The Climate Minute

Climate change demands rethinking of our moral, ethical and perhaps even religious stance to life. Recently we  posted discussion on how reasonable a solar deity actually is. This episode examines the pantheon of minor deities to ready to help us.

The Summer Solstice is a reminder of the role the Sun plays in our lives. The sun has a lot of interesting attributes: It exists, it gives us life, it controls the planet and it teaches us how to live. We would do well to give it more honor and respect. 

We talk with author and journalist Miles Howard about urban hiking, and why you should try it.

A petition with more than 1000 signatures was presented to MMWEC’s CEO. The petition asked that proposed Peabody Peaker Plant be withdrawn, and better alternatives considered. Listen in to the press conference following the submission of the petition.

The century old vision of the common good as expressed in urban parkland is at least partially realized in Boston’s Emerald Necklace. Thinking about the parks that were, and were not, built over the last decades is a great way to consider our climate-constrained future. What lessons should we learn about the interplay of green spaces in dense urban areas? We talk with an author and champion for urban hiking. 

The industrial system that produces our electricity is not very transparent but is also resistant to accepting renewable energy. The “Integrated System Operator” is an umbrella organization that needs to be more responsive. We talk to an advocate about the issue and why it is relevant to the Peabody Peaker Plant.

The proposed peaker plant in Peabody represents an additional environmental burden on a community that has already been the location of damaging infrastructure. We speak with an organizer for Community Action Works about the challenge.

Climate and racial justice are highly related.  We speak with a member of the Massachusetts legislature about efforts to make policing more fair and equitable.

We must electrify our homes in order to address climate change. For example, we should move away from using natural gas to heat our homes. There are barriers to this move, often from a lack of knowledge or financial support. However, many local communities want to ban the use of gas in new construction.  It is not a surprise that companies like Eversource are actively lobbying for state laws to prevent this! Listen in to find out more!

Peabody residents are rapidly learning about the dirty gas powered peaker plant proposal. (Google “2015A”.) Listen is as one longtime resident describes what it would mean for the area along with what she (and you) can do about it. For example, you can attend Breathe Clean North Shore’s zoom meeting on 5/25/21.