The Climate Minute

By The Massachusetts Climate Action Network

What's The Climate Minute about?

The Climate Minute examines current news on global warming, climate change, renewable energy and the prospects for progress on international negotiations, carbon taxes and clean energy policy.

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The Climate Minute episodes:

04.17.2024
Demystifying decarbonization, Episode 2: The oil burner in the basement.
In the second of our series about the nitty-gritty of decarbonizing your home, we talk with a homeowner who had an oil burner in the basement.
04.11.2024
Are we doomed?
Does that creepy feeling you get from seeing strange weather foretell our doom? But what is "doom" and who are "we?" Plus updates on the Healy Admininstration's plans for coordinating climate planning.
04.03.2024
SOTU and eclipses
We try to make sense of the SOTU, decarbonization, eclipses and other timely climate topics.
03.27.2024
Energizing Community
Hearing about climate action from trusted leaders in a community is a good strategy for progress. The non-profit MassEnergize seeks to support that path, community by community. Listen in as we hear the details.
03.19.2024
An e-bike program in Worcester leads the way
Widespread use of electric bikes would be a great way to reduce carbon emissions and provide accessible transportation options to more people. A program in Worcester is helping the state of Massachusetts to learn more about how e-bikes can help...
03.14.2024
Demystifying Decarbonization Episode 1
Wherever you live, you are probably using fossil fuel to warm your dwelling, heat your water or cook your food. Doing that without emitting carbon dioxide pollution is called 'decarbonization.' Everyone's path to decarbonize is a little bit different, so...
03.06.2024
New perspectives after a trip to Uganda
A visit to Uganda provides a chance to consider climate issues from a bigger perspective.
02.15.2024
How to make polluters pay
Over the last few decades, large fossil fuel companies have profited while creating huge amounts of carbon dioxide pollution. A new Massachusetts bill would "Make Polluters Pay." If enacted, the money would pay for climate actions the state must take...
01.31.2024
Two Good Things
A pause in the permitting of a new LNG plant will probably have a lot of implications, and is good news for climate activists. New rules that will require hydrogen to be produced in a climate friendly way are another...
01.24.2024
Junctures and paths
The decisions we make today, in a time of dramatic change in our social and energy systems, will have lasting consequence. We touch on the ideas of "Critical Junctures" and "Path Dependence" as ways to understand and make sense of...
12.31.2023
What does it take to become a ClimateLeader Community?
Massachusetts is rolling out a new program to help communities eliminate carbon emissions. We talk to a local town official to learn the requirements and benefits of becoming a “Climate Leader Community.”
12.20.2023
Massachusetts to look at methane through a ’new lens’
The MA DPU issued a landmark decision that will define how we transition away from methane. It is a big win for climate advocates.
12.12.2023
Update on the COP28 in Dubai
COP28 (the Conference of the Parties) is finishing up in Dubai. There is a agreement on loss&damage, but a fossil fuel phaseout has been cut from the final draft. Will it get back in?
11.23.2023
News from New England
We discuss lots of different news stories and see connections to a new report from the MA climate chief.
11.16.2023
Can a new kind of global map help address climate issues?
A detailed, almost ‘3D’ map of the earth’s terrain created using special technology might help address climate issues. We talk to the leader of a startup that hopes to provide new data for these important questions.
11.08.2023
How to stop private jet expansion at Hanscom (or anywhere)
The expansion of private jet capabilities at Hanscom is being opposed by a grassroots coalition of activist groups. Listen to one of those activists describe the issues and what is being done. Political pressure on the Governor is needed. You...
11.01.2023
Should Hanscom accept more private jet traffic? A new report explains who is flying where.
In the first of two episodes, we hear about private jet traffic at Hanscom Field. Spoiler alert: it is mostly rich people taking relatively short (and consequently very carbon polluting) flights to vacation getaways. Should your state government (in the...
10.25.2023
Challenges and conundrums in making sense of climate
“Stopping climate change is easy,” said nobody ever. From nuisance lawsuits designed to stall wind turbines, to mis-alignments in state laws, to very real and impactful choices in Somerset we grapple with current issues in addressing global warming here in...
10.18.2023
SCOTUS takes aim at EPA as well as most of the rest of your government
The Supreme Court has decided to hear a case that could upend how government functions, and make it more difficult to address climate issues. We discuss that plus the proposed pipeline expansion in New England, as well as a cool...
10.05.2023
An update on windpower from TUE Chair Jeff Roy
We talk to State Representative Jeffrey Roy about Massachusett’s efforts to implement wind power. Jeff provides insights from his trip to Ireland his visit to the offshore wind turbine construction underway his efforts with legislation underway Along the way we find out about the...
09.27.2023
Voices from the March to End Fossil Fuels
The March to End Fossil Fuels occurred on September 17, 2023. We talk to the marchers and hear what it all sounded like.
09.20.2023
The best ideas to accelerate the green energy transition
In an era where we need to build green energy system rapidly, ‘permitting reform’ has become a confusing and divisive buzzword. In fact, the permitting process is not the source of delays in developing clean energy, nor should it be...
09.13.2023
From Leominster to your town
The weather has been wild this summer and the town of Leominster was struck with a massive rainfall and subsequent flooding this week. A warm-water-fueled Hurricane Lee is approaching New England. You may be wondering about how well your town...
09.07.2023
Strange weather, green amendments, and carbon offsets
Strange weather continues to drive our conversations this summer, but an encouraging court ruling and a dismaying move in Africa are also worth talking about. Check our showpage at massclimateactiondotorg/blog for the hot links.
08.30.2023
Why you should go to NYC on Sep 17 and how you can get there
The March to End Fossil Fuels will happen in NYC on September 17, days before the UN Climate Summit begins. You can catch a chartered bus to attend! Marchers want Joe Biden to stop permitting pipelines, stop drilling on Federal...
08.23.2023
Bill Sargent’s “Backstory”
We have a wide-ranging discussion with author Bill Sargent, based on his recent book about climate journalists. Listen in!
08.16.2023
From geo-engineering to bicycle riding
Changes in the smoke from ocean freighters starts us on a path to thinking about geo-engineering. Listen in.
08.09.2023
What is a green bank?
It will take money to make the energy transition happen, to finance all those good ideas floating around. One way to make that money available is through a ‘green bank’. But what is a green bank? We discuss with some...
08.03.2023
Bad things and good things
With climate disasters appearing in many directions, we review some of the hopeful things happening here in Massachusetts. Check our showpage at massclimateactiondotorg/blog for the hot links.
07.27.2023
Every tenth of a degree matters
The Summer of 2023 seems to be a moment where seemingly far future predictions of climate catastrophe are all suddenly around us in real time. From heat domes to a melted Antarctic, we are in the midst of a climate...
07.13.2023
Smaller but happier lives
The concept of economic growth is central to our politics, and the GDP is an iconic measure. But to ensure a livable planet, we need to respect limits to growth. One path is to live more moderately. It is an...
06.14.2023
A new chapter in ISO transparency
A recent public meeting marked a new chapter in ISO’s transparency. The Citizens Liaison Group, a committee of ISO-NE held an event near the contested Peaker Plant in Peabody. Some of the issues under discussion were the possible use of...
06.04.2023
Climate Lessons from Roller Skating
MCAN’s new board member talks to us about her work, how she ended up in the climate movement and lessons she learned on the way. Check our showpage at massclimateactiondotorg/blog for the hot links.
05.28.2023
Embodied Carbon, explained
Your home emits CO2 when you use gas to heat it. That’s called operational carbon emissions. Did you know that lots of CO2 was emitted just making the stuff in your walls? Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions...
05.21.2023
The Forward Clean Energy Market, explained
How can we make it easier for the grid to transition to clean energy? The Forward Clean Energy Market can help. Listen in to MCAN’s expert explain this new idea. Check our showpage at massclimateactiondotorg/blog for the hot links.
