Operation Climate

Being a sustainable consumer is hard. What's with all these products claiming to be "all natural" and "100% sustainable"? Who do we even believe? With sustainability being a more important factor that consumers take into consideration when shopping, companies are engaging in greenwashing. In 2007, Terrachoice published a report titled "The Six Sins of Greenwashing", in which Scot Case was a lead author. The six sins are as follows:

1) The Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off -- cool, this product uses recycled content! oh wait, the manufacturing process isn't that energy efficient... the marketing of this product only talks about the recycled content it uses, which paints a misleading picture.

2) The Sin of No Proof -- companies can't claim that their product is "emissions-free" without any proof!

3) The Sin of Vagueness -- what exactly does "environmentally friendly" mean? without anything to back that claim up, it really means nothing.

4) The Sin of Irrelevance -- a CFC-free product! That would be cool, except it's irrelevant because CFCs have been banned for over 30 years already.

5) The Sin of Less of Two Evils -- marketing a product as "green", but distracting the consumer from the greater environmental impacts of the product as a whole (eg. reduced methane beef, organic tobacco, etc.)

6) Sin of Fibbing -- this is companies just straight up lying about their sustainability practices. not cool.

Scot Case is vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at the National Retail Federation. In this role, he leads NRF’s Sustainability Council and supports retailer efforts to use their businesses to make the world a better place for everyone.

Case has focused on the intersection of business, environmental and social concerns since the mid-1990s. Throughout Case’s career as a strategist, consultant and sustainability expert, he has worked with organizations including the White House, World Bank, Walmart, McDonald’s, Johnson & Johnson, Disney, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and federal, state and local governments around the world. 

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Guest: Scot Case

Hosts/Reporters: Grace Zhang, Eppy Camacho

Audio Editor: Katherine Li

Music: Cali by Wataboi, u said it by Wataboi

To amplify COP26, we've teamed up with the UN Foundation and the Innovating for Social Impact class at Duke University to bring you a special episode all about bringing climate change to the center of attention and combatting climate misinformation through having impactful conversations. Why do we need to talk about climate change? How do we go about having those conversations? How can we combat climate misinformation?

Our guest, Devin Domeyer, is a climate scientist and Community Management Consultant at the United Nations Foundation. With the UN, Devin works on Say It With Science, an initiative that equips young climate champions everywhere with the knowledge and tools they need to drive their activism and combat misinformation. In Devin's words, "All the solutions we hope to advance to protect our shared future are because of science. It’s never been more important to combat misinformation and agree on the facts, so we can work together to find the best solutions. It’s time to #SayItWithScience." Devin is also currently pursuing a Masters in Environmental Management at Duke University.

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team and for a full transcript of this episode! https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

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Guest: Devin Domeyer

Host & Producer: Katherine Li

Reporters: Meltem Donmez, Nikhita Gopisetty, Chloe Nguyen (in collaboration with Danielle Zapotoczny's "Innovating for Social Impact" class at Duke University)

Audio Editor: Katherine Li

Music: Cali by Wataboi, what you thinkin by Wataboi

In the Season 4 finale of Operation Climate, we continue our deep dive into Duke Energy, a company that controls much of the energy that we use at Duke University. How much power does Duke Energy really have? How can we make sure that they commit to a clean energy shift?

Jillian Riley has been an environmental justice activist for over a decade. Some of her activism efforts include leading protests against Duke Energy to get them to clean up their coal ash waste (a case in which she and her fellow activists won!).

Randy Wheeless works in media relations for Duke Energy, one of the largest electric and natural gas companies in the US.

Duke Energy’s Integrated Resource PLan (IRP): https://www.duke-energy.com/Our-Company/About-Us/IRP

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team and for a full transcript of this episode! https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

Follow us on Instagram at @operationclimate!

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To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Jillian Riley and William Powers

Hosts: Rishab Jagetia and Clare Sparling

Producers: Rishab Jagetia, Clare Sparling, Ryan Lou

Audio Editor: Clare Sparling

Music: Cali by Wataboi, what you thinkin by Wataboi

In this episode, we explore Duke Energy’s carbon neutrality plan and whether they are on the right path with experts William Powers and Randy Willis weighing in with their differing views on the topic.

William Powers is an engineering consultant with over 30 years of experience in electric power generation. In his career, he has advised state and federal governments, nonprofits such as NC WARN, and institutions like Duke University. He is based in San Diego, California.

Randy Wheeless works in media relations for Duke Energy, one of the largest electric and natural gas companies in the US.

Duke Energy’s Integrated Resource PLan (IRP): https://www.duke-energy.com/Our-Company/About-Us/IRP

William Power’s Review of Duke Energy’s 2021 IRP: https://starw1.ncuc.net/NCUC/ViewFile.aspx?Id=9ae4a34d-d374-4146-bcf5-278fbe03e12a

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team and for a full transcript of this episode! https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

Follow us on Instagram at @operationclimate!

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To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Randy Willis and William Powers 

Hosts: Rishab Jagetia and Ryan Lou

Producers: Rishab Jagetia, Ryan Lou, and Clare Sparling 

Audio Editor: Clare Sparling 

Music: Cali by Wataboi, what you thinkin by Wataboi 

Stefan Schäfer is a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies at Potsdam, Germany. He also holds fellowships at Harvard University and Oxford University. His research draws on approaches from Science and Technology Studies to develop new questions about the intersection of democratic politics, sustainability science, and global governance.

In this episode, we'll be discussing the highlights of the Paris Agreement, its shortcomings, and how we can get the world to commit to ambitious climate targets.

