The Climate Pod

Latest Episodes:

Leaving The Paris Agreement. Plus, The First Anniversary Of The Camp Fire In Paradise (w/ Axios' Amy Harder and California Sunday Magazine's Mark Arax) Nov 06, 2019

Show notes

ANNOUNCEMENT - The Climate Pod Live is happening on November 18th at 7 pm at Lincoln Hall in Chicago! GET TICKETS HERE

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This week, the Trump Administration announced formal plans to exit the Paris Climate Agreement. What does this mean? What happens next? How will voters feel about it? Axios' Amy Harder joins the show to explain the stakes and weigh in on our attitudes toward the agreement and climate change overall.

Then, Mark Arax, author of The Dreamt Land, discusses revisiting Paradise, California, on the first anniversary of The Camp Fire for his piece in California Sunday Magazine. Mark helps explains the myriad factors that have contributed to California wildfires, how the history of Paradise shaped the event, and who bears the most responsibility for the damage.

As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more!

Follow Amy Harder on Twitter

Follow Mark Arax on Twitter

Further Reading:

Trump begins formal withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement by Amy Harder

Gone by Mark Arax

What did the fossil fuel industry know? (w/ InsideClimate News' Nicholas Kusnetz, Earther's Yessenia Funes, and E&E News' Nick Sobczyk) Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

Recently, the House held hearings on Big Oil to allow former Exxon scientists to testify and explain what the company knew about climate change and when they knew it. E&E News' Nick Sobczyk breaks down the day and what Democrats in the House may want to accomplish with these hearings. Also, as a prominent Republican lawmaker complains about the hearings being held by the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, Earther's Yessenia Funes explains why that's exactly the right place for these hearings to occur.

Finally, InsideClimate News' Nicholas Kusnetz reviews the first week of Exxon's trial in New York, tells us the central question that will likely decide the case, and describes some of the courtroom drama that has already occurred.

AND WE ANNOUNCED A LIVE SHOW WOOHOOO! Get tickets to The Climate Pod Live at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on November 18th at 7 pm here.

Follow Yessenia Funes on Twitter @yessfun

Follow Nick Sobczyk on Twitter @nick_sobczyk

Follow Nicholas Kusnetz on Twitter @nkus

Further Reading:

Yessenia Funes' "Why the Oil Industry's Climate Denial Is a Civil Rights Issue"

Nick Sobczyk's "Democrats Target Big Oil, Starting With Exxon" Nicholas Kusnetz' "Key Question As Exxon Climate Trial Begins: What Did Investors Believe?"

Exxon On Trial, Climate Litigation, and Mayors Fight for Clean Energy (w/ Vox's Umair Irfan and Sierra Club's Liz Perera) Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

Busy week! Finally, one of the 14 climate lawsuits against the fossil fuel industry will go to court, as Exxon faces trial this week. We talk to Umair Irfan of Vox about what's at stake with these litigation efforts, how it compares to the Big Tobacco in the 1990s, and what the 2020 Democratic candidates are saying about it.

Then, we are joined by Liz Perera, Sierra Club's Climate Policy Director, talks about why mayors around the country will be flying into Washington D.C., to advocate for a federal clean energy bill.

Follow Umair Irfan on Twitter @umairfan

Follow Sierra Club on Twitter @SierraClub

Further Reading:

Pay attention to the growing wave of climate change lawsuits: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/2/22/17140166/climate-change-lawsuit-exxon-juliana-liability-kids What 2020 Democrats will do to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate change: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/14/20908335/2020-democratic-debates-climate-change-fossil-fuel-companies-lawsuits

California Blackouts and Honduras' Extreme Drought (w/ The Guardian's Susie Cagle, Wired's Paris Martineau, and California Sunday Magazine's Jeff Ernst) Oct 16, 2019

Show notes

This week, we look at a few of the more disastrous aspects of climate adaptation and energy management in the face of changing weather and rising temperatures. First, we untangle the messy Pacific Gas and Electric blackouts last week with The Guardian's Susie Cagle, who explains why the power was shutoff for almost one million people and why it's so difficult for the utility to change.

Then, Paris Martineau, Staff writer, WIRED, joins us to discuss why big tech HQs were spared from the PG&E blackouts despite many of their close neighbors losing power.

Finally, investigative journalist Jeff Ernst talks about the essay he wrote for California Sunday Magazine and the climate movers in Honduras, who are unable to farm and must relocate to live.

