Political Climate

By Political ClimateBusiness News Politics

Political Climate episodes

February 10, 2022Senator Padilla on Climate, Equity & Partisanship
Senator Alex Padilla recently wrapped up his first year in the U.S. Senate as the first Latino to represent the state of California. It's been an eventful year, to put it mildly.
On this episode of Political Climate, Sen. Padilla sits down with Julia, Brandon and Shane to discuss energy equity, infrastructure, prospects for the Build Back Better bill, and the future of political discourse in the U.S.
The senator outlines legislation he introduced to help address the growing threat from wildfires in the West and his work to expand domestic U.S. production of cleantech mineral resources. Plus, he shares his outlook on voting rights legislation, filibuster reform and the upcoming midterm election.
When it comes to addressing top Democratic priorities, the Sen. Padilla's message: "We're not giving up that easily."
Recommended reading:
Padilla Bill to Improve Federal Wildfire Response Gains Momentum in the Senate
Times of San Diego: California Senators Seek to Expand Federal Authority Over Threatened Salton Sea
PV Magazine: Ossoff bill would address rooftop solar’s cost burden on LMI people

Political Climate is brought to you by Fischtank PR. From PR and digital marketing to content writing, the team at FischTank helps you develop a strategy for bringing your work not only to wider audiences, but to the right audience. To learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and services, visit fischtankpr.com
Political Climate is also brought to you by MCE. Today, MCE offers nearly 40 Bay Area communities almost twice as much renewable energy as the state average. The power of MCE is about more than clean energy — it’s the power of people over profit. Learn more at mceCleanEnergy.org
31 min
January 27, 2022Biden's Climate Record, One Year In
President Joe Biden campaigned for the White House on a number key climate promises. When he officially took office, hopes were high that bold climate action would be at the center of the Biden policy platform. One year later, where does his record stand? On this episode of Political Climate, our hosts look at what the Biden administration has achieved during the president’s first year in office.
Of course, a big component of President Biden’s climate agenda is still in limbo. The Build Back Better Act would devote $555 billion to clean energy and climate measures, along with a suite of social programs. Prospects for passing the full bill in the Senate were quashed late last year. But now there’s talk of moving some provisions forward in a trimmed down version of BBB, one that could get the 50 Democrat votes needed to pass.
To kick off the show, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton evaluate the odds of a climate focused Build Back Better Act making it across the finish line.
Recommended reading:
Politico: The climate kinks in BBB
White House: President Biden Signs Executive Order Catalyzing America’s Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability
Nature: Has Biden followed the science? What researchers say
Canary Media: How the infrastructure bill will fight climate change and advance clean energy
Grist: Executive Reaction: Biden vowed to undo Trump’s toxic legacy. We’re tracking his progress.

Political Climate is brought to you by Fischtank PR. From PR and digital marketing to content writing, the team at FischTank helps you develop a strategy for bringing your work not only to wider audiences, but to the right audience. To learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and services, visit fischtankpr.com
Political Climate is also brought to you by MCE. Today, MCE offers nearly 40 Bay Area communities almost twice as much renewable energy as the state average. The power of MCE is about more than clean energy — it’s the power of people over profit. Learn more at mceCleanEnergy.org
46 min
January 13, 2022Unpacking Newsom’s Bold $22B Climate Plan in the California Budget
California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed spending $22.5 billion on tackling the climate crisis this week, as part of his $286.4 billion budget proposal. The so-called California Blueprint includes funding for everything from electric buses and building retrofits to support services for firefighters.
As other states have stepped up on climate, some have accused California of falling behind. Could Newsom's plan reclaim the Golden State's title as climate change leader?
On this episode, we discuss the climate and clean energy provisions in Newsom's budget proposal with Lauren Sanchez, the governor's Senior Advisor for Climate and former advisor to the Biden-Harris administration.
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
Recommended reading:
LA Times: COVID-19, children, climate change are focal points in Newsom’s budget plan
Sacramento Bee: Gavin Newsom seeks to reclaim California’s status as climate change leader in his budget
CNBC: California’s blueprint budget has $6.1 billion for electric vehicle initiatives
Canary Media: California’s Gov. Newsom says ‘changes need to be made’ to the state’s polarizing net-metering proposal

