Drilled

Latest Episodes:

Big Oil's Multi-Billion-Dollar Blind Spot Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

A new Carbon Tracker report finds that oil and gas companies have been grossly underestimating the cost for plugging and abandoning wells, particularly for fracking wells. The report co-authors Rob Schuwerk and Greg Rogers break down the scale of the problem, the cost, and who will ultimately foot the bill.

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From Hot Take: Yes, We Still Need to Talk About Climate Jun 14, 2020

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Amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, some climate activists have been saying "now's not the time to talk about climate." On Hot Take, Mary Annaise Hegler and Amy Westervelt discuss the idea that climate and racial justice are connected and influence one another. Find Hot Take here.

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Naomi Klein on "Disaster Capitalism" in America Jun 07, 2020

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Naomi Klein describes how "disaster capitalism," the corporate feeding frenzy that happens in the wake of major crisis, is playing out in America right now. On a research trip to post-Katrina New Orleans for her book The Shock Doctrine, she connected her work on human rights and labor to climate, and shares what needs to happen, including the Green New Deal, to spur a justice-focused transformation in the United States.
You can find Naomi's works here.

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New Investigation Finds Shell Directly Funded Climate Denial May 29, 2020

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A major investigative report from the Netherlands has uncovered new evidence that Royal Dutch Shell directly funded climate science denial in the 1990s. Reporters Alexander Beunder and Jilles Mast have been combing through 150+ boxes of documents from the personal archive of Fritz Böttcherone, one of the Netherlands' top climate skeptics during the 1990s, and made a shocking discovery: throughout his career Böttcher received direct funding from Royal Dutch Shell. It's part of a large project called the Shell Papers at the Platform for Authentic Journalism, in the Netherlands.
Additional resources:
Shorter summary of Böttcher report:
How Shell Backed Dutch ‘Coordinator’ of Climate Science Denial For Decades

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From Hot Take: Why the GOP's "Climate Lockdown" Narrative is Wrong May 22, 2020

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The New York Times recenty ran a story on the GOP's new climate narrative: that the Dems imposing climate action will be worse than the pandemic quarantine. In this episode from Hot Take, Mary Annaise Heglar and Amy Westervelt look at how the narrative emerged, why it's striking a nerve, and how to wrestle the climate story back. Find Hot Take here.

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The Death of Fred Singer and the Endurance of Climate Deniers May 19, 2020

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In April 2020, Fred Singer, longtime "king" of the climate deniers, died at the age of 95. Singer played a key role in shaping the history of science denial. Investigative reporter Dan Zegart, author of the book Civil Warriors, and Connor Gibson, an investigator with Greenpeace, discuss the climate denial machine Singer built, the legacy he leaves behind, and whether the COVID-19 pandemic may topple science denial and fake free marketeteering forever.
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A Lawsuit Could Force FERC to Consider Climate Impacts of New Oil and Gas Projects May 09, 2020

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A lawsuit filed against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) over a small Massachusetts project could have nationwide implications. The lawsuit aims to force FERC to evaluate the overall emissions and climate change impact of any new energy project—something the courts ordered the agency to do yers ago and has particular relevance right now as FERC has been rapidly approving new energy infrastructure. Adam Carlesco, lead attorney for the plantiffs, walks us through the case.

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What Planet of the Humans Gets Wrong About Climate Change Apr 29, 2020

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The Michael Moore–produced documentary Planet of the Humans sparked controversy around renewable energy. Political scientist and environmental policy expert Leah Stokes joins us to discuss the many things the new film gets wrong about environmentalists and the fight for climate action.
Additional resources:
Michael Moore produced a film about climate change that’s a gift to Big Oil
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Earth Day in Louisiana: A Petro-state Fights Back Apr 22, 2020

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On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and a decade after the BP Deepwarter oil spill, we head to Louisiana to examine petrochemicals, petroleum, plastic, fossil fuel philanthropy, and the impact the pandemic is having on it all.
Additional resources:
Bucket Brigade
Healthy Gulf

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Art, Autodesk, and What Accountability Looks Like for the Tech Industry Apr 22, 2020

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Joanie Lemercier has been a thorn in software company Autodesk's side for more than a year now, since the French artist first pointed out that Autodesk's computer-aided drafting (CAD) software keeps Europe's largest coal mine operating. Tech reporter Maddie Stone investigates how the software is used by not only coal mines but also to design oil and gas pipelines, raising urgent questions about climate accountability in tech.
Read Maddie's feature here.

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