Follow Susie Cagle on Twitter @susie_c

Follow Paris Martineau on Twitter @parismartineau

Follow Jeff Ernst on Twitter @jeffgernst

Further Reading:

Paris's story, "Why the Pacific Gas and Electric Blackouts Spared California's Big Tech HQs" is up on WIRED.com. https://www.wired.com/story/why-the-pgande-blackouts-spared-californias-big-tech-hqs/ Susie's story in The Guardian: "California power shutoffs: when your public utility is owned by private investors" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/11/california-power-shutoffs-when-your-public-utility-is-owned-by-private-investors Susie's story in Vice: "This Is Why California Will Keep Burning" ll-keep-burning" https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvygeq/this-is-why-california-will-keep-burning Jeff's story in California Sunday Magazine: "You can't make a living here anymore." The Honduran climate-movers https://story.californiasunday.com/honduras-climate-movers

The Problem With Plastics And A Case For Bipartisanship In Climate Legislation (w/ The Intercept's Sharon Lerner and Citizens' Climate Lobby's Danny Richter) Oct 09, 2019

Show notes

This week, we look at the growing issue of plastics with Sharon Lerner of The Intercept. She explains how little plastic we recycle, how the plastics industry fights meaningful change, and the threat to our health and climate that we face because of plastics.

Then, we talk to Danny Richter, vice president of government affairs at Citizens' Climate Lobby, about the value of bipartisanship in climate legislation and how to turn climate change into a bridge issue instead of a wedge issue. Danny also provides us with an update on the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.

Follow Sharon Lerner on Twitter @fastlerner

Follow Citizens' Climate Lobby on Twitter @citizensclimate

For more information on the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/energy-innovation-and-carbon-dividend-act/

Further Reading:

The Plastic Industry's Long Fight To Blame Pollution On You: https://theintercept.com/2019/10/03/plastics-industry-plastic-pollution/

How the Plastics Industry is Fighting to Keep Polluting The World: https://theintercept.com/2019/07/20/plastics-industry-plastic-recycling/

Two Genius Scientists and a Baseball Legend (w/ Dusty Baker, Dr. Andrea Dutton, and Dr. Stacy Jupiter) Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

Dr. Andrea Dutton and Dr. Stacy Jupiter, two MacArthur "Genius" Fellows (just named last week!), join the podcast this week to talk about their research and careers, what it was like to receive this incredible honor, and how this grant will impact their careers. We also get their take on last week's IPCC report on the state of our oceans.

Plus, Dusty Baker, legendary baseball manager, player, and now, solar entrepreneur, talks to us about why he got into the renewable energy business (and also a little baseball...because, hey, it's October!).

Follow Dr. Andrea Dutton on Twitter @DrAndreaDutton

Follow Dr. Stacy Jupiter on Twitter @StacyDJupiter

The MacArthur Fellow video profile on Dr. Andrea Dutton: https://www.macfound.org/fellows/1035/

The MacArthur Fellow video profile on Dr. Stacy Jupiter: https://www.macfound.org/fellows/1041/

For more info on the Baker Energy Team: https://www.bakerenergyteam.com/

Further Reading:

The Oceans We Know Won't Survive Climate Change (by Robinson Meyer at The Atlantic): https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/09/ipcc-sea-level-rise-report/598765/

The IPCC's "Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate" https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/home/

Picking A Climate Fight (w/ Javier Grillo-Marxuach of Netflix' "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance" and Mighty Earth CEO Glenn Hurowitz) Sep 25, 2019

Show notes

It's Climate Week! We're back from the Climate Strike in Chicago to share conversations with some amazing activists and entertainers doing their part in the fight for a better planet.

First, we talk to writer/producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach ("Lost," "The Middleman") about working on the new Netflix show, "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance." He talks about the show's deliberate climate change themes, the legacy of Jim Henson, and even shares an amazing Mark Hamill story.

Then, we talk to Glenn Hurowitz, CEO of Mighty Earth, about the international corporations that are tied to the deforestation and burning in the Amazon. He discusses what these companies are doing to make the problem worse and how consumers can help push back.

In Chicago, we talk to members of Climate Reality Chicago, the Illinois Environmental Council, and the contemporary ensemble Lakeshore Rush.

