TILclimate

Technologies like solar panels and batteries help us slow down climate change, but they’re not inherently perfect. In this episode of TILclimate (Today I Learned Climate), Suzanne Greene of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics and the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative sits down with host Laur Hesse Fisher to help us navigate how to massively scale up clean tech while making a conscious and dedicated effort to ensure people’s rights, health, and safety.Suzanne Greene manages the Sustainable Supply Chains initiative at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics and is the lead on Metals, Minerals, and the Environment program at the Environmental Solutions Initiative. She collaborates with industry and stakeholders to develop new methods to calculate, report and offset carbon emissions, improving our understanding of the climate impact of products we use every day.For more episodes of TILclimate by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, visit tilclimate.mit.edu. CreditsLaur Hesse Fisher, Host and ProducerDavid Lishansky, Editor and ProducerAaron Krol, Associate ProducerSabrina Gaitan, Student Production AssistantMusic by Blue Dot SessionsArtwork by Aaron KrolProduced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Professor Dennis Whyte, Director of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, discusses fusion energy in the season finale. Topics include the potential of fusion energy, challenges in achieving high temperatures, transformation of matter at extreme temperatures, challenges of producing fusion energy, and commercializing fusion energy.

This season, we’ve talked about alternative energy sources that don’t emit carbon dioxide -- but what if there was a way to continue using fossil fuels for energy without emitting CO2 into the atmosphere? In this episode of TILclimate (Today I Learned Climate), Dr. Howard Herzog and Professor Brad Hager sit down with host Laur Hesse Fisher to talk about capturing, using, and storing carbon emissions, and how it fits into a clean energy future.Howard Herzog is a Senior Research Engineer in the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), where he has researched combating greenhouse gas emissions for over 30 years. He was also a Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage and a co-author on the MIT Future of Coal Study.Brad Hager is the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Earth Sciences in the MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). He is also the co-director of the MIT Energy Initiative’s Low Carbon Energy Center on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage.Season two of TILclimate focuses on our global energy system, its relationship to climate change, and what our options are for keeping the lights on while creating a clean energy future. We're partnering with the MIT Energy Initiative, which will air longer interviews with each guest to take a deeper dive into these topics.CreditsLaur Hesse Fisher, Host and ProducerDavid Lishansky, Editor and ProducerJessie Hendricks, Graduate Student WriterAaron Krol, Contributing WriterRuby Wincele, Student Production AssistantCecilia Bolon, Student Production AssistantSkyler Jones, Student Production AssistantMusic by Blue Dot SessionsArtwork by Aaron Krol Produced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This podcast explores the controversial but mature technology of nuclear power as a clean energy source. It delves into the advantages and concerns of nuclear energy, including managing nuclear waste, preventing accidents, and addressing health and safety impacts. The aftermath of a nuclear power plant accident and the impact of evacuation is also discussed. The podcast highlights the role of nuclear power in providing backup energy and emphasizes the need for a diverse low carbon energy portfolio.

We hear a lot about technologies that produce carbon-free energy, but what about actually using less energy to begin with? In this episode of TILclimate (Today I Learned Climate), Harvey Michaels, lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, joins host Laur Hesse Fisher to explore the three ways that energy efficiency can help us reduce carbon emissions.Harvey Michaels, an MIT alumnus now lecturing at the MIT Sloan School of Management, researches energy management and efficiency and smart-grid-related opportunities to mitigate climate change. He is a member of Future of the Grid at the MIT Energy Initiative, Efficiency Forward at the Sloan Sustainability Initiative, and Project Faculty for Energy Democracy at the MIT Media Lab. Prior to joining MIT, Harvey Michaels worked at energy efficiency companies Xenergy and Aclara Software.Season two of TILclimate focuses on our global energy system, its relationship to climate change, and what our options are for keeping the lights on while creating a clean energy future. We're partnering with the MIT Energy Initiative, which will air longer interviews with each guest to take a deeper dive into these topics.For more episodes of TILclimate by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, visit tilclimate.mit.eduFor related energy podcasts from the MIT Energy Initiative, visit:http://energy.mit.edu/podcast/For a list of U.S. energy efficiency incentives for by state, visit: https://www.dsireusa.org/Check out this case study on the Bullitt Center in Seattle, which achieved a certification called the Living Building Challenge. The building is so energy efficient, the solar panels on its roof generate more electricity than the building needs:http://www.bullittcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/living-proof-bullitt-center-case-study.pdfWant to know how energy efficient your lightbulbs are?  Check out this comparison: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/lighting-choices-save-you-money/how-energy-efficient-lightHere is a resource comparing the cost to fuel an electric car versus a gasoline car:https://www.energy.gov/articles/egallon-how-much-cheaper-it-drive-electricityCreditsLaur Hesse Fisher, Host and ProducerDavid Lishansky, Editor and ProducerJessie Hendricks, Graduate Student WriterAaron Krol, Contributing WriterDarya Guettler, Student Production AssistantMusic by Blue Dot SessionsArtwork by Aaron KrolProduced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

