Energy vs Climate: How climate is changing our energy systems

Latest Episodes:

BONUS | Nils Gilman on avocado politics and climate security from Challenging Climate Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

Hey everyone, Ed here.

David, Sara and Ed will be back next week with an episode about electricity interties in the clean energy system.
Until then we’d like to share another podcast with you that we think might be of interest, called Challenging Climate. Hosted by Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine, Challenging Climate tackles tough questions about the science, technology, economics and politics of climate change. Their topics range from climate modelling, persuasive narratives, national security, international development and even biotech. Jesse, Pete and their guests cover similar topics to what we cover here at Energy vs Climate, while offering a different perspective, one we hope listeners will find interesting and enlightening. Find it and subscribe wherever you listen.

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Energy vs 1.5°C - Breaking Down the 1.5C Warming Target Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Since the Paris Agreement coming into force in 2016, world leaders have increasingly emphasized the need to keep warming to the 1.5°C target by the end of this century, in order to avoid more dangerous impacts from climate change. Yet temperature readings around the globe show that the world has already warmed by roughly 1°C on average above pre-industrial levels. Many models suggest we will very likely exceed 1.5°C of warming, possibly in the next 5-10 years, in the absence of aggressive worldwide action to reduce emissions and (perhaps) engineer the climate.
While we have made much progress, unfortunately the world is nowhere close to that level of action. So does the 1.5°C target still make sense if overshoot seems almost certain? Is it a science-based target or a political target - and even a reasonable and just target in the first place? Is the target about holding the line at 1.5°C or getting it back down to 1.5°C by 2100? When are we likely to exceed it, how will we know, and what will be the physical and political consequences of missing it?
On S5E2 of Energy vs Climate, David, Sara, Ed, and climate scientist Zeke Hausfather of Stripe and Berkeley Earth discuss all things 1.5°C.
EPISODE NOTES
0:36 – Key Aspects of the Paris Agreement
1:23 – Climate Change: Global Temperature
2:16 – Zeke Hausfather - Berkeley Earth
5:37 - Earth likely to cross critical climate thresholds even if emissions decline, Stanford study finds
7:07 – 10 Big Findings from the 2023 IPCC Report on Climate Change
8:25 – Adrien Abécassis - COP 27 Debrief
10:16 – The Berkeley Earth Land/Ocean Temperature Record - Rohde and Hausfather (2020)
12:21 – Near-term acceleration in the rate of temperature change - Smith, et al (2015)
15:05 – How low-sulphur shipping rules are affecting global warming
15:12 – Tonga Eruption Blasted Unprecedented Amount of Water into Stratosphere
23:00 – Solar Geoengineering - should we go there?
33:07 – Energy implications of future stabilization of atmospheric CO2 content (Hoffert et all)
51:51 – Prevalence and predictors of wind energy opposition in North America - Stokes, et al (2023)
55:12 – Invisible ship tracks show large cloud sensitivity to aerosol - Manshausen, et al (2022)

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Albertan Attitudes Toward Energy Transition Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

On our first episode of Season 5, Sara and Ed speak toDr. Melanee Thomas of the University of Calgary about her survey research into Albertans' attitudes to the energy transition, the oil and gas industry, coal and climate change. David wasn't able to join us for this one, but he'll be back live for Episode 2.
EPISODE NOTES
@00:49 If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: how the public’s economic confidence in the fossil fuel industry reduces support for a clean energy transition

@2:16 Great expectations: Public opinion about energy transition

@11:21 CanCO2Re Initiative

@12:35 Clean energy investment is extending its lead over fossil fuels, boosted by energy security strengths

@17:00 Forget Ottawa — Albertans growing alienated from their own leaders, too

@19:30 Investment Impact of Alberta's Renewable Energy Moratorium

@19:44 Suncor has been too focused on energy transition, must get back to fundamentals: CEO

@20:14 Ottawa to reveal plan for emissions cap on oil and gas this fall

@22:25 Alberta oil industry wary of NDP government

@26:50 Alberta Energy Regulator: Coal Production

@33:23 Mark Carney Sees ‘Wall of Opportunity’ for Energy Investors

@36:50 Coal Boss Takes Climate Change Denial to the Extreme

@40:14 Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority

@43:28 Psychosocial adaptation to climate change in High River, Alberta: implications for policy and practice (Hayes et al.)

@45:43 The Impact of Wildfires on Mental Health: A Scoping Review (To et al.)

@53:43 Oil and gas industry needs to step up climate efforts now

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Is Heat The Greatest Climate Threat? [Rerelease] Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

[Rerelease] David, Sara, Ed and author Jeff Goodell discuss the impacts of heat on humans, the topic of Jeff’s new book. From heat-wave deaths, to reduced ability to learn, to the economic effects, who will suffer the most, and what does it mean for the politics of the energy transition?
EPISODE NOTES
B.C. heat wave leads to 11-hour ambulance wait time, spike in sudden deaths
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson review
The Water will come: Rising Seas, sinking cities and the remaking of the civilized world
Mortality risk attributable to high and low ambient temperature: a multicountry observational study
One extra day > 32C in first trimester --> 50$ less income at age 30.
Global non-linear effect of temperature on economic production
Hot Temperature and High Stakes Exams: Evidence from New York City Public Schools
Global heating ‘may lead to epidemic of kidney disease’
Death toll exceeded 70,000 in Europe during the summer of 2003
The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future
At COP26, 100000 march for climate justice
Mortality during the catastrophic 2021 heat dome
Sebastian Perez Did Not Have to Die
OSHA - Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Rulemaking
The health costs of climate change from CICC
United Nations COP16 Cancun Agreements
COP Emission pledges may limit global heating to below 2C
Reframing incentives for climate policy action

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Take our survey! Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Hi Everyone!
We've got a favour to ask. We're doing a survey to help us understand what you like about Energy vs Climate, and how we can bring you more of that!
We would be extremely grateful if you took just a few minutes out of your summer schedule to complete the survey. Your feedback will help us as we plan for Season 5.
Thanks! We look forward to coming back in September.

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Climate vs Wildfires Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

On a special summer episode of Energy vs Climate, we’re addressing the record-setting wildfires that Canada has been experiencing this summer. We're joined by molecular paleoecologist Allison Karp to examine how fire has changed across geologic timescales and how much of this year's wildfires we can attribute to climate change.
EPISODE NOTES
@1:23 Allison Karp, paleoecologist at Yale and Brown University
@11:04 Earliest evidence of wildfire found in Wales 430 million years ago, BBC, original journal article here
@11:33 Indigenous fire management and traditional knowledge
@15:20 Record-setting climate enabled the extraordinary 2020 fire season in the western United States
@16:31 Data attribution is political: Trump Blames Wildfires on Poor Forest Management. Biden Focuses on Climate Change
@19:25 Politics aside, 1/2 to 2/3 of wildfires attributed to climate change due to increased aridity
@22:00 Economic toll and health impacts of wildfires
@28:55 Estimated 25% increase in particulate matter at size less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) attributed to wildfires
@26:02 Dr. Frances Moore and the shifting baseline syndrome
More from paleoecologist, Allison Karp:

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BONUS | Energy Efficiency at Home with Matt Ferrell of Still TBD Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

No, we didn’t forget to fill in the pod title after Matt Ferrell’s name. On Still TBD, aka the Still To Be Determined Podcast, Matt and his brother Sean discuss electric vehicles, renewable energy, smart technologies, and how they impact our lives. And this week we have a special treat for you: a bonus episode with Ed, Sara, and Matt, who also happens to be host of the massively popular Undecided YouTube channel.

Matt's team reached out to us about collaborating and we loved what he was up to, sharing his journey of learning about smart and sustainable technologies with more than 1.2 million subscribers.

So, we got together for a virtual nerd-out about our homes and vehicles - a.k.a. the gateway "drugs" to pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle. It's the fly-on-the-wall look into our lives you've all been clamouring for 😉. We hope it entertains and inspires and we hope you'll check out Matt's excellent YouTube channel and podcast.

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Solar Geoengineering–Should we go there? May 23, 2023

Show notes

On the final episode of Energy vs Climate Season 4, we’re covering the basics of solar geoengineering. We're joined by The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada, to unpack the debate over the role of further research, the place of these technologies in the global climate toolkit, and the role for Canada in research and governance.
EPISODE NOTES
@1:36 Right Honourable Kim Campbell, Canada's 19th and first female Prime Minister

@2:56 Solar geo-engineering resources

@2:56 David vs. David on solar geo-engineering, David Suzuki - the Nature of Things

@8:31 Toward a responsible solar geoengineering research program, David Keith

@11:15 Climate Overshoot Commission and what is climate overshoot?

@16:50 EvC and special guest Adrien Abécassis on COP27

@23:40 Solar geo-engineering International Non-Use Agreement

@25:00 “Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton quits Google...”-The New York Times

@25:30 Alberta investing billions into CCUS

@29:37 Solar geo-engineering project in Sweden halted

@44:40 Why Smart People Can Be So Stupid – Robert J. Sternberg

@60:01 Termination shock from solar geo-engineering defined

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Canada's Big Bet on Electrification with Dr. Blake Shaffer Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

On Season 4 Episode 9 of Energy vs Climate, David, Sara, Ed and special guest Dr. Blake Shaffer of The University of Calgary, dig into the how and why of Canada's big bet on electrification in the 2023 Federal Budget.
EPISODE NOTES:
@0:44 Blake Shaffer, economist and professor at the University of Calgary
@3:59 Blake Shaffer: Technical Pathways to Aligning Canadian Electricity Systems with Net Zero Goals Report
@11:14 Electricity 101: Generation capacity vs. Energy generation
@27:39 Non-wire solutions explained
@28:39 Co-locating to build less transmission lines and get a higher utilization rate
@28:39 BC and Alberta interties, Mark Jaccard and Blake Shaffer, CBC News
@ 37:20 Barriers to innovation in Canadian electricity sector, Dr. Sara Hastings-Simon and Anna Kanduth, Canadian Institute for Climate Choices
@45:50 Terminology: Spinning reserves and curtailment
@46:32 Solutions to variable renewable energy: Making wind and solar grid forming rather than grid following
@50:00 Terminology: Regulated vs. Deregulated electricity systems
@53:22 Ontario’s time of use (TOU) system with ultra-low overnight electricity rates to encourage EV charging at night
@55:20 Earn $150 to participate in Blake's EV Smart Charging Pilot with Fortis.
@56:46 Blake’s favourite utility company: Octopus Energy
Additional Links:
The Big Switch: Powering Canada's Net Zero Future Report - Canadian Climate Institute

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Can Contracts for Difference Keep Canada Competitive? Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

On Season 4 Episode 8 of Energy vs Climate. David, Sara, Ed, and special guest Dr. Chris Bataille, Adjunct Research Fellow at Columbia University’s Center for Global Energy Policy (CGEP) and researcher with the Institut du Développement Durable et de Relations Internationales (IDDRI.org), discuss contracts for difference policy and and how can it help industrial decarbonization.
EPISODE NOTES:
Dr. Chris Bataille, Adjunct Research Fellow at Columbia University Centre on Global Energy Policy.

@1:12 EvC season 4, Ep. 3: Inflation Reduction Act and impacts to Canada

@4:20 Contract for Difference (CfD) – Explained

@5:50 CfD in Alberta’s electricity market, supporting renewables deployment by Sara Hastings-Simon

@6:52 CfD example in the UK electricity market, supporting renewables deployment

@10:22 The Climate Policy Certainty Gap and How to Fill It, by UCalgary School of Public Policy Dale Beugin and Blake Shaffer

@13:16 Canada’s pancake stack of sticks and carrots: Output based pricing system, the Clean Fuel Standard, methane regs, oil and gas emissions cap, CCUS tax credit, Emissions Reduction Fund, and Clean Growth Program

@15:05 Canada vehicle emissions regulations on par with California

@15:45 EvC Season 3, Ep. 32: Rebecca Dell, ClimateWorks Foundation, on Decarbonizing cement

@19:42 Canadian subsidies can compete with the USA’s Inflation Reduction Act

@29:28 EvC Season 2, Ep. 10: Sally Benson, Stanford University, on Carbon Capture

@40:04 Shell Quest carbon capture and storage project

@46:50 Dr. Emily Grubert on lowering emissions through process over carbon capture