Geoversiv - Earth Intelligence

Governor Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin said, on the very first Earth Day, that "The US economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of nature."  Yet, Corporations have never placed a value on nature, it will not be found in account books or K1s.  Dr. Stephen Polasky, and economist and conservationist, is one of the world's foremost authorities on placing a value on "ecosystem services" - from providing carbon dioxide drawdown to purifying water and creating oxygen for the planet and its inhabitants.  Polasky is optimistic that businesses. financial institutions and underwriters are beginning to see Nature and ecosystem services as data that belong in the account books.  Then, as a value, it is likely to be sustained - not simply for the beauty and regard for Nature, but for the services it provides all of us on Earth. 

We continue with our conversation with Dr. Michael Mann.   In this episode, we concentrate on the value of carbon pricing and the various mechanisms for implementing a price.  We also delve into the probabilities of uniting divided political forces to bring that change.  Dr. Mann is optimistic.  He sees vast changes in conservatives' thinking, some of whom have embraced the science of climate change and see the need for policy action.  Much of the business world is already there, he says.
One of the enemies of progress on this issue is "Doomism," as he calls it.  It is the petrifying notion that there is nothing we can do to avert the worst effects of climate change.  It is especially disturbing that this is not only a message from the right, but many progressives have also adopted the thesis that we are doomed. - which inevitably leads to inaction.  Dr. Mann says there is much evidence for hope and optimism.

Dr. Michael Mann is considered the most visible and effective climate scientist alive.  He is an active communicator.  He frequently authors op-ed pieces in national publications, carries a full teaching and research schedule and is a climate optimist as he sees not only the climate change, but attitudes change.  In his book, The New Climate War-The Fight to Take Back Our Planet, he names names and tells the world where the enemy of science dwells, what weapons they are using on often unsuspecting Americans.  He tells you why they are fighting, and how science is fighting back, with some interesting and unexpected allies.  He pulls no punches.  If this is a war, he is the commanding general, often wounded in battle, he dresses his wounds and rejoins the fight.  

Dean Rachel Kyte is the 14th Dean and the only woman to lead the prestigious Tufts University Fletcher Graduate School.  It is the only graduate-only school of international affairs in the country. Prior to Tufts she was a special representative of the UN Secretary General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All.  Previously, she held positions as Group Vice President of the World Bank and her diplomatic work drew world leaders to the table, the result of which was the Paris Agreement.  She was appointed by the British throne a "Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George" for her work on climate change.  A wide ranging discussion with one of most influential and learned people in the world on the subject of climate change policy.

Dr. Jonathan Foley is our guest.  He is the Executive Director of Project Drawndown.
There are off-the-shelf solutions to the climate crisis.  Nothing new has to be discovered or technology invented.  The solution will rely on knowledge, will and policy.  There are coming changes in the financial sector that recognize and will react to the pressures of risk management in investing further dollars and time into those operations that could destroy us.  At the same time, more capital is flowing into solutions, but not fast enough. Dr. Foley quotes the late Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day, saying, "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nature."  New agricultural practices, new investments, money flowing to solutions .  A wide-ranging discussion on how to keep the planet from warming, using common sense and available methods.

This is a news brief - a look at the headline story of the 4 million people in Texas who have lost power as a result of a sudden, extreme cold snap.  It was a failure of the power grid, controlled and operated by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), once hailed as the Texas Miracle, it has failed repeated demands to harden the grid to withstand extreme weather events.  ERCOT is largely independent of any other power sharing agreements, so when power goes down in Texas, it cannot get capacity from other sources, as other states often do in power sharing agreements.  The conclusion we draw is that unusual weather events have become "usual" and grids must be made resilient to climate disruption.

There are a billion people in the world who use less electricity in a year than an average American refrigerator.  There is another billion who have no electricity at all.  Robert Bryce is a journalist, film-maker, energy analyst.  He is the author of six books and the host of the podcast Power Hungry.  His latest book, A Question of Power: Electricity and he Wealth of Nations has become the documentary Juice: How Electricity Explains the World.  He has documented, first-hand, how the lack of electricity creates poverty, and how women and girls suffer the most from this global inequality.

The US Senate has reached a power-sharing agreement which puts Democrats as the chairs of the Senate committees.  Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D), New York, took to the floor of the Senate and said that all relevant committees will focus on climate change in all of its dimensions.  What does this mean for the future of climate change legislation.  Joseph Robertson analyzes the developments.

Dr. Hayhoe is the principal author of the Nation's Fourth Climate Assessment.  She stood her ground against the anti-science forces of the past Trump Administration.
She was named one of Time Magazine's 100 "Most Influential People."   She is an expert on science and climate change communication.  Much of how she thinks about climate change is based in her Christian faith.  Her care and concern for the planet is not only science based, but informed by scripture: to care for God's creation as a steward and to car for "the least of them," who will suffer more from climate change than wealthier people and places.  We hope you find Dr. Hayhoe as illuminating as we did hosting her.

President Joseph Biden spent his first day following his inauguration writing 17 Executive Orders overturning many of Former President Donald Trump's anit-environment, anti-science dictates for the country.  In this News Brief #2 we deal with only one, the rejoining of the Paris Agreement and role of the US on the world stage combating climate change.  Analysis provided by Joseph Robertson.