The Sweaty Penguin

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Tip of the Iceberg E49: Permitting reform sparks common ground in Congress May 12, 2023

Show notes

It may not be the flashiest environmental issue, but it appears that permitting reform could be the hot topic of the summer, with both Republican and Democratic legislators putting forth proposals. The concern is clear: while it’s important to determine whether or not new energy projects will harm the environment, it’s also detrimental to climate progress if clean energy projects are held up for several years by a slow, tedious permitting process. Politicians on both sides appear interested in finding a plan that dramatically speeds up permitting without sacrificing environmental protection or public input. If successful, permitting reform has the opportunity to supercharge climate action in the United States. In this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg,” Ethan explores what permitting regulations are currently in place, what the pros and cons have been, and why despite lots of partisan bickering today, permitting reform offers a golden opportunity for the two parties to find common ground. The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise. Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

118. Stilt Houses May 05, 2023

Show notes

As climate change has driven increasing sea level rise, hurricanes, and floods, coastal communities have had to come up with new, innovative ways to adapt to their changing environments. One such idea has been around for millennia: stilt houses, or houses build on elevated platformed raised by pillared scaffolding. Stilt houses can reduce flood risk, and even offer better ventilation, local tourism revenue, and in the Arctic, less risk to the permafrost beneath them. But stilt houses have challenges to overcome, from vulnerability to wind, earthquakes, and permafrost thaw to inaccessibility to social stigmas. Today, we explore what opportunities stilt houses present, what issues they face, and what needs to happen for this climate solution to live up to its full potential. With special guest Dr. Thang Dao: Associate Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alabama.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This episode is the first in our four-part series collaborating with the Gulf Climate Listening Project covering environmental issues on the Gulf Coast. If you are interested in learning about stopping LNG exports and creating a better future on the Gulf Coast, visit GulfCoastMurals.com.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Olivia Amitay, Madeleine Salman, Mo Polyak, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Ethan Brown

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E48: Be kind Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

On April 4th, Global Witness published the results of a survey of 468 climate scientists, and found 183 (39%) said they have experienced online harassment or abuse. For scientists who have published over ten academic papers, that number goes up to 49%. And out of the harassed scientists, 51% reported feeling anxiety, 48% reported a loss in productivity, and 21% reported experiencing depression. Jobs in academia are already thankless, so this additional barrier for climate scientists to do their work is extremely concerning. Ethan shares the findings of this survey, why it would be in the best interest of climate-skeptical cyberbullies to engage more respectfully, and some reflections on his experience interviewing and getting to know over 100 climate professors through The Sweaty Penguin in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

117. Chloroprene Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

On March 20, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion for a preliminary injunction under the Clean Air Act requesting that Denka Performance Elastomer LLC — the only chloroprene plant in the United States — impose significantly greater pollution controls. Chloroprene is a chemical used in the production of neoprene, which is used to create wetsuits, beer cozies, laptop sleeves, orthopedic braces, and automotive belts and hoses. It is also a known carcinogen. The Denka plant is located in the majority Black community of LaPlace, Louisiana, which is part of Cancer Alley — a stretch of land where low income and minority communities have been exposed to disproportionate cancer risk due to petrochemical and fossil fuel infrastructure. Today, we’ll examine this one sliver of the story of Cancer Alley, exploring what chloroprene is, how the Denka plant has impacted the surrounding community, and how LaPlace can create a healthier future. With special guest Dr. Kimberly Terrell: Research Scientist and Director of Community Engagement at Tulane University’s Environmental Law Clinic.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Owen Reith, Velina Georgi, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Ethan Brown

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E47: Arizona v. Navajo Nation Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

On March 20, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Arizona v. Navajo Nation, wherein the Navajo Nation argued that the United States government breached its legal responsibility to ensure access to water on the Navajo reservation. The American Southwest is currently experiencing its worst drought in 1,200 hitting the Navajo Nation harder than anyone. Navajos use 8-10 gallons of water per day — about a tenth of the average American — and 30% of Navajos have no running water. The oral argument was interesting for a few reasons. There is unlikely to be an even split between the conservative and liberal justices, and it is very unclear which way the justices will rule. If the Navajo Nation win, it will only be the beginning of their battle. And if the United States win, they may have inadvertently set themselves up for future liability based on their long history of interfering with the Navajo Nation’s water. Ethan breaks down what Arizona v. Navajo Nation is about, how the justices might rule, and the strange concession that the U.S. attorney made repeatedly throughout the hearing in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

