Climate Conversations: A Climate Change Podcast

Latest Episodes:

S3E3: Learning in Community with Mothers Out Front Oct 15, 2018

Show notes

What does "we're all in this together" really mean? In this episode we're inspired by Mothers Out Front whose work helps answer that question by examples of learning in community, from and with each other. Give a listen to how they're building on the human instincts that glue communities together: bring friends; tell stories, and connect around the shared concern for our kids and future generations. Maybe you'll be inspired too!

S3E2: Free Choice Learning in Universities with MIT Terrascope Oct 10, 2018

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What happens when college students are given a massive problem to solve, and the wide-open space to unleash their full potential? Deep engagement, a healthy dose of frustration, empowerment, and changed lives.

We explore this promising space in conversation with an alum (Lauren Kuntz) and an instructor (Dr. Ari Epstein) of Terrascope, MIT's environmentally-focused freshman learning community.

S3E1: The Psychology of Learning to Change, a Conversation with Renee Lertzman Oct 01, 2018

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Learning to change begins in the personal sphere. How do emotions attached to climate change drive how we communicate and act on the issue?

In this first episode of season 3, we talk with psychologist Renee Lertzman about how we, individually and in our communities, can create the necessary space to listen to others and develop emotional intelligence about climate issues.

Season 3 Teaser: Learning to Change Sep 25, 2018

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The urgency of the climate crisis demands that we learn so many things, together -- going faster, going bigger, finding new ways to share and build upon what we're figuring out all around the world.

Join us for Season 3 of the ClimateX podcast "Climate Conversations" as we explore: how do we Learn to Change?

Climate Conversations Bonus Episode: MIT Solve and Coastal Communities Jun 05, 2018

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30% of the population lives on or near a coast, and the majority of global trade runs through ports on coasts. How can the impacts of rising sea levels and stronger storms be mitigated?

In this special bonus episode of Climate Conversations, the team sits down with Dr. Alexander Dale, the Senior Officer for MIT Solve’s Sustainability pillar. MIT Solve is a community for connecting innovative solution-makers with the resources to solve global challenges. They seek to connect people across spaces both within MIT and the external, global community to address the world’s greatest environmental, economic, and sociopolitical challenges.

The Climate Conversations group explores how Solve is building this global network of scalable solutions, and what makes for a successful Solver (challenge winner). They discuss Solve’s 2018 “Coastal Communities” challenge, which looks at ways to address the issues coastal communities are facing due to climate change and rising sea levels. Is there a way to harness these issues, and transform them into a solution? Dr. Dale and the team discuss the innovators of the future, and how they are tackling these challenges.

S2E13 Climate Conversations Season 2 Wrap-Up Feb 21, 2018

Show notes

After a whole season of climate justice episodes, the ClimateX team and podcast producer Dave Lishansky step back and take stock. How has our understanding of climate justice evolved? What voices and stories have stuck with us?

The team discusses recurring themes, such as visibility issues, collaboration across social divides, institutional oppression, and intersectionality.

They also explore areas of difference among the guests (and among themselves), such as whether capitalism is inherently exploitation or can be a force for social good.

The episode and the season end with dreaming big: if you could wave a magic wand to correct one injustice, anywhere in the world, what would it be?

S2E12 Market Forces and Climate Action Feb 14, 2018

Show notes

The Climate Conversations team sits down with the director of the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, Jason Jay, to discuss the role of market forces and government regulation in climate action. They discuss the theoretical framework of capitalism, and how it can lend itself to benevolent practices as well as exploitative ones. Jay and the team analyze geopolitical interests in fossil fuels and alternative energies, and transitional practices.

Lastly, they discuss Jay’s research and recent book on “breaking through the gridlock” in difficult conversations. How do we move past the certainty of our own perspectives, and really engage with dissenting voices? The team looks at the power of shared values and how to foster authentic connections, in order to unlock new and better solutions.

S2E11 Intersectionality and Climate Justice Feb 07, 2018

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The Climate Conversations team sits down with Jacqui Patterson, the Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. They discuss intersectionality within the climate justice movement, and how global warming disproportionately impacts women of color. Looking at impacts on reproductive rights and poverty, the Climate Conversations team and Patterson analyze how local movements are utilized to combat environmental and racial injustice.

The conversation then looks at capitalism’s role in injustice, and how prioritizing amassing wealth for elites disregards the earth’s well-being and human rights. Finally, the team examines mobilization strategies that take into account the interconnectivity of justice issues across individuals and institutions.

S2E10 Climate Resilience in Puerto Rico Jan 31, 2018

Show notes

On this week of Climate Conversations, the team sits down with Ramón Bueno; a MIT alumnus and climate and development specialist. They discuss the devastation in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, in the context of systems failure and intersectional justice.

Bueno outlines the significance of the centralized power system in Puerto Rico, and how its reliance on fossil fuels has failed the people of Puerto Rico. To avoid similar failures in the future, he advocates decentralizing power systems via developing micro grids, as well as developing electricity infrastructure that is more resilient in extreme weather events.

Bueno and the team also look at how the hurricane amplified social and economic justice issues. There are many opportunities in the crisis for addressing those issues while increasing initiatives to reduce poverty. The conversation closes with highlights of what communities both in Puerto Rico and in the greater Boston area, have undertaken to mobilize for immediate needs as well as social and environmental justice longer term.

Designing a Better Future: Climate CoLab and Crisis Mitigation with Maarten van Aalst Jan 29, 2018

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In this special podcast, we sit down with Marteen van Aalast to discuss climate resilience and his role in the Climate CoLab A2R contest.

Van Aalst is the director of the Climate Center and coordinates support to climate risk management across the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Van Aalst explains how the UN’s A2R initiatives (Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape), which launched at Paris COP21; he helps implement protection and resources for vulnerable communities during environmental crises. He utilizes the scientific capacity to translate forecasts into humanitarian action.

He also discusses the current ClimateCoLab competition on developing climate risk insurance solutions, to help protect those most vulnerable to environmental issues. All are encouraged to explore and contribute to the latest competition, co-sponsored by UN A2R, which seeks new ways to couple climate risk insurance with other social protections to help vulnerable communities absorb climate impacts. Visit climatecolab.org to learn more.