promises from China it has been a good week.
The reading list:
•    CSPAN video of the Pope in the Joint Session. His climate related remarks start at about 37 minutes.
•    InsideClimate News' Begley comments on the Pope
•    Climate Hawks and Keystone- take pride!
•    A Climte Bill in the Senate!Action from China!
•    Attend the 9/29 hearings at the Statehouse on important energy legislation
•    Attend a hearing on the Governor's Executive Order 562!
•    Sign up for an October 14 event!

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

Who's intruding on who? The Climate Minute Podcast

The political battles over clean power continue, and Climate Hawks need to stay in the game. We discuss.

The reading list:
•    Eminent Domain in West Rox
•    Baker accused of 'market intrusion'
•    Hearings on Kinder Morgan in Western MA
•    Dirty money fighting solar


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

Smoke from wildfires mixes with a metaphorical smoking gun: The Climate Minute Podcast

In an ironic moment, the California Assembly tip-toed away from aggressive climate legislation, at the behest of Big Oil, even as climate-enhanced wildfires marched with a heavy footprint through various towns outside Sacramento.  Further, the destructive behavior of the oil industry was highlighted by a report that Exxon realized even in the 1970’s that their petroleum products were creating a serious global problem. The report might be the ‘smoking gun’ equivalent to revelations in past decades about what the tobacco industry knew about cancer even as they denied the medical evidence.

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

No more gas pipelines in Massachusetts! - The Climate Minute Podcast

Across the country, the fossil fuel industry is trying to build dangerous and unnecessary pipelines. Massachusetts is no exception- there are TWO pipelines proposed for the state.  These provide a good case study of industry methods and how to oppose them, even if you do not live  in  the Massachusetts. The proponents of the new pipelines claim to be working to provide sufficient gas for the local economy to grow.  But, like Dorothy in Oz, if you peek behind the curtain it becomes clear the industry wants to export the gas away from Massachusetts! That is just one worry- here are six more reasons to oppose these pipelines.

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

Supply and Demand for Climate Hawks - The Climate Minute Podcast

If our efforts at reducing emissions represent control of the “demand” for fossil fuel, what about the “supply?” Should Climate Hawks push for reductions in greenhouse gas emission from, say, coal plants, or should we focus on reducing the supply of fossil fuels, such as the KXL pipeline or stopping Royal Dutch Shell in the Arctic. We discuss. Listen in!.

The reading list:
•    DR on the Bradcast
•    Big coal leases
•    Dave Roberts on the Powder River leases.
•    Bill McKibben on approval of Royal Dutch Shell's artic exploration
•    Bill McKibben's groundbreaking "Do the Math" article
•    Oil CEOs call for a carbon fee

Check out live  links at our blog,  https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/supply-and-demand-for-climate-hawks-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

A dereliction of duty?- The Climate Minute Podcast

The President gave the Commencement Speech at the Coast Guard Academy recently, and by all accounts made a fine speech, indicating he fully understands the gravity of the climate problem. He even went so far as to say : “And if you see storm clouds gathering, or dangerous shoals ahead, you don't sit back and do nothing.  You take action -- to protect your ship, to keep your crew safe.  Anything less is negligence.  It is a dereliction of duty.  And so, too, with climate change. “  However if he really believes what he said, why then his approval of Shell’s plan to endanger the arctic in a search for more oil we cannot burn? What’s up Mr. President? We discuss Shell, the TPP and Santa Barbara where, oops, they had an oil spill even without any ice floes in the neighborhood.

The reading list:
•    Obama speaks to the Coast Guard Academy
•    WAPO
•    Kayaktivists in Seattle
•    $10M per minute, all day long
•    Santa Barbara
•    The Guardian campaign: Keep it in the ground!
•    WTO Changes US law.
•    Sheldon Whitehouse on Climate and the TPP
•    Sheldon Whitehouse's best burns-"They're not gynecologists either....."

Check out live  links at our blog,  https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/05/25/a-dereliction-of-duty-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

Elections threaten KXL, TPP inches forward- The Climate Minute Podcast

Voters in Alberta elected a government that seems to be environmentally friendly. What does it mean for the iconic Keystone XL pipeline? Meanwhile in Washington, the US Senate plans to take up the debate on allowing secret negotiation on the TPP treaty. As Senator Warren said  "A rigged process will produce a rigged result." We discuss.
The reading list:
•    Canada's Globe and Mail on the Alberta elections
•    Some American Climate Hawks on the Alberta Elections
•    A vote on 'Fast Track' authority for the TPP to come up soon in the Senate
•    Senator Warren explains the secrecy around the TPP.
•    The planet's latest milestone: Greater than 400ppm for a month.
Check out live  links at our blog,  https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/elections-threaten-kxl-tpp-inches-forward-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

EPA weighs in on KXL- The Climate Minute Podcast

The Keystone pipeline is heading for a showdown, and the EPA rides to the rescue.

Here are some links:
•    The pipeline goes through Nebraska, not Nevada (my bad!) Visit our friends at Bold Nebraka
•    The EPA sent Mr Obama a nice note telling him that the Keystone XL pipeline will lead to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s hope the President reads it before making his decisions.
•    Pope Francis will address a Joint Session of Congress in September. It will be interesting to hear what he says about climate change.
•    Up in Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott (of “Ax the tax” fame) seems to be in deep trouble.
•    The Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty is coming closer, but most of the media ignore it, except for Ed.

Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/epa-weighs-in-on-kxl-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