Political Climate is brought to you by Fischtank PR. From PR and digital marketing to content writing, the team at FischTank helps you develop a strategy of bringing your work to not only wider audiences, but the right audience. To learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and services, visit fischtankpr.com
Political Climate is also brought to you by MCE. Today, MCE offers nearly 40 Bay Area communities almost twice the amount of renewable energy compared to the state average. The power of MCE is about more than clean energy — it’s the power of people over profit. Learn more at mceCleanEnergy.org
39 min
January 06, 2022How States Powered Climate Policy in 2021
2021 was a productive year for climate policy – particularly for U.S. states. Both red and blue states passed ambitious climate bills last year. Several of the new laws address emissions from multiple sectors of the economy, include strong labor provisions and center environmental justice in meaningful ways.
In the first Political Climate episode of 2022, we look at some of the biggest political wins of 2021 that took place around the country. From Oregon and Illinois joining the party on 100% emissions-free electricity, to a wide-ranging cap-and-trade bill in Washington and a net zero goal in North Carolina, there was no shortage of action.
Host Julia Pyper speaks with Canary Media’s Jeff St. John about key elements of these new state policies, how they came to pass, and why they’re so significant.
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
Recommended reading:
Canary Media: The top 6 ambitious state climate laws passed in 2021
Political Climate: Winning political messages with David Roberts
Canary Media: Washington state now has the nation’s most ambitious climate policy
Canary Media: Illinois’ new climate bill is ambitious, justice-focused and a model for the nation

