A rarely-invoked committee colloquially known as the “God Squad” met in late March and unanimously voted to exempt oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico from environmental safeguards put in place by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA is widely recognized as one of the most effective conservation laws in the United States, having prevented extinction of 99% of protected species since 1973.

The God Squad invoked national security to remove protections for critically endangered species including the Rice’s whale, sea turtles, and other marine wildlife—setting a dangerous precedent and putting the fate of countless threatened and endangered species at risk. 

On this episode of Terra Verde, host Fiona McLeod speaks with Michael Jasny, Director of Marine Mammal Protection at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Noah Greenwald, Endangered Species Codirector at the Center for Biological Diversity. They talk about the history of the Endangered Species Act and the challenges it has faced over time, as well as how the God Squad’s recent decision—which both NRDC and the Center for Biological Diversity are fighting in court—could be catastrophic. 

Photo: A Rice’s whale in the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Ocean Alliance (Permit # 21938)

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As the Colorado River Basin faces historic drought, shrinking reservoirs, and intensifying climate pressures, new research reveals a striking reality: Some of the largest water users in the West pay little to nothing for their supply. In this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton speaks with Isabel Friedman, a senior advocacy associate with the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Noah Garrison, the Environmental Science Practicum Director at of University of California, Los Angeles’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability about their report, Free Water While It Lasts: An Analysis of Wholesale Water Pricing in the Lower Colorado River Basin States.

Drawing on decades of policy and pricing data, Friedman and Garrison unpack how longstanding decisions about water allocation and cost have shaped today’s crisis. They explore stark disparities between agricultural and urban water pricing, why artificially low costs can discourage conservation, and how these dynamics have contributed to the Colorado River’s declining storage levels. They also explore emerging proposals — including a potential surcharge on federally supplied water — and the political deadlock states face as they struggle to negotiate the river’s future. As California and the broader region confront deepening water scarcity, this episode asks: What would it take to align water pricing with the realities of a changing climate?

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Flower have much to offer. They bring us joy and beauty. They improve ecosystem health and boost food production. And they play an important role in many cultural practices and in celebrations of love and life.

The global flower industry, however, has a heavy footprint. The vast majority of farmed flowers are sprayed with synthetic pesticides, which harm pollinators and increase serious health risks for farm workers and florists. The average flower sold in the United States has been transported thousands of miles, at great cost to the climate. Not to mention that plastic use in the industry is widespread.

Locally, ethically grown flowers offer an alternative, and the movement for “slow flowers” has gained traction in recent years. In the Bay Area, that’s in no small part due to the hard work and advocacy of local business owners, including today’s two guests: Pilar Zuniga, the owner and lead designer at Gorgeous and Green and the Sustainable Flower School in Oakland, and Joanna Letz, the founder and owner-operator of Bluma Farm, which was formerly located in Berkeley. They join Terra Verde host Zoe Loftus-Farren to discuss the current state of the flower industry and what they see as the path forward.

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

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

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On Saturday, March 14, using the pretext of the war on Iran and spiking fuel prices, the Trump administration allowed Sable Offshore Corp. to restart the controversial Santa Ynez offshore oil platform and pipeline along the Santa Barbara County coast. The pipeline has been shut down since 2015, when a rupture caused by external corrosion caused a massive 142,000-gallon spill at Refugio State Beach and sent some 21,000 gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean. The move has led to a showdown of sorts that’s pitting Sable and the Trump administration against local environmental groups and authorities in Santa Barbara and the State of California.

To shed light on this developing situation and the broader ramifications of the Trump administration ramping up extraction and use of fossil fuels,Terra Verde co-host and Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief, Maureen Nandini Mitra, talks with Talia Nimmer, an attorney with the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity, and Collin Rees, US Program Manager at Oil Change International.

Take Action: Tell the US Department of Transportation not to waive California’s safety requirements for Sable’s pipeline.

The post Showdown Over Sable Restarting Oil Pipeline in Santa Barbara appeared first on KPFA.

The National Parks Service has lost nearly a quarter of its permanent employees since Trump took office last year, and drastic budget cuts have significantly impacted the agency’s ability to carry out educational programming, maintenance, and vital emergency services within the parks.

On this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Fiona McLeod speaks with Christine Lehnertz, President and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy about how the current picture of funding and management of public lands is impacting parks in the Bay Area and beyond. They discuss the crucial role that nonprofit partners can play in supporting our beloved national parks and conservation areas in the face of limited federal funding — as well as the gaps they can’t step in to fill. 

Learn more about the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy’s work with national parks in the Bay Area here.

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

The post Terra Verde – March 6, 2026 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 – February 27, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

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

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