The Climate Minute

The President knows some scientists- The Climate Minute Podcast

The President gave his “State of the Union” address, and spent a lot of  time talking about global warming. His best line was “...but I do know some scientists! “

A hoax, or not a hoax? The Senate played “voting record” games. It is not clear which side won.
The TPP treaty is a topic we are likely to hear more about.

Check out more  links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

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 good, the bad and the inspiring- The Climate Minute Podcast

The news this week ranged from good to depressing, from new methane rules (good) to 400pm in the air (depressing.) We try to put it all in perspective.

•    The administration proposes methane emissions regulations.
•    Global CO2 levels are over 400ppm.
•    US India climate talks are proceeding.
•    Worcester will try time-based electical rates.
•    Gov. Baker appoints an energy team. But is it a team of rivals? It has a gas-tax advocate (see here) and the Senate wants to work on the climate issues (see here .)
•    Should we build and then tear down an Olympic Stadium?
•    A report on future gas demand was released at the very end of the Patrick Administration. But the origin and use of  fracking sand is very informative.
•    Bernie Sanders proposed an amendment to the KXL approval bill.
•    The move Selma should give Climate Hawks something to think about.  A couple of years ago, joe Romm posted a blog think about Martin Luther King and climate activism.

See the links at https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/the-good-the-bad-and-the-inspiring-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Check out more  links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

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

2014 from the Climate Hawk's Perspective - The Climate Minute Podcast

The year 2014 was hot, the climate movement became conscious of itself and saw new dimensions in a big world.

This year is likely to be the hottest year on record and one where climate change undeniably arrived in clear force.

The year will also be remembered as one where climate activism took center stage with lots of rabble-rousing. The President said  "Our citizens keep marching. We cannot pretend we do not hear them."  From EPA regulations to the Climate March, Climate Hawks were out in force. The KXL pipeline is in deep Presidential trouble because of activism. In NY, fracking was banned, and the polls approve. On top of all that, Kinder Morgan blinked in the face of local opposition.

The climate movement’s conception of itself changed in 2014 as well, not the least due to Naomi Klein's book "This Changes Everything".  Rebecca Solnit is getting lots of mileage out of a comparison of our times to the French Revolution. She says: “…physics is inevitable…Politics, on the other hand, is not inevitable.” In the same way, the #BlackLivesMatter movement is a big one for Climate Hawks. From a convergence of interests, to environmental justice to a simple realization that cities are a locus of climate opportunity, a new way of thinking was born.

The year also saw hopeful signs of an independent media as well as price parity for renewables, and a great window of opportunity for a carbon tax.

See the links at http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/2014-from-the-climate-hawks-perspective-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Check out more  links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

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

To frack, or not to frack?- The Climate Minute Podcast

Things wrapped up in Lima at COP20 with an agreement that is either good or inadequate. However, Greenpeace apparently went too far and desecrated a famous archeological site in the Andes. This raises questions about the ‘cultural cluelessness’ of some activists. Take for example the on going discussion about the Black Lives movement, environmental  justice and Climate Hawks.

There was lots of activity on the energy-in-politics front, see
•    NY Guv Cuomo’s decision to ban fracking – did it all start in Dryden?
•    Senator McConnell’s plan to vote on KXL (and the 350.org response. )
•    Lobsterboat DA's mayoral win
•    A new carbon  proposal in the state of Washington
•    The President’s declaration on Bristol Bay
•    The collapse of the Russian ruble in part from low oil prices.  

Lots to think about, but remember, this is the  Winter Solstice , and longer days are coming.

See the links at http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/to-frack-or-not-to-frack-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Check out more  links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

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

Local, National and Global Progress-The Climate Minute Podcast

There was lots of climate news this week, from local to national to international issues. We check them all out!

Last Saturday, activist met in Fitchburg to discuss the proposed Kinder-Morgan pipeline. For details and other links, check out this report from the Berkshire Edge.
 
Here in Massachusetts, we have the ‘Global Warming Solutions Act’ that commits the state to lower carbon emissions. A great organization,  Mothers Out Front , has been rallying to ask the Governor to take more steps in this direction. Check out their website to switch to clean energy yourself. We chat with Co-director Vanessa Rule about what is going on!

Over at Tufts University, there will be a conference this weekend entitled Restoring Ecosystems to Reverse Global Warming . The attendees will discuss “The exceptional potential of the biosphere to address all of our current emissions, as well as to remove the 125 parts per million of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”

“If you can’t explain your opponent’s argument, you cannot explain your own.” Down in DC, the Senate rejected a KXL approval measure. But the real question is why are 'conservatives' fixated on fossil fuels?  Here is a discussion of  West Virginia as a resource colony. The Boston Globe suggests compromise , but letter writers are  fed-up.

In the wider world, due to the US commitment of $3 billion dollars, a UN clean energy fund is closing in on it's goal.  In addition, the recent US-China agreement on emissions target suddenly has transformed into real work in China to cap coal usage.

See the links at http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/local-national-and-global-progress-the-climate-minute-podcast/

Check out more  links at our blog, http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com or our Facebook page facbook.com/massclimateaction.

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