What will it take to generate the electricity our society needs, without generating carbon emissions? In this episode of TILclimate (Today I Learned Climate), Dr. Magdalena Klemun at the MIT Institute for Data, Systems and Society joins host Laur Hesse Fisher to begin exploring this question, starting with wind and solar power. What exactly are wind and solar power? What challenges do we currently face when trying to use wind and solar to generate most of our electricity? What’s the role of energy storage, and what could our future zero-carbon energy mix look like? Dr. Magdalena Klemun, a postdoctoral associate at the Trancik Lab at the MIT Institute for Data, Systems and Society, works on understanding how the economic and environmental performance of technologies evolve in response to different innovation efforts, with an emphasis on the cost evolution of photovoltaic systems and nuclear power plants, and on the environmental performance evolution of natural gas technologies. She has degrees from MIT, Columbia University, and Vienna University of Technology.TILclimate is produced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative.Season two of TILclimate focuses on our global energy system, its relationship to climate change, and what our options are for keeping the lights on while creating a clean energy future. We're partnering with the MIT Energy Initiative, which will air longer interviews with each guest to take a deeper dive into these topics.For more episodes of TILclimate by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, visit tilclimate.mit.eduFor related podcasts from the MIT Energy Initiative, visit:Energy technology evolution: http://energy.mit.edu/podcast/21Firm low-carbon energy resources: http://energy.mit.edu/podcast/firm-low-carbon-energy-resources/Batteries & storage: http://energy.mit.edu/podcast/batteries-and-storage/Game-changing solar: http://energy.mit.edu/podcast/game-changing-solar/For more information on the world’s current energy breakdown, visit: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics?country=WORLD&fuel=Energy%20supply&indicator=Total%20primary%20energy%20supply%20(TPES)%20by%20sourceFor the full break-down of where the US gets its energy:https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/Check out this selection of Dr. Klemun’s research:Mitigating Methane Emissions of Natural Gas: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab2577/pdfIntersection between Emissions Reductions and Technological Innovation in Wind and Solar:http://energy.mit.edu/publication/technology-improvement-and-emissions-reductions-as-mutually-reinforcing-efforts/For a more in-depth analysis of storage requirements for decarbonization, check out this study:https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(19)30300-9For a closer look at potential low-carbon energy mixes for future decarbonization, check out this study: https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(18)30386-6CreditsLaur Hesse Fisher, Host and ProducerDavid Lishansky, Editor and ProducerJessie Hendricks, Graduate Student WriterDarya Guettler, Student Production AssistantMusic by Blue Dot SessionsArtwork by Aaron KrolProduced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This podcast explores the distinction between energy and electricity, emphasizing that energy encompasses different forms while electricity is a specific type. It also discusses the various sectors that consume energy, strategies to reduce CO2 emissions, and the concept of generating electricity without CO2 emissions.

