Climate One

Join Pattie Gonia, a drag queen and environmentalist championing inclusivity in the outdoors, as they share their vibrant journey through activism. Mike Roberts and Will Hammond Jr., musicians passionate about climate advocacy, discuss their catchy R&B songs like 'I'm Your Heat Pump' and 'Our Love is Geothermal,' showcasing how creativity can inspire climate action. The trio emphasizes the importance of joy, collaboration, and accessibility in environmental movements, inviting everyone to engage in meaningful and entertaining ways.

The second Trump administration has hit the ground running. The president has signed a flurry of executive orders targeting everything from birthright citizenship to pulling out of the Paris Climate Accords. This is a far different moment from the first Trump term. The president is more focused, his team is more focused, and energy policy is at the top of their action list. However, the renewable energy market is also much more mature, and the transition away from fossil fuels has been accelerated by three major climate-related bills passed during the Biden years. In this new political and economic landscape, how do climate advocates need to think and act differently to sustain progress? Guests: Dana R. Fisher, Director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity & Professor, School of International Service, American UniversityNathaniel Stinnett, Founder and Executive Director, Environmental Voter ProjectArnab Datta, Director of Infrastructure Policy, Institute for Progress; Managing Director of Policy Implementation, Employ AmericaOn February 25, internationally recognized environmental and civil rights activist Catherine Coleman Flowers will join Climate One for a live conversation about the future of environmental justice. Join us at noon in San Francisco for a can’t-miss show. Tickets are on sale now through our website.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 for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website.Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moira Morel, a cinematographer and Altadena resident, shares her personal story of losing her home in the Eaton Fire, highlighting the deep emotional and community impacts of wildfires. Hugh Safford from UC Davis provides insights into fire dynamics and the role of climate change in increasing wildfire risks. Andrew Rumbach emphasizes equitable recovery strategies in disaster resilience. Multimedia journalist Nick Mott offers practical advice on wildfire preparedness, underscoring the critical need for proactive community measures and awareness in fire-prone areas.

Ross Trethewey, a home technology expert from This Old House, joins Ari Matusiak and Edith Buhs from Rewiring America to discuss how electrification can reduce household greenhouse gas emissions. They explore the significant impact of electrifying appliances and improving energy efficiency on health and savings, highlighting federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. The conversation also delves into practical steps homeowners can take to enhance sustainability, as well as the importance of community engagement in transitioning to electric solutions.

Every year we highlight the work of a scientist who excels in communicating their work to the world. Climate One is delighted to present the 2024 Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication to political scientist and energy expert Leah Stokes.Her rare ability to communicate complex information to both academic audiences and the general public has established her as one of the most influential voices in climate action and clean energy policy. “What I've started to think about is not how can I make my impact as small as possible, like a carbon footprint, trying to shrink, but actually how can I make my impact as big as possible by joining with others in campaigns to try to change policies and laws so that we're not just trying to make marginal, incremental improvements on a fossil fuel-based energy system, but actually change the system towards clean electricity,” she says.Guests:Leah Stokes, Anton Vonk Associate Professor at UC Santa Barbara; Senior Policy Advisor, Rewiring America; Co-host of the podcast “A Matter of Degrees”Rebecca Solnit, Author, journalist, and activistSupport 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 for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When most people hear the phrase renewable energy, they imagine fields full of solar panels or giant spinning wind turbines. But another source may be heating up: geothermal. Twenty years ago, it was thought that geothermal could provide at most 10% of any given area’s electricity, and only in very limited regions. There were also environmental concerns about depleting groundwater. But new technological advances may have unlocked the potential for scalable geothermal energy just about anywhere. And in a bit of irony, those technological advances came from the oil and gas industry. This episode originally aired February 23, 2024, and features content from contributing producer David Condos.Guests: Amanda Kolker, Laboratory Program Manager for Geoscience and Geothermal Technologies, NRELJamie Beard, Founder of Project InnerSpaceLauren McLean, Mayor of BoiseSupport 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 for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diane Wilson, founder of San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper, Sarah Patton of the Center for International Environmental Law, chemistry professor Susannah Scott, and David Azoulay, an expert on global plastics treaties, dive into the climate impacts of plastics. They discuss the hidden ties between fossil fuels and plastic production, community struggles against industrial pollution in Texas, and insights from ongoing treaty negotiations. The conversation highlights urgent calls for accountability from producers and the complex recycling challenges facing the plastic industry.

2024 set new records for extreme heat around the world in what is already the warmest decade on record. According to the World Meteorological Organization, sea-level rise and ocean heating are accelerating along with the loss of ice from glaciers. We continue to see extreme weather of all kinds wreak havoc on communities across the world. In spite of the growing disruption, countries continue to miss their self-imposed climate targets. And in November, the U.S. re-elected Donald Trump to the presidency, a move that will almost certainly slow the transition to cleaner forms of energy.And yet, the transition continues. As the year winds down, Climate One hosts Greg Dalton and Ariana Brocious look back upon recent climate progress and pitfalls and revisit some of our most illuminating interviews of 2024.Guests:Karen Hao, Contributing Writer, The AtlanticShelley Welton, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Law and Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law and the Kleinman Center for Energy PolicyJustin J. Pearson, District 86 State Representative, Tennessee General AssemblyAja Barber, Author, “Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change and Consumerism”Jamie Beard, founder of Project InnerSpaceMitzi Jonelle Tan, Climate Justice ActivistTzeporah Berman, Chair, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation TreatyJohn Morales, Hurricane Specialist, WTVJ NBC6 MiamiRob Bonta, Attorney General of CaliforniaEmily Raboteau, Author, “Lessons for Survival: Mothering Against ‘the Apocalypse’”Jane Goodall, Ethologist, conservationistSupport 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 for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For over a century, coal fueled much of the country and served as the economic backbone for many rural communities. But with the rise of more affordable wind and solar energy, coal is in decline, leaving these towns increasingly vulnerable. As jobs disappear, coal-dependent communities are faced with the threat of economic collapse and depopulation. To adapt, many are working to diversify their economies, seeking new industries and opportunities for the future. Today, we’ll visit coal communities across the country, where locals and leaders are actively exploring ways to rebuild and ensure no one is left behind in the energy transition.This episode also features field reporting from Climate One and Caitlin Tan of Wyoming Public Media on the transition from coal to nuclear power in Kemmerer, Wyoming.Guests:Chris Levesque, CEO, TerraPowerBrian Muir, Kemmerer City AdministratorTony Skrelunas, Executive Director of the Division of Economic Development, Navajo NationMike Eisenfeld, Energy and Climate Program Manager, San Juan Citizens AllianceSupport 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 for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the surface, climate policy couldn’t face a worse future than under a second Trump administration. As a candidate, Trump said on his first day back in office: “I want to drill, drill, drill.” So, what are environmental organizations, including those aligned with the Republican party, doing to keep making progress on addressing climate change? And what do Trump’s cabinet picks say about the incoming administration’s attitude toward energy policy? Guests: Abigail Dillen, President, EarthjusticeHeather Reams, President, Citizens for Responsible Energy SolutionsSupport 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 for just $5/month.For show notes and related links, visit our website.A brief correction was made to this episode on 29 December 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices