In his latest book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, veteran climate activist and author Bill McKibben makes a deeply-researched and passionate argument that the path out of our planetary crisis s lit by the sun. Additionally, he says, a massive, and rapid, pivot to solar power will come with some key co-benefits, including a chance to build a healthier and more just world. On this episode of Terra Verde, Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and show cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with McKibben about his new book, the opportunities for and roadblocks to the energy revolution that’s underway, and why he believes that “if you don’t put up a field of solar panels now the world will break.”

Note: Check out McKibben’s call for Sun Day celebrations on September 21 at sunday.earth.

The post To Avert Climate Chaos, Turn to the Sun appeared first on KPFA.

Here in the United States, most of us have a lot of stuff. We have things that we use everyday, and keep using for years, and others that we use a few times and then outgrow. We have books and magazines we’ve read but don’t want to discard, and junk drawers filled with trinkets that we don’t want to throw out, but aren’t quite sure what to do with.

What we do with all this stuff can have real implications for the environment. As the guests on this episode of Terra Verde can speak to, it can also make a difference when it comes to community building, arts, education, and more. Terra Verde co-host Zoe Loftus-Farren digs into the reuse economy with Lela Means, co-founder of Strange Exchange SF, which aims to extend the life of small household items, and Danielle Grant, programs director at Scrap SF, a nonprofit working at the intersection of art, the environment, and education.

The post Giving New Life to Old Stuff appeared first on KPFA.

In what advocates call the most significant rollback in decades, California has enacted sweeping changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a landmark environmental law that has shaped land-use decisions since 1970. These changes came as part of the 2025 state budget deal, with Governor Newsom signing state budget bills into law that exempt a wide range of developments from critical environmental review.

This week on Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton is joined by Raquel Mason, Senior Legislative Manager at the California Environmental Justice Alliance, and Asha Sharma, State Policy Manager at Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. Together, they unpack what CEQA is, how the new rollbacks were pushed through, and why these changes pose serious threats to environmental justice communities.

This conversation explores how framing CEQA as a “barrier to progress” overlooks the law’s vital protections for public health, transparency, and climate justice—and why advocates warn that California is veering toward dangerous deregulation just as federal safeguards are also under threat.

The post California Rolls Back Landmark Environmental Law appeared first on KPFA.

Researchers at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recently released a report documenting more than 400 attacks on science by the Trump administration in the first six months since his inauguration. Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and Terra Verde cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with two of the four coauthors of the report — Darya Minovi and Kristie Ellickson of UCS’ Center for Science and Democracy — about the insidious ways in which this administration is silencing the work and voices of scientists, and the implication of these attacks on the environment, public health, and our democracy.

The post Silencing Science appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally.

The post Terra Verde – July 25, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally.

The post Terra Verde – July 18, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

The Palisades and Eaton fires scorched more than 40,000 acres and destroyed at least 12,000 buildings, sending remnants of household appliances, batteries, flame retardant, debris and other chemicals into coastal waters. Scientists and advocates are racing to assess not only the immediate contamination and public safety risks but also the long-term ecological consequences that threaten biodiversity, fragile habitats, and the marine food chain.

On this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton speaks with Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay, and marine ecologist Dr. Zoë Kitchel about the challenges of post-fire water monitoring, the gaps in federal and state response, and the early warning signs of ecological disruption unfolding offshore. They unpack what we’re learning from this disaster—and what needs to change to better protect our oceans in the future.

The post After the Fires, Under the Waves appeared first on KPFA.

Berkeley is home to a number of innovative recycling and zero-waste programs that aim to divert waste from landfills. The city’s Recycling Team works with residents, restaurants, schools, hospitals and more, to provide education and support businesses to comply with local, state, and national mandates. 

Host and producer Fiona McLeod speaks with two members of Berkeley’s recycling team on this episode of Terra Verde. Julia Heath and Bella Bertaud join the show to discuss how the city is working with local businesses and residents to implement its Zero Waste Strategic Plan, and the role we can play as individuals in reducing landfill waste and living more sustainably.

The post Berkeley’s Path to Zero Waste appeared first on KPFA.

We are just entering summer and already some parts of the country are under heat advisories. The first heat wave of the season started last Friday, literally, on the first official day of summer and has been impacting about 128 million Americans from Louisiana to Maine. The US West, including California, hasn’t been impacted by this particular heatwave. But it’s only a matter of time. In fact, what you might not know is, extreme heat is now the leading climate-related health hazard in California. It claims more lives annually than any other climate threat.

To understand what this growing climate threat means, who is at most risk, and to learn about some actions we can take to protect ourselves, Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and Terra Verde cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with Bibiana Martinez, a public health researcher with Heluna Health, a California-based public health research organization that works to improve health equity, and Walker Wieland, manager of the California’s new CalHeatScore program, a pilot project that ranks risk from extreme heat by ZIP code and seeks to protect vulnerable populations from heatwaves.

Resources:

Use the CalHeatScore tool to check out heat conditions in your region and also join the program’s listserv to get notices of upcoming webinars and workshops on the issue.

Read this Heluna post to lear learn more about staying safe in the heat and identifying signs of heat illness.

The post Coping with Extreme Heat appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally.

The post Terra Verde – June 20, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.