The Climate Minute

From sunny day flooding to a new California law: The Climate Minute Podcast

The reality of climate change was apparent last week in reports on rising sea levels, the climate-related drivers of the Baton Rouge floods and even human caused earthquakes in OK. On the other hand MA has a new port to assist in wind turbine installation, and CA passed historic and ambitious climate regulations. 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

From Block Island to Dakota: The Climate Minute Podcast

Following the SJC’s decision against the pipeline tax, the utilities have pulled out of the Access Northeast pipeline project. That is good news, but raises the question of what happens next in the fight against new fossil fuel infrastructure. The Dakota Access pipeline fight looms large in this context.  One the other hand, there are now several examples of clean energy breakthroughs. Listen in as we discuss.

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

Businesses Acting on Rising Seas- The Climate Minute Podcast

The Climate Action Business Association’s (CABA’s) summer campaign is called Businesses Acting on Rising Seas (BARS2016). For eight weeks, the CABA team will be educating local small businesses across the coastal region of Massachusetts about the impacts of sea level rise. BARS2016 campaign leaders engage into face-to-face conversations with business owners and managers providing small business resilience guides that outline a quick-and-dirty, 8-step approach to resilience. CABA believes that resilience is a crucial aspect to conducting business when it comes to sustaining long-term economic growth, vitality and business continuity in the region with the threats of climate change looming. The ultimate goal of BARS campaign is to prevent the loss of locally-owned businesses and support a secure economy for Massachusetts in the event of a natural disaster. Moreover, the BARS team seeks to build a better understanding of climate resilience and a sense of community both within the City of Boston and in coastal Massachusetts.

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

MA Senate rolls out a shiny new Omnibus: The Climate Minute Podcast

The Massachusetts Senate passed an Omnibus Energy bill that mandates 2GW of wind power, increases the use of renewables by 2% a year and bans the ‘pipeline tax.’ This is good news!  Next comes joint work between the House and Senate to reconcile the two different versions of the bill passed by each body.  Climate Hawks should urge their legislators to put the Senate’s vision into the final bill.

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

Magical Methane Mystery: The Climate Minute Podcast

This week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed what they called an Omnibus Energy Bill. At best it is a half-loaf, where many useful amendments were quietly withdrawn. The bill now goes to the Senate. A recent report shows that many methane leaks in MA we dropped from the utility tracking list. How can that be? Finally we discuss the latest #OilBomb train. Listen in!
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

Carbon Pricing to the rescue! The Climate Minute Podcast

Our state government is now required to reduce carbon emissions, and the DEP is working on rules. While fixing gas leaks and improved efficiency are good steps, the idea of a statewide carbon tax is very appealing. We discuss.
Listen in!
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

Omnibus or Minibus? The Climate Minute Podcast

The Massachusetts State House of Representatives released a draft Omnibus Energy Bill that would call for 1.2 GW of offshore wind, and about half the Quebec-Hydro the Governor has requested. The bill also dodges the question of the ‘pipeline tax’- neither supporting or rejecting it. Plus, UMASS divests and Exxon continues denial as usual. What a week!
Listen in!
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

Raising Kain about clean energy: The Climate Minute Podcast

The  Supreme Judicial Court’s sweeping ‘Kain ruling” which 
“requires the department [of Environmental Protection] to promulgate regulations that address … sources of greenhouse gas emissions, impose a limit on emissions that may be released, limit the aggregate emissions …, set emission limits for each year, and set limits that decline on an annual basis” is destined to have a dramatic long-term impact on how Massachusetts builds a clean energy economy.  On top of that, the court hearing on the President’s Clean Power Plan was delayed until September- but maybe that is a good thing. Listen in!
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

Landmark ruling will shape MA energy policy: The Climate Minute Podcast

In a landmark ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the SJC) clarified the definition of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), and ordered the state to impose a limit on greenhouse gas emissions, not just attempt to do so! This is a big deal, with implications and ramifications that will take years to work out. It is a great start for Massachusetts to become a clean energy leader!

The important conclusion is from p38 of the ruling:
Although the department [of Environmental Protection]'s cited regulatory initiatives are important to the Commonwealth's overall scheme of reducing greenhouse gas emissions over time, they do not fulfil the specific requirements [of section] § 3 (d.)  The purpose of [the GWSA]  is to attain actual, measurable, and permanent emissions reductions in the Commonwealth, and the Legislature included [section]  § 3 (d) in the statute to ensure that legally mandated reductions are realized by the 2020 deadline.  Accordingly, we vacate the judgment of the Superior Court and remand the matter for entry of a judgment declaring that  [the GWSA, section] § 3 (d), requires the department to promulgate regulations that address multiple sources or categories of sources of greenhouse gas emissions, impose a limit on emissions that may be released, limit the aggregate emissions released from each group of regulated sources or categories of sources, set emission limits for each year, and set limits that decline on an annual basis.
So ordered.
Listen in!
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

Oldham discusses MCAN's upcoming Omnibus Webinar: The Climate Minute Podcast

Go here to signup for the webinar!

 

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.