The Climate Minute

Hydro-Quebec vs Clean Local Power - The Climate Minute Podcast

Suppose you’re a new Governor, with a legal requirement to provide clean power. How do you do it? Do you bet on the potential of your state to develop the clean energy future or do you look to immediate cheap power? We discuss, because Massachusetts may be the first, but will not be the last, to have this conversation.
The reading list:
•    Gov. Baker's proposal on Hydro-Quebec to provide clean energy for the GWSA targets
•    West Roxbury Pipeline?
Check out live  links at our blog,  https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com
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

Carol Oldham on the Local Environmental Conference: The Climate Hawk's Companion Podcast

In this episode, we talk to Carol Oldham, the Executive Director of MCAN, about the upcoming  Local Environmental Action Conference. She tells us about some of the interesting workshops planned for the day and who the keynote speaker will be.  Whether you are new to the fight or a seasoned Climate Hawk, you will find this conference interesting and informative. Best of all the conference is a great opportunity to meet other good people working to stop climate change.

Northeastern is accessible by subway via the Green Line (the Northeastern stop on the E line) or the Orange Line (Ruggles Station stop). Commuter rail lines connect with the Orange Line at Back Bay Station, Ruggles Station, and North Station. You can find detailed directions here.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog,https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/carol-oldham-on-the-local-environmental-action-conference-the-climate-hawks-companion-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

Should you pay for the Governor's new pipeline? The Climate Minute Podcast

Between the veto of the KXL bill and efforts to make people pay for pipelines (instead of solar panels or wind turbines) there is a lot to discuss.
This past week, the President vetoed the KXL bill, but don’t worry- its not dead. As oil trains proliferate, we could see ten explosions per year. Over in Europe, they have big energy plans. Here in Boston, the new Governor is considering asking electrical ratepayers to foot the bill for a new gas pipeline. Really? What about paying for clean energy?
Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog,https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/should-you-pay-for-the-governors-new-pipeline-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

Snow, thundersnow, trains and earthquakes-The Climate Minute Podcast

Our heavy snows are entirely consistent with global warming and its effect on the jet stream. Jim Cantore  got all worked up about  “ thundersnow “ falling in Plymouth MA. But, is thundersnow a new thing? Cable networks favorite ‘climate guy’ Bill Nye asks the media and us all to talk about climate.

The big train accident in West Virginia was analyzed by Hayes and Maddow.
There are earthquakes in Oklahoma, but does this City Manager suffer from
Stockholm Syndrome? Over at the BradBlog they discuss the train and the RCMP's surveillance of KXL activists.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Local Environmental Action Conference. Sunday, March 15, 2015, 9am-6pm, at Northeastern University's Curry Student Center.
Local Environmental Action 2015 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.

Check out live  links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/snow-thundersnow-trains-and-earthquakes-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

Pipelines explode, Cable News doesn’t- The Climate Minute Podcast

We discuss media treatment of recent pipeline explosions, the Koch’s explosion of campaign money, and the curious story of  Willie Soon.

Here are some links:
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/01/28/study-how-broadcast-networks-covered-climate-ch/202232

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/27/3615930/koch-brothers-climate-delay-889-million-2016-election/

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/01/26/harvard-smithsonian-climate-change-skeptic-accused-violating-academic-disclosure-agreement/Y1uMQ8yuLpYCjOHGckRArO/story.html


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

Parcels here, parcels there- The Climate Minute Podcast

Auctions of leases to find energy sources were in the news this week.
Off the Massachusetts coast, parcels of open ocean were offered but had some
disappointing results . Should the state government  prepare things better for next time?
Just a few days after the State of the Union, the President contradictory decision to
to open large areas off the East Coast to drilling. What’s up with that?

Check out live links at our blog, https://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/parcels-here-parcels-there-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

Gas pains in Massachusetts- The Climate Minute Podcast

Do you want to talk to someone from Kinder-Morgan? They will be holding
open house and scoping meetings in towns along the route,

The town of Wilmington rejects the pipeline.
A couple of  heavyweights opine that  Governor Baker should focus on wind.
It turns out that gas pipelines in Boston are really, really leaky! But a company wants to put yet another one in West Roxbury near a quarry. What could go wrong? Go to the rally on Sunday.

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

Pipelines to Powerlines- The Climate Minute Podcast

As a leader in the fight against climate change, Massachusetts often has to deal with problems at the leading edge. Is a natural gas pipeline through the state a good idea? Is it wise to import hydro-power from Quebec in order to achieve our emissions goals?  We discuss these topics, along with a review of the proceedings down in Lima.

Kinder Morgan re-routes it’s controversial pipeline. We talk with Rich Cowan about what is happening on the front lines of the struggle. Better Futures Project’s Craig Altemouse provides a run  down of reasons to oppose  the pipeline on the Huffington Post. For even more info, check out the MA Pipeline Action Network . The next hearing on the low-demand scenario is scheduled for SDecember 18th.

The Globe’s Business Page gives a somewhat unclear discussion of the Hydro-Quebec question.  But the Op-Ed page has a simpler explanation. Alternatively, the State could save emissions by adjusting our thermostats or using tidal power.

In Peru, the COP20 in Lima has been on-going.  ThinkProgress gives an update ,  and DemocracyNow talks to Pablo Solon. If you do nothing else, watch John Kerry's remarkable speech.

Finally: Watch President Obama "dis" Keystone XL under Colbert's cold stare.

See the links at http://massclimateaction.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/pipelines-to-powerlines-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