

Climate One
Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
We’re living through a climate emergency; addressing this crisis begins by talking about it. Co-Hosts Greg Dalton, Ariana Brocious and Kousha Navidar bring you empowering conversations that connect all aspects of the challenge — the scary and the exciting, the individual and the systemic. Join us.Subscribe to Climate One on Patreon for access to ad-free episodes.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 31, 2025 • 1h 4min
When Climate Work Comes at a Cost: Dispatches From the Upside Down
 Human-caused climate change is fueling extreme floods, wildfires, rising seas, and record-breaking heat all around the world. At the same time, some of the most senior U.S. government officials and other powerful actors are actively defunding climate programs, dismantling research institutions, erasing decades of environmental data, and launching direct attacks on climate professionals.
This week’s episode is about what it’s like to be a climate scientist, researcher, or environmental professional trying to do meaningful work in a country with a government that increasingly doesn’t want it. Many have faced harassment, threats, or dismissal — or live in fear that their funding will be frozen or cut. How does it feel to do climate work not just in an era of climate denial, but of deliberate climate erasure? 
Episode Guests:
Rachel Rothschild,  Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Law School
Brent Efron, Senior Manager for Permitting Innovation, Environmental Policy Innovation Center
J. Timmons Roberts, Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology, Brown University
**For show notes and related links, visit climateone.org/podcasts.
Highlights: 
00:00 – Intro
03:00 – Brent Efron on how he got into climate work
05:30 – Efron relates a casual date he had in DC
08:00 – Efron is contacted by Project Veritas, who plans to release a video they recorded of his comments about his work at the EPA during the date
11:00 – Hate and public backlash following his remarks, as well as the EPA
13:00 – Efron is contacted by EPA investigators and the FBI
17:30 – His new job in climate policy and how it feels to be doing that work again
21:30 – Rachel Rothschild explains climate superfund laws
25:00 – An organization uses FOIA to request Rothschild’s emails with environmental groups, then filed a lawsuit
32:00 – Personal and professional toll it has taken on her
37:00 – Needing to have threat monitoring
41:00 – How she thinks about her work as a teacher
42:30 – J. Timmons Roberts explains his work on links between offshore wind opposition groups and entities tied to fossil fuel interests
48:00 – Marzulla Law sends a letter to Brown University demanding Roberts’ work be redacted
52:30 – Universities in vulnerable position right now
58:45 – Why uncovering climate obstruction work is so important
59:45 – Climate One More Thing
***
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Oct 24, 2025 • 60min
Adaptation: When Prevention Isn’t Enough
 So much of the conversation about the climate crisis focuses on prevention. But no matter how well we succeed on that front, climate-induced disasters are already causing hundreds of billions of dollars of damage worldwide every year — not to mention destroying livelihoods and causing deaths. We're seeing those impacts today, and we need to be ready.
Adaptation does not mean giving up on trying to rein in heat-trapping pollution; it’s facing reality. The way we adapt can be creative and empowering. But what does that kind of adaptation look like? 
Episode Guests:  
Susannah Fisher, Principal Research Fellow, University College London; Author of "Sink or Swim"
Nick Mott, Multimedia Journalist; Author of “This Is Wildfire” 
Tanya Gulliver-Garcia, Director of Educational Impact, Center for Disaster Philanthropy
This episode features a field piece by David Condos, who originally reported the story for KUER in Salt Lake City, Utah.
For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/audio/adaptation-when-prevention-isnt-enough.
Highlights:
00:00 Intro
4:06 Susannah Fisher on her findings as a research student 
7:43 Susannah Fisher on transformational changes 
11:52 Susannah Fisher on the realities of climate migration
17:41 Susannah Fisher on the future of adaptation 
22:47 Susannah Fisher on international cooperation 
27:01 Susannah Fisher on surprising connections 
30:35 Nick Mott on who is responsible for protecting your house
33:09 Nick Mott on the next level steps for protecting from wildfire
39:58 Field piece by David Condos on reusing sewage water 
44:38 Tanya Gulliver-Garcia on what mutual aid is 
48:20 Tanya Gulliver-Garcia on a mutual aid response to climate disasters 
53:35 Climate One More Thing
***
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Oct 17, 2025 • 1h 3min
Ani Dasgupta on Moving From Promises to Progress
 We know what needs to be done to ward off the worst impacts of global climate disruption: rein in heat-trapping pollution, reverse deforestation, build resilient systems. But how we do those things is the trick. Every second counts. The sooner we act, the more lives saved, the more jobs protected and the more futures secured. 
So how do we orchestrate the vast change we need in a short amount of time? World Resources Institute President Ani Dasgupta gives his honest take on the lack of progress since the Paris Agreement was signed 10 years ago — and maps a path forward.
Guests:
Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO, World Resources Institute (WRI); Author, “The New Global Possible”
Jonathan Foley, Executive Director, Project Drawdown
Nikhil Swaminathan, CEO, Grist
Highlights: 
00:00 – Intro
01:46 – Importance of the Paris Accords in terms of multilateralism
04:00 – Backlash to climate action 
07:00 – The market is producing the technology we need, but we also need to deploy them at scale
12:00 – How do we get companies producing the bulk of emissions to change course?
16:00 – Addressing climate disruption is a societal choice about what we value
20:40 – Why COP is essential and also disappointing and maddening
23:30 – Unpacking climate finance and why it’s so important
27:30 – Addressing justice isn’t a choice but an imperative when it comes to climate
31:00 – How to keep focused and remain optimistic in this current moment
37:00 – We have everything we need right now to solve climate change
41:00 – Project Drawdown’s analysis of what climate tools do and don’t work
45:00 – So many missed climate opportunities
52:00 – Tradeoffs of tools like batteries 
58:00 – Climate One More Thing
*****
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Oct 14, 2025 • 30min
PARTNER POD: Speed & Scale: Electrifying the grid with Amol Phadke
 Today, we have a special episode to share with you from TED’s brand new podcast, Speed & Scale. Speed & Scale was created to help combat the doom and gloom that comes when thinking and learning about climate change. The hosts Anjali Grover and Ryan Panchadsaram interview experts from around the world on the measurable changes they’re making to combat the climate crisis and create a better future for the planet – and for those of us living on it. 
In this episode, Ryan and Anjali reflect on what to do about fossil gas, and they are joined by some incredible people coming up with bold solutions. The kind of solutions that save billions of dollars for energy companies – and consumers. Check out more episodes of the TED podcast Speed & Scale wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Oct 10, 2025 • 1h 5min
De-Hyping Hydrogen
 Joe Romm, a clean energy policy expert and author, discusses the shifting narrative around hydrogen's role in clean energy. Eleanor Smith, a community organizer for the Navajo Nation, shares her concerns about a proposed hydrogen pipeline and its historical context of fossil fuel exploitation. Hilary Lewis, who focuses on green steel solutions, explains how hydrogen can revolutionize steel production while navigating current challenges. Together, they explore hydrogen's efficiency, competition from electrification, and its niche applications in industry. 

Oct 7, 2025 • 23min
Remembering Dr. Jane Goodall
 Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died on October 1. In a 2024 conversation on the Climate One stage with Co-Host Greg Dalton, the indefatigable Goodall was focused on three intertwined crises: biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental inequity. Her message from that night still resonates: Vote like your children’s lives depend on it — because they do. 
Guests:
Jane Goodall, Ethologist, conservationist
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Oct 3, 2025 • 58min
Taylor Brorby and Suzie Hicks Tell The Stories We Don’t Always Hear
 Finding one's voice in climate action can come in many forms. Author and activist Taylor Brorby grew up in Center, North Dakota as a fourth-generation member of a fossil-fuel family. He struggled to find his place as a young gay kid who loved art, music, nature and poetry. Over time, he turned that tension into writing that challenges the fossil fuel industry, makes space for others stuck in a broken system, and inspires a more just future. 
Suzie Hicks felt the weight of climate concerns but after college, didn’t know what to do with those feelings. After doing an internship at the New England Aquarium, they realized they could merge their love of performing with a career focused on climate. With the help of a sunflower puppet named Sprout, Suzie created a children’s show that teaches kids about climate change through a frame of possibility and hope, not doom and gloom. 
Guests:
Taylor Brorby, Activist, Author, “Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land”
Suzie Hicks, Climate Media Maker and Educator
– Intro
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
***
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 11min
Scientists Who Won’t Be Silenced
 Within the federal government, science — especially climate science — has taken a beating. The Trump administration has moved from climate denial to climate erasure, firing thousands of career scientists across departments, rolling back established landmark protections, and undermining its own authority to regulate pollutants like carbon emissions. Even at the UN General Assembly, Trump referred to green energy as a “scam” and said climate science came from “stupid people.” 