Note: The Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 and ratified in 2016!

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team and for a full transcript of this episode! https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

Follow us on Instagram at @operationclimate!

Follow us on Twitter at @opclimate!

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To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

Guest: Dr. Stefan Schäfer

Hosts: Matthew Brune, Georgie Stammer

Producers: Aimi Wen, Matthew Brune, Georgie Stammer, Emily Nagamoto

Audio Engineers: Aimi Wen, Emily Nagamoto

Shannon "Parker" Parker is a young sustainability professional focused on supply chain sustainability and environmental entrepreneurship. She is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of carbIN, a carbon accounting tool that translates spending behavior into a carbon footprint score and provides best courses of action for carbon footprint reduction. She is also completing her dual-degree Master of Environmental Management and MBA at Duke University.

In this episode, we'll be discussing the role of businesses and corporations in the climate crisis, keeping corporations accountable, and whether carbon accounting is a way to do that.

Check out carbIN here: https://www.carboninsights.co/

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team and for a full transcript of this episode! https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

Follow us on Instagram at @operationclimate!

Follow us on Twitter at @opclimate!

Subscribe to us on Youtube!

To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

Guest: Shannon Parker

Hosts: Katherine Li and Clare Sparling

Producers: Katherine Li and Clare Sparling

Audio Engineer: Clare Sparling

Music: Cali by Wataboi, Awakening by Wataboi

Adam Met is the A in AJR, the Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Partners Inc., host of Planet Reimagined podcast, and a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham, where he is studying the intersection of sustainability and human rights. With more than 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Adam uses his platform to advocate for excitement, positivity, and action in the climate movement.

In this episode, we'll be delving into how the music industry impacts climate change, from touring to music streams to artists' followings. What can you do to help ?

Check out AJR here: https://ajrbrothers.com/

Check out Sustainable Partners here: https://www.sustainablepartnersinc.org/

Listen to Adam's Planet Reimagined podcast here! For every subscriber, they plant a tree! https://www.sustainablepartnersinc.org/planet-reimagined

Visit our website to keep up with the OC team and for a full transcript of this episode! https://operationclimatepo.wixsite.com/operationclimate

Follow us on Instagram at @operationclimate! 

To contact us, DM us on Instagram or email us at [email protected]!

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Guest: Adam Met

Hosts: Katherine Li and Georgie Stammer

Producers: Katherine Li, Georgie Stammer, Emily Nagamoto

Audio Editor: Emily Nagamoto

Music: Cali by Wataboi, Way Less Sad by AJR, Netflix Trip by AJR, Bummerland by AJR

Dr. Drew Shindell is a faculty member at the Nicholas School of the Environment and at Tel Aviv University. His area of interest is focused broadly on the societal impact of climate change and action needed against climate change, including the link to air pollution. He has testified in front of Congress and has helped lead two IPCC reports.

In this episode, we cover an overview of international climate relations and the international political steps we need to reach carbon neutrality.

Climate simulators:

EnRoads Simulator from Climate Interactive: https://en-roads.climateinteractive.org/scenario.html?v=21.6.0

Climate Time Machine from NASA: https://climate.nasa.gov/interactives/climate-time-machine/

Energy Policy Solutions from Energy Innovation: https://us.energypolicy.solutions/scenarios/home

Guest: Dr. Drew Shindell

Hosts: Emily Nagamoto and Matthew Brune

Producers: Aimi Wen, Emily Nagamoto, Matthew Brune

Audio Editor: Aimi Wen

Music: Cali by Wataboi, What U Thinkin by Wataboi

Visit our website at bit.ly/operationclimatepodcast for a full transcript of this episode and to learn more about how to get involved with Operation Climate! Follow us on Instagram at @operationclimate for breakdowns of climate topics, the latest climate news, and updates from the OC team!

Jillian Johnson is the Mayor Pro Tempore of the City of Durham, and a long-time community organizer and activist. She was first elected to the Durham City Council in 2015 on a platform of racial, economic, and environmental justice, police accountability, equitable development, broadening democracy, and centering the voices of those who are most impacted by the issues facing Durham.

In this episode, we talk about the role of local politics in the fight against the climate crisis. How do we navigate policy barriers, community engagement, and connecting climate policy to people?

Check out the Durham Sustainability Dashboard here: https://durhamnc.gov/3852/Sustainability-Dashboard

Visit our website to learn more about Operation Climate and for a full transcript of this episode!

Follow us on Instagram @operationclimate!

GUEST: Jillian Johnson

HOSTS: Rishab Jagetia, Ryan Lou

PRODUCERS: Rishab Jagetia, Ryan Lou, Valerie Tsao, Clare Sparling, Katherine Li

AUDIO EDITOR: Katherine Li

MUSIC: Cali by Wataboi, u said it by Wataboi

Rebecca Hoeffler is the Communications Coordinator for Sustainable Duke, whose mission is to educate and empower the Duke community to create a more sustainable future. She works with student groups and employee workshops to further this mission.

In this episode, we get the details of Duke's 2024 Climate Action Plan. Plus, how do the impacts of individual vs. institutional change differ? And how can students contribute to this goal of carbon neutrality?

Visit our website to learn more about Operation Climate and for a full transcript of this episode!

Follow us on Instagram @operationclimate!

CREDITS:

Guest: Rebecca Hoeffler

Hosts: Valerie Tsao, Rishab Jagetia

Producers: Valerie Tsao, Rishab Jagetia, Ryan Lou, Jessie Goldblatt, Olivia Fox

Music: Cali by Wataboi