Political Climate is brought to you by Fischtank PR. From PR and digital marketing to content writing, the team at FischTank helps you develop a strategy of bringing your work to not only wider audiences, but the right audience. To learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and services, visit fischtankpr.com
Political Climate is also brought to you by MCE. Today, MCE offers nearly 40 Bay Area communities almost twice the amount of renewable energy compared to the state average. The power of MCE is about more than clean energy — it’s the power of people over profit. Learn more at mceCleanEnergy.org
40 min
December 23, 2021Build Back Never? And Tackling Methane Emissions
Is Build Back Better really dead? Could the climate and clean energy provisions live on? Political Climate weighs in on the timely issue of Senator Manchin’s “no” on President Biden’s marquee legislation. Plus, Brandon, Shane and Julia share some 2022 predictions.
In the second half of the show we look at the troubling rise in global methane emissions. Methane is 80 times more potent as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide, and is responsible for roughly one-quarter of the climate warming we see today. Recognizing the scope and scale of the issue, the United States and European Union recently spearheaded a Global Methane Pledge at COP26, which has been signed by around 100 countries. In addition, the U.S. EPA has proposed new rules to tackle methane leaks from oil and gas production.
To round out the episode, we speak to Sarah Smith, program director of super pollutants at the Clean Air Task Force, about why methane emissions are such a big problem and what’s being done to address it.
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
P.S. All we want for Christmas are your Apple Podcast reviews! If you have a moment over the holidays, we’d love to get your feedback. Your ratings help us grow and if there’s a topic you’d like the podcast to cover, please let us know!
Recommended reading:
NYT: What the Stalled Build Back Better Bill Means for Climate, in One Chart
Canary Media: The US oil patch is the Wild West. We need regulation to control the sector’s methane emissions
CNN: Biden announces new methane rules and launches global pledge to slash planet-warming emissions
52 min
December 09, 2021Amy Harder on Trends and Challenges in Getting to Net Zero
The clean energy transition is accelerating — but progress isn’t always smooth.
The global energy crisis and related price spikes have raised some difficult political questions around the push for decarbonization. At the same time, local opposition to clean energy projects threatens to undermine meeting national net zero goals. Similarly, complexities around accessing materials needed to make cleantech solutions threaten to disrupt the sector.
These are the kinds of tough issues that longtime climate and energy journalist Amy Harder is used to covering — and continues to cover in her role as executive editor at Cipher, a recently-launched news publication backed by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy. In this episode, podcast host Julia Pyper, with co-hosts Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton of policy firm Boundary Stone Partners, speak to Amy about some of the latest trends and challenges in the race to net zero emissions.
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts. Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
Recommended reading:
Cipher: What’s really driving the energy crisis and how cleantech fits in
Cipher: U.S. climate and energy laws push rest of world, IEA chief says
Cipher: What happened in Main matters in Glasgow
42 min
November 24, 202110 Climate Stats You Need for Holiday Season
As we enter the holiday season, our hosts run through 10 powerful stats that will help you navigate the inevitable question from a curious family member: “So, what’s going on with the climate?”
As a listener of this podcast, you are probably no stranger to these conversations with loved ones. But this year in particular — amid more in-person visits and a slew of recent headlines on climate policy, climate impacts, and global climate summits — there is a lot of catching up to do. These stats will equip you with the content you need to deliver a brief climate keynote address over the third helping of potatoes.
To kick things off, we catch up on the big ticket items in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and what’s next for the Build Back Better Act, which together could be the most significant pieces of American climate legislation passed in our lifetimes. (And that’s a good thing, should your aunt ask).
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
Recommended reading:
White House: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Fact Sheet
Princeton University's REPEAT Project
Canary Media: The vast majority of Americans love solar and wind power
E2: Clean Jobs America
IHS: Corporate US renewable procurement outlook
IEA: COP26 climate pledges could help limit global warming to 1.8 °C
BBC: How China shapes the world's coal
Inside EVs: Global Plug-In Car Sales Doubled To A New Record, September 2021
California Solar and Storage Association: An S.O.S. In The Sand – Governor: More Solar, Not Oil
Ars Technica: Natural gas customers in Texas get stuck with $3.4 billion cold-snap surcharge
40 min
November 12, 2021COP26: Mobilizing Trillions in Climate Finance
Climate finance has been center stage at COP26. Meeting the globe’s climate goals will require mobilizing trillions of public and private dollars. So what exactly does that look like?
During the first week of the UN climate summit, 450 financial institutions with $130 trillion in assets under management pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The announcement from the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) led by UN Special Envoy Mark Carney represents a massive commitment to shift funds out of fossil fuels and into creating sustainable economies.
But will the promise live up to the hype? We break down the significance of this and other major finance pledges made at COP26 with Justin Guay, director for global climate strategy at the Sunrise Project.
Plus, a commitment from wealthy countries to spend $100 billion per year on helping poorer nations mitigate and adapt to climate change remains a sticking point in the global climate negotiations. But even if rich nations deliver more money in climate aid, many countries will see little benefit because they face enormous hurdles accessing the funds available.
In the second half of this episode we speak to Benjamin Bartle, project director with RMI's Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) about what it really takes to put these climate dollars to work.
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
Recommended reading:
Bloomberg: Carney Unveils $130 Trillion in Climate Finance Commitments
Scientific American: U.S. Agrees to End Fossil Fuel Financing Abroad
AP: UK sets net-zero plan for its financial sector
RMI: The Crisis of Climate Finance: “Access Means Survival"
48 min
October 28, 2021Is American Offshore Wind Becoming a Reality?
Where are the offshore wind projects in America? While turbines have become a familiar sight in states across the country, offshore wind is virtually non-existent.
Even with thousands of miles of coastline, the U.S. only has around 40 MW of offshore wind production, most of it from a single wind farm. This pales in comparison to other parts of the world, particularly Europe, which has more than 25 GW of offshore wind capacity from more than 100 offshore wind farms.
But the market landscape for offshore wind in the U.S. is poised to change dramatically, with industry and policy efforts aligning to finally access this untapped clean energy resource.
In this episode, we discuss this new frontier in the U.S. energy transition with Heather Zichal, Chief Executive Officer, of the American Clean Power Association.
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
Recommended reading:
Heather Zichal: Testimony House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Energy Subcommittee “Offshore Wind, Onshore Benefits: Growing the Domestic Wind Energy Industry”
USC Schwarzenegger Institute: California’s Offshore Wind Electricity Opportunity
Canary: Could the US lead the world in floating offshore wind?
Canary: California offshore wind could save billions and help prevent blackouts. What’s holding it back?
Axios: Biden plan expected to include at least $500B for climate
41 min
October 21, 2021David Roberts, Part 2: Winning Political Messages
Policy debates on Capitol Hill today fit into a bigger political picture. In Part 2 of this conversation with David Roberts, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Shane Skelton talk about political sentiments, campaign messaging, and things Democrats don’t want to hear — as well as asymmetry in the media landscape and its impact on electoral politics today.
Plus, David shares what he’s genuinely excited about when it comes to clean energy technology and how Illinois recently passed a big, bold climate bill that offers a new model for the nation. David Roberts is the founder and writer of the newsletter Volts, host of the podcast by the same name, and Editor-At-Large at Canary Media.
Check out Part 1 of this conversation on last week's episode. Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.
Recommended reading:
Canary: The unstoppably good news about clean energy
Canary: Illinois’ new climate bill is ambitious, justice-focused and a model for the nation
NYT: David Shor Is Telling Democrats What They Don’t Want to Hear
41 min

About Political Climate

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Political Climate delivers an insider’s view on the most pressing questions in energy and climate. Through biweekly analysis and debate, the podcast explores the nuances of how policy and politics are shaping the energy transition in the U.S. and around the world.