116. The Leviathan Gas Field Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

In February, Ethan had the opportunity to travel to Israel and participate in the Jerusalem Press Club’s Climate Innovation Press Tour, meet several clean tech CEOs, and learn about Israel’s cutting edge climate solutions. But despite all these clean energy ideas, shockingly few have actually been implemented in Israel. Instead, Israel’s big energy project has been the Leviathan Gas Field: an offshore natural gas formation about 81 miles west of Haifa in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. With the potential to emit 1.06 billion tons of carbon dioxide, the Leviathan Gas Field is one of the 195 “carbon bombs” identified in last year’s investigative report by The Guardian. Though it has only been in production for three-and-a-half years, the Leviathan Gas Field has already misled on its environmental damage, heightened international tensions in the region, and struggled to live up to its economic promise. Today, we explore what issues have arisen at the Leviathan Gas Field, what solutions Israel has in-house to tackle energy and climate, and what needs to happen to make those innovations a reality. With special guest Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed: Executive Director of the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E46: The clickbait headline who cried wolf Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

The release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Synthesis Report summary last week prompted a barrage of doom-and-gloom headlines invoking phrases like “final warning,” “survival guide for humanity,” and “act now or it’s too late.” But the summary said none of this. Of its 33 pages, 12 covered issues, 4 covered past progress, and 17 covered solutions we can implement and the many benefits they have for not just the environment but also our economic and social goals. In fact, the IPCC’s literal press release headline was “Urgent climate action can secure a livable future for all.” Ethan explores what the IPCC report actually emphasized, where news headlines missed the mark, and why there’s a ton of reason to be hopeful in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Velina Georgi

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

115. Red Spruce Mar 25, 2023

Show notes

What do flying squirrels, acid rain, and violins have in common? They are all connected to the Red Spruce — a coniferous tree found in northeastern North America that provides a habitat for many animals, stores carbon very effectively, and is used for a variety of important products, most notably to create the soundboards of string instruments. But between droughts, cold waves, pests, and the lingering impacts of acid rain, Red Spruces are under threat. Today, we explore why Red Spruces matter, what new challenges have arisen for them, and what comes next for this important tree. With special guest Dr. Alexandra Kosiba: Extension Assistant Professor of Forestry at the University of Vermont.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Owen Reith, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Tip of the Iceberg E45: The major climate win accompanying Willow's approval Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

This week, the United States blocked all future oil and gas exploration in our Arctic Ocean, and blocked leases on more than half of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, a massive step in reducing potential future carbon emissions from the world’s second-highest emitting country. But unfortunately, that huge news has been all but ignored, as it was accompanied by a scaled-down approval of Willow: a drilling project in Alaska’s North Slope by ConocoPhillips. Though Willow was unanimously supported by Alaskan government officials in both parties and supported by a majority of neighboring Indigenous communities, activists and TikTokers in the Lower 48 fiercely opposed the development, amassing over 3.7 million signatures on a Change.org petition urging the government to block the project. Ethan discusses the problems with Willow, the reasons locals support the project, the importance of listening to local communities, and the massively underreported climate wins that accompanied Willow in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Velina Georgi

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

114. Green Crabs Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

The European green crab is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as one of the world’s 100 worst invaders. Between their ability to eat 40 juvenile soft-shell clams per day, their practice of ripping up seagrass when burrowing, and their potential to produce 160,000 eggs at a time, green crab populations are exploding and decimating salt marshes, seagrass meadows, and other rocky intertidal ecosystems that support multimillion dollar shellfish industries. And climate change may make green crab invasions even worse. Today, we explore what problems green crabs create, why the issue is escalating, and a variety of solutions (including green crab whiskey!) that could help get populations under control. With special guest Dr. Alyssa Novak: Research Assistant Professor of Earth & Environment at Boston University.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Madeleine Salman, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Olivia Amitay

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Velina Georgi

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

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