Climate Conversations: A Climate Change Podcast

Latest Episodes:

S2E9 Motherhood and Mobilization Jan 24, 2018

Show notes

How can we get more families involved in environmental justice?

The Climate Conversations team sits down with Zeyneb Magavi, a leader in Mothers Out Front in Cambridge, MA. Zeyneb wears multiple hats as an activist with Mothers Out Front, Research Director for HEET, and a member of the Gas Leaks Allies.

They discuss how mothers sharing a strong interest in protecting their children’s future cuts across boundaries, as well as how Mothers Out Front’s grassroots relationship building approach sets itself apart from other groups’ goal of securing a better future for their children through climate justice.

Also of wide interest is hearing about Mothers Out Front’s groundbreaking work with allies to address gas leaks through direct negotiation with three regional gas utilities. Finally, we hear about the campaign Mothers Out Front in Cambridge is soon to launch - “Bring Paris Home” - to motivate residents to make energy efficiency choices. How can relationship-based initiatives affect positive change?

S2E8 Indigenous Perspectives on Just Transitions Jan 17, 2018

Show notes

The Climate Conversations team interviews Dr. Kyle Powys Whyte, a Professor of Philosophy and Community Sustainability at Michigan State -- about indigenous views of climate change and climate justice. As a context for understanding those views, Dr. Whyte outlines how the legacy of colonialism, capitalism, and other systems of domination affected indigenous populations in North America. We also heard about efforts to surface just climate solutions that respect indigenous traditions, while amplifying the voices of contemporary indigenous peoples. Dr. Whyte concludes by describing his work with colleagues and allies to incorporate indigenous approaches into environmental research and education; highlighting a recent conference on “Being Human in the Age of Humans”.

Climate Summit Recap with Tom Kiley Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

The Climate Conversations team sits down with Tom Kiley, the organizer of the Northeastern North American Climate Policy Summit hosted by MIT in December, 2017. They discuss key results and takeaways from the event, how to strengthen ties between researchers and policy makers, and interdisciplinary approaches to climate action. The team also chats about the value of in-person connections, options for building on the Summit's momentum - particularly supporting greater regional and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

S2E7 Climate Justice Through Community Partnerships Jan 10, 2018

Show notes

What is climate justice? How do we come up with solutions that not only recognize that climate change disproportionally impacts marginalized people, but amplify the voices of those in frontline communities?

We sit down with Lisa Young, the Climate Justice Partnerships Organizer for the Better Future Project and discuss the evolution of the term “climate justice”, and the ways in which those who contribute the least to climate change suffer the most.

We discuss how not only the solutions to environmental justice issues must be intersectional, but the process by which we reach those solutions. Policy changes and technological innovations will only take us so far in the fight for climate justice, we must lift up the work and voices of everyone impacted.

Young and the Climate Conversations team talk about the history of mistrust and exclusion in the environmental movement. We analyze how to recognize that history and rebuild relationships moving forward; in what Young describes as a “broader-based progressive network”. How can we get everyone involved in climate action, and recognize the contributions of frontline communities?

S2E6 Justice, Equity, and Climate Change Jan 03, 2018

Show notes

Have justice issues changed, or are we standing still?

These are the questions we’re asking Trish Weinmann, the Associate director of Radius, a place for the MIT community to discuss issues of justice and equity.

Trish explains to us the role that Radius plays in helping the MIT community reflect on complex justice issues such as climate change, and how they have turned these reflections into action.

S2E5 Transportation for Communities and a Healthy Planet Dec 20, 2017

Show notes

This week, the Climate Conversations team are joined by Zak Accuardi, a Senior Program Analyst at TransitCenter, and former research fellow at Project Drawdown.

Zak explains how improvements to public transportation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while improving the lives of a community's disadvantaged people. Zak and the team explore some of the choices both travelers and urban land use planners need to make in promoting a healthy climate.

We also discuss Zak’s role in Project Drawdown, which identifies the 100 most impactful climate change solutions that we can access immediately, and ask Zak about its future.

S2E4 Planning for Climate Change with Communities Dec 13, 2017

Show notes

This week, we’re joined by Mike Wilson, graduate student at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning.

We discuss transformative adaptation, and how planners can develop green infrastructures whilst improving the lives of everyone in our global society.

Mike explains how future planning in Boston needs to communicate with local communities to discover their lived experiences, and use these to inform future plans.

Together in Climate Action Summit: Regional Carbon Pricing vs. Federal Inaction Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

This special episode is part of MIT’s Together in Climate Action Summit, which is focused on sharing climate leadership strategies and exploring pathways forward in Northeastern North America.

In this episode, we interview Deb Markowitz, a former six-term Vermont Secretary of State, and Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Currently, Markowitz is currently a visiting professor in Environmental Policy and Leadership at the University of Vermont.

We discuss how state power and regional action can be leveraged to combat climate change in light of the United States plan to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Deb highlights how carbon pricing, market-driven policies, leadership, and ideology can produce meaningful change and measurable economic and environmental benefits. We also discuss the success of RGGI cap-and-trade system, and how inter-state cooperation on carbon emissions and environmental policy can lead when federal policies lag.

Together in Climate Action Summit: Nature and Cities Get Together Dec 04, 2017

Show notes

This special episode is part of MIT’s Together in Climate Action Summit, which is focused on sharing climate leadership strategies and exploring pathways forward in Northeastern North America.

In this episode, we interview Professor John Fernandez, Director of the Environmental Solutions Initiative at MIT and an expert in urban metabolism – the flows of material and energy that sustain growing cities and their ecosystems.

We discuss how natural systems can mitigate and help society adapt to climate change as urban areas expand rapidly and globally. John highlights how healthy forests, wetlands, and soils help limit carbon, keep air and water clean, and limit risks from extreme weather. We also discuss how technology (e.g. sensors, AI) can work in service of nature.

John stresses the need to understand and manage our urban metabolism by coordinating natural systems policies across states and regions.

If you’d like to learn more about the Together in Climate Action Summit, which runs December 7th & 8th 2017, visit climatesummit.mit.edu

Together in Climate Action Summit: The Evolution of the Electric Grid Dec 01, 2017

Show notes

This special episode is part of MIT’s Together in Climate Action Summit, which is focused on sharing climate leadership strategies and exploring pathways forward in Northeastern North America.

In this episode, we interview Frank O’Sullivan, Director of Research at MIT Energy Initiative and an expert in electricity.

Frank teaches us about technology, market, and policy shifts in the electricity sector, such as renewable sources, energy storage, and flexible dynamic pricing. We consider how these advances will affect consumers and the climate, and how social equity can be improved in the transition.

Additionally, Frank previews the upcoming Summit panel on regional coordination of electricity policy. We ask Frank how this might reduce policy fragmentation in North America, and lead to a more resilient and climate-friendly electric grid.

If you’d like to learn more about the Together in Climate Action Summit, which runs December 7th & 8th 2017, visit climatesummit.mit.edu

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