Follow the Javier Grillo-Marxuach on Twitter @OKBJGM

Follow Glenn Hurowitz on Twitter @glennhurowitz

Follow Mighty Earth on Twitter @StandMighty

Follow Climate Reality Chicago on Twitter @realitychicago

Follow the Illinois Environmental Council on Twitter @ilenviro

Learn more about Lakeshore Rush: http://www.lakeshorerush.com/ and follow Lakeshore Rush on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakeshore_rush/

Further Reading:

Deforestation Continues Because Companies Aren't Trying

http://www.mightyearth.org/deforestation-continues-because-companies-arent-trying/

Climate Strike! UN Climate Action Summit! (w/ United Nations' Cassie Flynn and 350's Thanu Yakupitiyage) Sep 18, 2019

Show notes

This is a big week! On Friday, activists across 150 countries will join #ClimateStrike. We discuss our plans for the climate protest and talk to 350's Thanu Yakupitiyage, who is the epitome of cool, about climate activism and expressing beliefs through art.

Then, we chat with Cassie Flynn of United Nations Development about the UN Climate Action Summit 2019, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, The Paris Agreement, and how to get really important world leaders to agree on major climate initiatives. She's brilliant and this was fun.

Follow Cassie Flynn on Twitter @cassie_flynn

Follow Thanu Yakupitiyage on Twitter @ty_ushka

Learn more about The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

Check out the trailer's for Thanu Yakupitiyage's MigrantScape: http://www.migrantscape.com/

NBC News, "Thanu Yakupitiyage Is Amplifying Sounds, Immigrant Voices" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/thanu-yakupitiyage-amplifying-sounds-immigrant-voices-n600761

NPR, "EPA Makes Rollback Of Clean Water Rules Official, Repealing 2015 Protections" https://www.npr.org/2019/09/12/760203456/epa-makes-rollback-of-clean-water-rules-official-repealing-2015-protections

Thanu Yakupitiyage, "If You Care About Climate Change, You Should Care About Anti-Immigrant Policy" https://350.org/climate-change-and-immigration/

Fighting Climate Injustice w/ Sierra Club's Leslie Fields. Plus New York Times' John Schwartz on Hurricane Dorian and Climate Change, NOAA and more. Sep 11, 2019

Show notes

Two great guests this week! First, Leslie Fields, senior director of environmental justice and healthy communities for The Sierra Club, joins the show to talk about how The Equitable and Just Climate Platform aims to help those most impacted by climate change. Then, John Schwartz, science writer for The New York Times, reviews his reporting on how climate change affected Hurricane Dorian, what scientists fear most with increasingly intensifying storms, and tries to untangle this very strange situation occurring at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Ty and Brock also talk climate denial and, after Jonathan Franzen melted Climate Twitter with his piece in The New Yorker, irrational climate pessimism.

Follow the Sierra Club on Twitter @SierraClub

Follow John Schwartz on Twitter @jswatz

Further Reading:

Learn more about the Equitable and Just Climate Platform here: https://ajustclimate.org/

John Schwartz in the New York Times, "How Has Climate Change Affected Hurricane Dorian" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/climate/hurricane-dorian-climate-change.html

NOAA Chief, Defending Trump on Dorian, Also Tries to Buoy Scientists https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/climate/neil-jacobs-noaa-hurricane-dorian.html

Commerce Chief Threatened Firings at NOAA After Trump's Dorian Tweets, Sources Say https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/09/climate/hurricane-dorian-trump-tweet.html

What on EARTH?! Newsletter: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/455050/

Climate Town Hall Reactions (w/ The Intercept's Akela Lacy and Buzzfeed's Zahra Hirji) Sep 05, 2019

Show notes

CNN hosted a 7-hour #ClimateTownHall on Wednesday night. We watched all of it. To review the marathon climate discussion with us, we have Buzzfeed's Zahra Hirji. And to talk about her breaking news story that rocked the Climate Town Hall, The Intercept's Akela Lacy joins the show. She finally settles the Joe Biden Fossil Fuel Fundraiser controversy once and for all.

Follow Zahra Hirji on Twitter @Zhirji28

Follow Akela Lacy on Twitter @akela_lacy

Further Reading:

Read Zahra's recap of the Town Hall: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zahrahirji/democratic-presidential-candidates-are-embracing-bigger

Read Akela's breaking news on the Biden fundraiser: https://theintercept.com/2019/09/04/after-climate-forum-biden-heads-to-a-fundraiser-co-hosted-by-a-fossil-fuel-executive/

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