The Climate Minute

30 years down the road: The Climate Minute Podcast

The dark policies being enforce on our borders by the Trump administration can be considered in parallel with it’s similar impulses on climate. Denial of facts and humanity are needed to either separate families or deny the reality of global warming. One man who does not deny facts is Jim Hansen, the NASA scientist who 30 years ago told Congress that the climate is changing. We consider his legacy. Listen in.

Making our planet great again: The Climate Minute Podcast

Despite pressure at the G7 Summit and a poignant message from Pope Francis about the importance of addressing climate change, Trump refuses to accept reality and show leadership. Will we lose our top climate scientists and watch as the rest of the world moves forward on the clean energy revolution without us? Tune in for more details!

Climate Politics in Boston: The Climate Minute Podcast

The politics of climate change and clean energy rolled on this week in Boston. Marty Walsh held an international mayoral climate summit and discussed plans to coordinate clean energy plans with other cities, but activists were upset by his support for urban pipelines and reticence to implement Community Choice Energy. In parallel, Senator Pacheco’s excellent energy bill (S2545) nears a vote in the upper house. Listen in!

Joe Stalin visits the DOE, orders Chick-fil-a : The Climate Minute Podcast

The DOE, staying faithful to Trumpian absurdity, has floated a proposal to force utilities to purchase the electricity produced by coal and nuclear plants. The anti-free-market nature of such a move is obvious. Coupled with its corrupt benefits to a limited number of politically connected corporations, it is an assault on our democracy. Somewhere, Joe Stalin is raising a glass of vodka.

Organizing principles: The Climate Minute Podcast

The abhorrent practice of family separation at our borders highlights the need for a wise, long-term immigration policy. Of course, our stance on immigration should be rooted in the knowledge that climate change will drive a rise in migrants and refugees seeking shelter in the US and other countries around the world. In fact, the acknowledgement of climate change should be the basis for all our national policies and actions. Health care, taxation, defense, housing and infrastructure policy should be based on the reality of global warming.

4600 may have died from Maria: The Climate Minute Podcast

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine finds more then 4600 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria. The enormous discrepancy with the Trump administration’s estimate of 64 is stark. After months in the dark, we hope some light shines on that island. Also, two legal cases that could force the disclosure of what Exxon knew, and when it knew it advanced. The judges allowed ‘discovery’ of corporate documents to proceed. Finally Dave Roberts of Vox tweeted an interesting question: “What would the last two centuries of human development have looked like if fossil fuels had always been properly priced?” Let us know what you think!

Can a seawall protect Beantown? The Climate Minute Podcast

The concept of a massive seawall to protect Boston Harbor is less cost effective than local adaptations, says a new report. Mayor Walsh plans a climate conference, but must answer questions on urban pipelines and procrastination on implementing Community Choice Energy. Listen in!

We all live in Flint-The Climate Minute Podcast

Scott Pruitt’s EPA withheld a report about poisonous chemicals in drinking water, and then barred CNN and AP reporters from a meeting about it. Plus the “jerks at FERC” want to ignore the greenhouse gases from pipeline content, Exxon wants permission to cook it’s books on monitoring methane leaks, and Gina takes a potshot at Bill, or did she? The answers to your worries? Vote in November.

A wind-wind situation-The Climate Minute Podcast

Massachusetts leads the way again in choosing Vineyard Wind to build an 800MW off shore wind farm. That, coupled with choices are Brayton Point, electric buses and the great energy proposal (the Pacheco Bill) make for a wind-wind situation. Listen in.

Actors in New Orleans and poison in the water-The Climate Minute Podcast

Two examples of deception this week: Entergy paid actors to testify in favor of a power plant in New Orleans and the White House is hiding a ‘nightmare’ report on water quality. And, by the way, Jupiter is changing our weather…very slowly. Listen in.