But climate scientists aren’t all taking it lying down. From former EPA researchers to independent academics, many are heroically maintaining open-access databases and continuing fundamental research like the National Climate Assessment without the administration’s blessing.
Guests: 
Brandon Jones, President, American Geophysical Union
Wes Ingwersen, Lead, Cornerstone Sustainability Data Initiative
Rachel Cleetus, Senior Policy Director, Climate and Energy, Union of Concerned Scientists
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Introduction
3:23 - Brandon Jones on how the Trump administration has treated science
6:35 - Brandon Jones on what’s next for scientists who were laid off
10:58 - Brandon Jones on continuing to collect climate data  
13:18 - Wes Ingwersen on the creation of USEEIO
22:24 - Wes Ingwersen on how EPA changed when Lee Zeldin took over
31:24 - Wes Ingwersen on when EPA employees decided to speak out
37:31 - Wes Ingwersen on taking his work to Stanford 
42:28 - Rachel Cleetus on DOE climate report 
51:27 - Rachel Cleetus on agency staff cuts
60:40 - Rachel Cleetus on how the scientific community is responding 
***
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Sep 19, 2025 • 57min
Policy Whiplash: Checking In With Labor Unions
 The past few years have seen a seismic shift in energy and industrial policy in the United States. Under Biden, laws like the Inflation Reduction Act led to money pouring into clean energy manufacturing and deployment. The Trump administration has reversed course, cutting off incentives in instituting massive tariffs. 
As a result, entire clean energy projects have been put on hold or even canceled. Workers who were counting on those projects now face an uncertain future. This situation forces tough questions for unions: Where do they go from here?
Guests: 
Roxanne Brown, Vice President at Large, United Steelworkers 
Lee Anderson, Director of Governmental Affairs, Utility Workers Union of America
Lara Skinner, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Institute, Cornell University
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
3:46 Roxanne Brown on the origins of USW’s environmental advocacy
5:50 Roxanne Brown on the effects of climate workers are feeling today
14:25 Roxanne Brown on how energy policy has affected USW members 
18:45 Roxanne Brown on climate messaging within USW
24:16 Lee Anderson on the jobs of utility workers
25:41 Lee Anderson on how climate has affected the safety of workers
30:54 Lee Anderson on UWUA’s input on current federal policy
40:15 Lara Skinner on what sparked a worker centered agenda on climate policy
42:36 Lara Skinner on the ups and downs of Climate Jobs New York’s work
48:57 Lara Skinner on creating state based coalitions 
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
***
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Sep 12, 2025 • 1h 6min
Gloria Walton and Wawa Gatheru Believe in Grassroots Change, Not Just Charity
 Those standing up to climate and environmental injustice face challenges they weren’t seeing a year ago. But Gloria Walton, head of The Solutions Project, sees a bigger picture:
"The reality is that the same systems that created the climate crisis, whether that's colonialism, white supremacy, racism, and the patriarchy, those are the same ones that have harmed communities of color for generations,” she says. Her organization has channeled tens of millions of philanthropic dollars to grassroots efforts that build community resilience. 
Black Girl Environmentalist founder Wawa Gatheru is helping more Black girls, women, and gender-expansive people enter and lead in the climate space. She says the climate fight has shifted from education to action, with over 70% of Americans now understanding that climate change is real. So what should this 'action phase' look like?
Guests:
Gloria Walton, President & CEO, The Solutions Project
Wawa Gatheru, Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl Environmentalist
Highlights:
00:00 – Intro
05:30 – Gloria Walton on the impact of the Altadena wildfires
10:30 – Walton’s work as an organizer in South Central LA
13:00 – Living with idea of abundance
19:00 – Finding and keeping your individual power within our democracy
21:00 – Work of West Street Recovery Project in Houston
22:30 – Developing local resilience hubs
24:00 – Reframing frontline communities as victors, not victims
27:00 – Channeling philanthropy to climate resilience and frontline communities
36:00 – Story of Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative Molokai 
42:00 – Wawa Gatheru’s start in climate and environmental advocacy
44:00 – Not seeing herself in climate spaces
48:00 – Climate storytelling can offer nuance and move people 
55:00 – Work and growth of Black Girl Environmentalist organization
59:00 – Climate One More Thing
For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 


