How We Survive

In the wake of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the internet was flooded with conspiracy theories and misinformation, ranging from false claims that the government geo-engineerd the storm on purpose, to false rumors around FEMA blocking aid from people who needed it.In this installment of “Burning Questions,” “How We Survive” host Amy Scott interviews climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe to find out what drives conspiracy theories after a climate disaster and what we can do to combat misinformation with our friends and loved ones. Resources to combat misinformation:Katharine Hayhoe’s toolsYou can also check out Katharine’s “Talking Climate” newsletterFEMA’s hurricane rumor responseSkeptical Science resourcesNational Climate Assessment

Paige Fortna, a Professor at Columbia University and expert on climate change and national security, dives into the pressing issues at the nexus of these fields. She discusses the challenges of restructuring the American military in light of climate impacts. Insightfully, she examines how climate change is reshaping military operations and security strategies. Fortna also highlights the geopolitical implications of melting Arctic ice and the importance of international cooperation as we face these evolving threats.

Jacqueline Schneider, an expert in wargaming at Stanford, joins Ed McGrady, a climate change game designer, and retired Admiral Denny McGinn to discuss the military's evolving strategy towards climate crises. They explore a chilling simulation set in 2044 where global warming has wreaked havoc, causing mass migrations and government failures. The trio analyzes how wargaming helps anticipate and strategize responses to potential geopolitical instability and humanitarian crises, emphasizing the pressing need for military readiness in the face of climate change.

On Jan. 20, a 20-foot wave crashed into a community center on a U.S. military base in the Marshall Islands. The wave broke down the door, smashed windows and even dragged people under. Waves and storm-driven flooding aren’t uncommon in the Marshall Islands. But this one hit a base that’s vital to U.S. national security. It’s where the United States conducts missile testing. Very few people ever see this remote and fortified location on a tiny island halfway between Hawaii and Australia. Host Kai Ryssdal treks across the Pacific to find out how our military will respond to the existential climate threat, and asks: What do rich countries and major carbon emitters like the U.S. owe to the people and nations bearing the brunt of the climate crisis?To support Marketplace’s journalism, donate here.

The Department of Defense is an enormous consumer of energy, using 73 million barrels of fuel annually. An F-22 Raptor, a fighter jet, burns 15 gallons of gas every minute when cruising. And more than a third of the DoD’s emissions come from powering its estimated 750 bases around the world.On the flip side, the Pentagon has an enormous budget, about $850 billion a year. So how is it leveraging some of that money and power to work on some of our biggest climate problems?In this episode, host Kai Ryssdal takes a look at some of the promising tech solutions that the military is investing in to make it more resilient and reduce emissions. We tour a warehouse in New York making sustainable aviation fuel, visit a microgrid at the original Top Gun school in California and swing by the E-ring, where the higher-ups in the Pentagon work. To support Marketplace’s journalism, donate here.

The Arctic is warming three to four times faster than the rest of the world, and as it warms, a whole new set of national security issues is emerging. This episode, host Kai Ryssdal traverses the frozen terrain that could be the center stage for global conflict. We hitch a ride with the Coast Guard, drop in on training exercises in the frigid Alaskan mountain range and uncover vital military infrastructure that’s falling into the ocean. How are climate change and national security converging in the Arctic? And is our military ready for it?To support Marketplace’s impactful journalism, donate here: https://support.marketplace.org/hws-sn

Today, the White House and the Department of Defense recognize climate change as a threat to national security. And the military is on the front lines of having to deal with the fallout.In this episode, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal remembers what it was like serving in the military during the Cold War tensions of the 1980s. He visits a Navy research lab that studies warfighter performance in extreme temperatures, where he becomes a guinea pig. And he explores how climate change has become a “threat multiplier.”To support Marketplace’s impactful journalism, donate here: https://support.marketplace.org/hws-sn

For “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal, joining the Navy fresh out of college was one of the most consequential times of his life. It was the 1980s; the Cold War and the Soviet “evil empire,” in President Ronald Reagan’s words, was the greatest threat. Fast-forward through 40 years and one career change, and the threat looks different. Climate change does not have a face or a flag, but it will fundamentally change the way the U.S. military trains and fights. It already has. In the sixth season of “How We Survive,” Ryssdal travels to far corners of the world, from a small Arctic village to a remote island in the Pacific. He shines a light on how the institution that shaped him could shape our climate future.

To an individual, the climate crisis can feel overwhelming. There’s only so much composting you can do, right? It can be tempting to bury your head in the sand. But what if instead we imagine that we can succeed in fighting climate change? That’s the subject of Ayana Johnson’s new book, “What If We Get It Right?” Amy talks with Johnson about how we can fight off climate dread and work toward a more sustainable future. 

One important way individuals can make a difference in their carbon emissions is to electrify their home. But that can feel like a daunting change when you’re just getting started. In this episode, Amy talks with Donnel Baird, founder of BlocPower, a start up that’s focused on electrifying homes and buildings. They dive into all the climate conscious changes, big and small, you can make in your own home.Learn more:Explore the Department of Energy’s guide to home energy rebates for homeowners and rentersCheck out these budget-friendly tips for making your home more energy efficient from The Washington Post