In the heart of Louisiana, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, more than 150 petrochemical plants spew huge amounts of carbon into our atmosphere—and into the communities they occupy. In this episode, Ryan and Anjali talk to a community organizer whose own sickness inspired her to take action and fight back against these harmful industries, and break down the dark history behind these plants and the communities they target. They also chat with the executive director of Michael Bloomberg’s Beyond Petrochemical campaign, which supports communities as they fight against plastic pollution and work to take down petrochemical plants that threaten the health and safety of their citizens.

This is the last episode of this season of Speed & Scale!

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Food production makes up about 12% of our global emissions—that comes not only from the kinds of food we eat (like beef, which is one of the highest-emission foods you can eat), but how we grow and make it. The city of Copenhagen set an ambitious goal to reduce emissions from all its public kitchens by 25% by this year, 2025—but can they pull it off? Ryan and Anjali investigate Copenhagen’s strategies, from stepping up school menus to tackling food waste, and answer the most important question of all: can sustainable food actually taste good?

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The aviation industry is responsible for 3.5% of the world’s carbon emissions. That may seem like a small number globally, but this is a big problem in the developed world—and a stubborn one to solve. In this episode, Ryan and Anjali take a look at how Hawaii—a state whose aviation produces half of all transportation emissions—is working to clean up their airways and reach their goal of zero emissions by 2045. They consult experts to learn about the three main problems to focus on, what we can learn from Europe’s strategy to tackle this issue, and the steps available right now to pilots, passengers, and governments to shrink the carbon footprint of flying.

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Did you know that cows emit methane when they burp? Livestock account for over 12% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but farmers and scientists have discovered a superfood that might be the key to lower emissions—and raise healthier cows. In this episode, Ryan and Anjali investigate the mystery of Asparagopsis, a seaweed variety that removes methane from the guts of the animals who eat it. The catch? There are only nine licensed growers in the world. Ryan and Anjali are joined by three experts to talk about the science behind this amazing plant, the benefits we’re already seeing from the animals who eat it, and the next steps for scaling up its use by farmers around the world. 

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Even if we do everything we need to do to limit our carbon emissions—curb deforestation, stop driving so many miles, clean up our power grids—we still need to remove gigatons of carbon from our atmosphere to meet our climate goals. Carbon removal is still a new technology, and while carbon removal companies removed roughly 35,000 tons of carbon last year, we have a long way to go. Luckily, there are people working on creative ways to raise the capital needed for development of this crucial tech. Ryan and Anjali chat with Nan Ransohoff, Head of Climate at the online payment company Stripe, and learn about her efforts to invest in carbon removal, and encouraging other big companies to remove 10 million gigatons of carbon each year by 2050.

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How much time do you spend commuting to and from work in your car? And do you drive alone? In the US, the transportation sector emits more carbon pollution than any other sector—but in 1991, Washington State decided to take matters into their own hands. In this episode, Ryan and Anjali talk to Brian Lagerberg, who worked on the state’s commuter trip reduction plan: a policy that required employers to provide their employees with alternative ways to get to work. Together, they unpack the factors that led to the plan’s success and discuss how other cities and states can promote the same practices that make Washington the carpool state, and the kind of model that others can follow.

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Ten years ago, Indonesia’s forests were being decimated due to a big spike in palm oil production…until two Girl Scouts decided to get involved. Anjali and Ryan uncover the story behind Indonesia's dramatic reduction in deforestation. From grassroots activism to corporate boardrooms, this episode explores the delicate balance of pressuring companies, influencing governments, and empowering local communities to protect our forests. Discover how a blend of smart policies and market forces can create lasting change, and learn why the fight against deforestation is a global game of whack-a-mole we can't afford to lose.

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Did you know the UK just closed its last coal plant? Hooray! But after taking a moment to celebrate, Ryan and Anjali reflect on what to do about natural gas – a fossil fuel that the UK isn’t replacing fast enough to meet its climate goals. Fortunately, there are some really smart people coming up with bold solutions. They dive into Amol Phadke's groundbreaking idea to repurpose existing plants – a kind of "Airbnb for the grid" approach that could double transmission capacity, save billions, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

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This is the surprising story of how Texas – rich in oil and gas – became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush’s right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innovative approach that turned Texas into a renewable energy powerhouse. It’s a story about what could get done before partisan politics got in the way of good climate policy, and it shows that economic incentives for consumers, government, and companies can play a huge role in supercharging clean energy.

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This is an episode of a podcast we think you'll love, Climate One. A third of Americans say that they've skipped food, medicine, or something else to be able to afford their energy bills. Much of the increase in the cost of electricity is driven by rising demand from artificial intelligence and data centers, industrial on shoring and hotter temperatures.

How does your electricity bill get calculated, and who’s in charge of setting those rates? Does public power serve consumers better than investor-owned utilities? And will rising electricity prices dampen the transition to cleaner sources of energy?

Guests:

Shelley Welton, Professor of Law and Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania

Severin Borenstein, Professor, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley

Kevin Miller, Reporter, Maine Public Radio

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