Fossil fuels -- coal, natural gas, and oil -- provide the large majority of our power in the United States and around the world. In this episode of TILclimate (Today I Learned: Climate), John Reilly of the MIT Sloan School of Management joins host Laur Hesse Fisher to demystify fossil fuels: what are the different kinds of fossil fuels, and how do they compare to each other? What is “fracking” and how did impact energy use and CO2 emissions in the United States? What kinds of decisions do we need to make to transition to clean energy, while providing electricity to a growing number of people?John Reilly is a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Co-Director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. An economist, he researches economic models that connect human activity with natural systems like the ocean, atmosphere, and vegetation.Season two of TILclimate focuses on our global energy system, its relationship to climate change, and what our options are for keeping the lights on while creating a clean energy future. We’re partnering with the MIT Energy Initiative, which will air longer interviews with each guest to take a deeper dive into these topics. For more episodes of TILclimate, visit: tilclimate.mit.eduTo listen to the MIT Energy Initiative podcast, visit: energy.mit.edu/podcastFor in-depth analyses on energy technologies, check out the MIT Energy’s “Future of” report series: energy.mit.edu/research-type/future-of/For the full break-down of where U.S. gets its energy: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/CreditsLaur Hesse Fisher, Host and ProducerDavid Lishansky, Editor and ProducerRachel Fritts, Graduate Student WriterOlivia Burek, Student Production AssistantMusic by Blue Dot SessionsArtwork by Aaron KrolProduced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The electric grid are networks that carry electricity from central power plants to our homes. But how exactly is electricity generated and brought to our door? And what needs to change if we’re going to transition to generating “clean” electricity? In this episode of TILclimate (Today I Learned: Climate), Harvey Michaels, lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, joins host Laur Hesse Fisher to explain the history and perhaps surprising features of the electric grid, and what changes are in store for the future.This episode launches a new season of TILclimate that will explain our global energy system, its relationship to climate change, and what our options are for keeping the lights on while creating a clean energy future. For this season, TILclimate is partnering with the MIT Energy Initiative, which will air longer interviews with each guest to take a deeper dive into these topics.Harvey Michaels, an MIT alumnus now lecturing at the MIT Sloan School of Management, researches energy management and efficiency and smart-grid-related opportunities to mitigate climate change. He is a member of Future of the Grid at the MIT Energy Initiative, Efficiency Forward at the Sloan Sustainability Initiative, and Project Faculty for Energy Democracy at the MIT Media Lab. Prior to joining MIT, Harvey Michaels worked at energy efficiency companies Xenergy and Aclara Software.For more episodes of TILclimate, visit: tilclimate.mit.eduTo listen to the MIT Energy Initiative podcast, visit: energy.mit.edu/podcastFor in-depth analyses on energy technologies, check out the MIT Energy’s “Future of” report series: energy.mit.edu/research-type/future-of/ Credits·     Laur Hesse Fisher, Host and Producer·     David Lishansky, Editor and Producer·     Rachel Fritts, Graduate Student Writer·     Olivia Burek, Student Production Assistant·     Music by Blue Dot Sessions·     Artwork by Aaron KrolProduced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Here at TILclimate (Today I Learned: Climate), there’s one question we get from our listeners more than any other: “What can I do to make a difference on climate change?” In this special episode of the podcast, three guests who have made acting on climate a big part of their lives join interim host Aaron Krol to share their stories and their advice for those who want to do more. Together, we discuss how to mobilize and inspire others, how small individual actions can lead to large societal ones, and why your contributions to a cooler, more resilient future can have benefits that aren’t just about rising seas or mounting heat waves.Emily Her is a student at Boise State University, previously at Timberline High School, and a regular volunteer for the Sierra Club. While still in high school, she co-organized a campaign in favor of climate change education in Idaho schools and participated in the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign, petitioning the City of Boise to commit to a 100% clean energy mandate for sourcing its electricity.Linda Cheung, an alumna of the MIT Sloan School of Business and the Sloan Sustainability Certificate program, is the founder and CEO of Before It’s Too Late, a Miami-based nonprofit that uses art and technology to educate and inspire on climate issues. Her projects at Before It’s Too Late include interactive murals, live games, hackathons, and personal challenges. She previously worked in the finance and renewable energy industries.The Reverend Mariama White-Hammond is the pastor of New Roots AME Church in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, and serves in leadership positions with a number of environmental and social justice organizations, among them the Green Justice Coalition. Previously the Executive Director of Project HIP-HOP, the Reverend White-Hammond focuses on the intersection of the climate crisis with other social justice issues, especially where climate change will contribute to problems afflicting vulnerable minority communities.For more short climate change explainers, check out: www.tilclimate.mit.edu.CreditsLaur Hesse Fisher, Host and ProducerDavid Lishansky, Editor and ProducerAaron Krol, Interim HostCecelia Bolon, Olivia Burek, and Alyssa Farkas, Student Production AssistantsMusic by Blue Dot SessionsArtwork by Aaron KrolSpecial thanks to Tom Kiley and MIT Open Learning.Produced by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.More InfoFor more information and inspiration on climate action, check out:More from Emily Her and Ready for 100:The Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaignI experienced a backlash for using two words—climate change. Still, I speak. (Idaho Statesman)The lightbulb is turning on for Boise leaders: Clean, renewable energy is our future (Idaho Statesman)More from Linda Cheung:Before It’s Too LateThe 7-Day ChallengeSpotlight: MIT Alum Linda Cheung, Founder, Before It's Too Late (MIT Climate Portal)In Miami, how art intersects with technology and climate change (PBS News Hour)Grist 50 List, 2019 (Grist)More from the Reverend Mariama White-Hammond:TILclimate’s full interview with the ReverendNew Roots AME ChurchThe Green Justice CoalitionClimate Change and Community: An Interview with Reverend Mariama White-Hammond (ClimateX)One Faith Leader Says Love Is The Key To Climate Action (WGBH)Climate Justice: What It Requires of Us All (Beacon Hill Friends House)Three Boston Congregations Team Up for Community Solar Project (Barr Foundation)Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley & Rev. Mariama White-Hammond: Green New Deal Town Hall (Jamaica Plain Forum)National climate action organizations:Sunrise MovementEnvironmental Voter ProjectClimate Justice AllianceMothers Out Front350.org