Columbia Energy Exchange

Throughout the world, climate change is influencing human mobility. In a 2022 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that devastating floods and storms have triggered the displacement of 20 million people per year since 2008. While migration is influenced by many factors, including socio-economic status and political stability, research by the IPCC and others tells us that climate change is increasingly significant. So, how is climate change impacting human mobility? And what can policymakers do to address climate migration?  This week host Bill Loveless talks with Shana Tabak about how climate change influences migration both within and across borders. Shana is a human rights lawyer and the director of immigration strategy at Emerson Collective, where she leads engagement at the intersection of global migration and the climate crisis. She is also an adjunct professor of human rights at the Georgetown University Law Center and an affiliated scholar with Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of International Migration.

The podcast discusses Chile's pivotal role in the energy transition due to its abundance of critical minerals like lithium and copper. Topics include nationalization of the lithium industry, geopolitics in mining, challenges in transitioning to renewable energy, Chinese investment in Chile's mining sector, water scarcity issues, and impacts of climate change on agriculture and mining.

Recent EU elections showcased a rise in far-right parties impacting climate policies. Anne Metler discusses economic challenges in the EU. The podcast explores clean energy policy shifts, climate challenges, and diverse energy technologies. It also delves into tariffs on Chinese EV imports, nuclear energy attitudes, and EU-US collaboration for clean tech growth.

Explore the escalating risks of extreme weather events due to climate change, including heatwaves, droughts, and hurricanes. Learn about the impacts of rising global temperatures and the shift from El Nino to La Nina conditions. Discover the interconnected vulnerabilities of society to climate change and the importance of adaptation measures. Dive into the concept of compound extreme events and the implications of accelerated global warming on critical systems. Delve into the urgency for increased investments in adaptation to safeguard against extreme weather, and see how students are driving climate solutions and social responsibility.

Discussion on Europe's energy transition post-elections, balancing climate action, energy security, and economic competitiveness, with insights from former EU director general energy. Exploring clean energy policies, fair competition with China, low carbon manufacturing solutions, impact of European trading system, and innovation for sustainable solutions.

Recent US policy reforms aim to enhance electric grid development with new transmission rules from FERC. Discussions with industry experts highlight challenges in infrastructure development, legal frameworks, and the urgent need for new transmission. Federal oversight of transmission siting and utility industry reactions are also examined. Rethinking congressional action on energy infrastructure and discussion on permitting reform and NEPA implementation in transmission regulation are key topics of the podcast.

Discover the challenges and technologies involved in decarbonizing heavy industries like steel, cement, and chemicals. Explore strategies for reducing carbon emissions in cement production, including carbon capture and electrification of kilns. Learn about the limitations of carbon capture in hard-to-abate sectors and the importance of policy support in achieving zero-carbon industrial practices.

EPA passes new rules to cut power plant emissions, causing debate. How will these regulations impact the energy industry? Legal challenges discussed by Jody Freeman. Exploring grid reliability amidst energy transition and congressional roles in updating environmental laws.

Exploring Indonesia's energy transition, balancing economic development with climate goals. Discussing challenges of reducing coal reliance, increasing renewables. Emphasis on policy reforms, sustainability, and regional collaborations in Southeast Asia.

Across the U.S., large scale renewable energy projects, transmission lines, and mining sites for critical minerals are built on or near tribal lands. For example, the federal government plans to loan billions of dollars to Lithium Americas to develop a lithium mine in Nevada at a location known as Thacker Pass, sacred to local Paiute and Shoshone people.  With the tumultuous history of energy development on indigenous lands, many tribes are pushing back on citing new infrastructure on their land. So, how is the energy transition impacting Native American communities? And what are advocacy groups and the federal government doing to protect indigenous rights and lands? This week host Bill Loveless talks with Kate Finn about the contentious history of energy projects on Native American lands, how that history influences energy development today, and how her organization is working to ensure Native Americans have a seat at the table in determining how best to use indigenous lands.  Kate is the executive director of First Peoples Worldwide, an organization focused on upholding the rights, sovereignty, and economic power of Indigenous People around the world. She was the inaugural American Indian Law Program Fellow at the University of Colorado Law, where she worked directly with tribes and Native communities. Her recent work focuses on the impacts of development in Indigenous communities, and embedding respect for Indigenous peoples into routine business operations.