The Panama Canal suffered severe droughts in 2023 and 2024. Lower water levels disrupted vital US commercial trade routes for liquefied natural gas and other products. The canal's disabled state opens an opportunity for China, which is investing in infrastructure throughout Latin America, causing concern in Washington. With weather patterns changing, is the canal doomed? In this episode, host Monica de Bolle asks David A. Gantz (Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University) whether anything can be done to save the canal. There are alternatives being explored—some of them surprising, expensive, and potentially realistic. If the United States is to combat Chinese influence in Latin America, he argues, investing in the Panama Canal is a vital and urgent priority.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode transcript [PDF]

Learn more about David A. Gantz.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Is it possible to pursue climate efforts, create jobs, and achieve social justice at the same time? That was the challenge that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was designed to meet. Ben Beachy (Global Fund for a New Economy), an architect of the Act, joins Monica de Bolle (PIIE) to explain the accomplishments and disappointments experienced by the Biden administration over one of its signature efforts, and policy strategies for the future in the wake of legislative rollbacks.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode transcript PDF.

Learn more about Ben Beachy.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Ukraine has been defending itself from Russia's attack for more than three years, forcing it to struggle with a wartime economy. Negotiations to end the fighting have gone nowhere, but it is not too early to think about a resolution at some point. How will Ukraine rebuild if the countries reach a ceasefire? Elina Ribakova (PIIE) joins to discuss how Ukraine could pivot to a reconstruction with a green transition, taking advantage of its critical minerals while aiding Europe's efforts on defense spending.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode transcript [PDF]

Learn more about Elina Ribakova.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

In the age of the Internet, artificial intelligence, social media, and instant access to knowledge, disinformation has become a challenge in public discourse on climate change. Naomi Oreskes (Harvard University) joins to discuss how attacks on climate science contribute to polarization, the demonization of science, and how to combat these trends.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode's transcript [PDF]

Mentioned in the episode: Naomi's latest book, The Big Myth.

Learn more about Naomi Oreskes.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Access to water, a vital necessity for every walk of life, is increasingly jeopardized by the malign effects of climate change, from pollution to melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, and droughts. Finding science-based solutions is only a first step to protect humanity from water scarcity. Aaron Salzberg (consultant, formerly at the US Department of State) joins to talk about how declining water supplies are disrupting livelihoods–from displacing populations to interrupting trade routes–and how science must be mobilized by global organizations to mitigate a potentially looming crisis.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode's transcript [PDF]

Learn more about Aaron Salzberg.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

India's poverty and tropical heat pose extraordinary challenges as its population faces rising temperatures, less rainfall, and torrid weather. But India is also uniquely positioned to deal with global warming internally, providing lessons for countries around the world. Arvind Subramanian (PIIE) joins to discuss the steps that India can take to tackle climate change and provide lessons for the world.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode transcript [PDF]

Learn more about Arvind Subramanian.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Telling stories about the challenges of climate change has never been harder. The world is beset by other problems as the newscycle churns from crisis to crisis. Communicating the urgency of dealing with climate needs fresh approaches. Dan McDougall (Documentarian) joins to tell us about the climate storytelling crisis, how to engage audiences, and how to better frame stories for policymakers.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode's transcript [PDF]

Learn more about Dan McDougall.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Read about Dan's mentions: Greenland's glacier melting and climate change and mental health data.

An outbreak of bird flu in the United States and Canada is ravaging chicken flocks and driving up egg prices. What's causing the spread? Dr. Shayan Sharif (University of Guelph) joins to explain how climate change is affecting migratory birds and leading to more cases of bird flu globally.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode transcript [PDF]

Learn more about Shayan Sharif.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Climate change is jeopardizing the future survival of millions of different kinds of seeds needed by growers to meet global food demands.

Cary Fowler (Svalbard Global Seed Vault; former Department of State), a founder of the little-known Svalbard Global Seed Vault, where millions of seeds are conserved inside a mountain in Norway, explains why drastic steps are needed to preserve biodiversity and meet future food security challenges.

This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Download the episode transcript [PDF]

Learn more about Cary Fowler and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

The current political establishment's opposition to climate change incentives makes it easy to assume businesses are going along. But that's far from the case. Kristina Costa (formerly at the White House and Department of State) joins to discuss the status of the Inflation Reduction Act enacted under President Biden, renewable energy, and how IRA's new incentives that pushed the renewable agenda are not dead.

Download the episode transcript [PDF]

Learn more about Kristina Costa.

Learn more about Monica de Bolle.