The Climate Minute

Weymouth compressor begins commissioning phase: The Climate Minute

Despite continued opposition, and probably aided by political protection, the Weymouth Compressor Plant has begun the commissioning process that will allow full operation.

Missing the “Why” The Climate Minute

News outlets are failing to report the context for huge, climate driven fires on the West Coast. 

Big oil’s plastic dream: The Climate Minute

Exxon was dropped from the DJIA, indicating the decline of the industry. But Big Oil has plans to survive the renewable revolution by using all that fracked gas to make plastics.

Lessons from Laura: The Climate Minute

The behavior of hurricane Laura teaches us about how climate change  is remaking the world.  Ed Markey’s primary victory had a lot to do with climate politics. Is there a message for other candidates?

The climate impact of redlining: The Climate Minute

Systemic racism embodied in 1930’s New Deal housing policy still has environmental justice implications today, where formerly redlined communities are hotter and more dangerous then other neighborhoods. A Green New Deal must provide a just transition to avoid similar inequity in the future.
After 25 years of warm days and cool nights, solar cells reach their warranty 'end of life.' It is time to start thinking about how to recycle the material in the PV.

Cascading catastrophes: The Climate Minute

From wildfires in CA to twin hurricanes in the Gulf, America and the world are facing the real time consequences of climate change.  We see the compounding impacts of covid, eviction, hurricanes and wildfire. Are we ready?

Two big ideas: The Climate Minute

No matter who becomes president, global action on climate requires cooperation between the US and China. Spending trillions of dollars on a Green New Deal here in the US requires us to reshape our financial structures. Think about it.

Cost of smog gives new perspective on stopping climate change: The Climate Minute

Air pollution- the particles and smog that come from burning fossil fuels- are even more damaging than we had realized. We can justify moving to renewable energy just on these health costs alone.

Forecasting a stormy election season: The Climate Minute

Complacency about the normalcy of our upcoming election is a danger. From Covid pandemics to mail delays, political dirty tricks and Russian interference, the run up to our election will be turbulent.  On top of that, we should be ready for an election night that is inconclusive, with the count of mail ballots taking many days.  Manipulative narratives promoted during that interval and the possibility of “technically legal” but norm-breaking shenanigans are dangerous. We must be psychologically prepared.

A roadmap of our own: The Climate Minute

As the Massachusetts Climate Roadmap legislation slowly advances on Beacon Hill, we take stock of lessons learned with Craig Altemose of The Better Futures Project. He thinks that climate activists need their own roadmap to traverse the halls of the statehouse. An important take-away: the House should reform its ‘rules’ to allow for public transparency of how bills are treated as they go (or don’t go) through the process of becoming law.