05.14.2023
Renewable Energy Certificates explained
If you want to understand the transition to clean energy, you need to understand Renewable Energy Certificates. We talk to MCAN’s Clean Energy Director to find out more about what a REC is, and why they matter. Check our showpage...
05.07.2023
Do we want more electric cars or more bison?
We can make a plant go extinct in order to have EVs, or we could allow bison herds to capture CO2 from the air by rethinking our economics. The future is ours to choose. Check our showpage at massclimateactiondotorg/blog for...
05.01.2023
“Green Growth” vs “De-growth”
In a warming world, our futures will be determined by our decisions in the present. However, two starkly different visions- one of a sacrifice free continuation of the present using renewable energy and a second of a radically downsized and...
04.23.2023
A new idea to pull CO2 out of the air
Humans may need to go beyond reducing carbon emissions to actually removing CO2 from the atmosphere. “Carbon dioxide removal” is the buzzword. We talk to a someone with a new idea about how to approach this gargantuan task. Check our...
04.16.2023
A Poem for the IPCC
The unsettling IPCC report inspires a poetic response. Then we discuss some climate related reports.: Astroturf off Martha’s Vineyard? Why re-wild the planet? How about daylighting rivers? What could go right? Listen in here for all the latest. Check our...
04.13.2023
A better question: “What could go right?”
In his new book, our guest invites listeners to ditch the cynical narratives we’ve become accustomed to, urges us to envision an ideal future, and offers the tools to build it. Listen in for a fun conversation. Check our showpage...
04.10.2023
Hydrogen for home heating is a dead end solution.
Massachusetts’ natural gas distribution companies (Eversource and National Grid) want to add hydrogen to your home heating gas supply. A new report makes plain this is a bad idea. Using our state’s shiny new wind turbines to produce enough green...
04.05.2023
The Zero Carbon Renovation Fund
Massachusetts must renovate 500,000 homes in the next seven years if we want to meet our climate goals. How to accomplish this enormous task? We speak with the Interim Executive Director of MCAN to learn about an elegant proposal- the...
04.02.2023
Senior voices say “Stop the Money Pipeline”
America’s senior citizens hold most of the wealth and have released most of the carbon. Now some of those seniors are calling for change, by demanding big banks stop financing fossil fuel expansion. Recently ‘Third Act' led a day of...
03.29.2023
#StopCopCity
Plans to build a police training facility (AKA Cop City) in Atlanta’s Weelaunee urban forest, over local protests, encapsulates many issues of racial, environmental and climate justice. We get an update on why ‘Cop City’ is important, why you should...
03.22.2023
Reducing the climate impact of health care
Providing health care in the US generates about 8% of our annual carbon emissions. That is a big number! We were joined by the Sustainability Program Manager at a hospital in Boston We discuss how hospitals are working to reduce...
03.16.2023
”Fixing the Grid” through transparency at ISO-NE
We talk to the campaign manager of the “Fix the Grid” effort about a recent rally for clean energy. “The people who run our regional electric system, called ISO-New England, are keeping us hooked on fossil fuels and costing residents...
03.13.2023
From flood plains to climate grief
In this Making Sense of Climate episode we were joined by the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent and as you’ll hear, we had a great discussion. We go from flood plain, to the water cycle, to dealing with climate grief..
03.08.2023
The Clean Heat Report is a breath of fresh air
The Clean Heat Commission report presents a bold vision for how to go about the task of decarbonizing buildings, from homes to skyscrapers, here in Massachusetts. We get the perspective of an expert working on the issues.
03.06.2023
Making clean energy accessible to everyone
A person’s FICO score shouldn’t prevent them from being able to lower their energy bills and being a part of climate crisis solutions. We talk to the Founder and CEO of the Capital Good Fund, a non-profit working to create...

What's The Climate Minute about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Climate Minute episodes:

Demystifying decarbonization, Episode 2: The oil burner in the basement.

Are we doomed?

SOTU and eclipses

Energizing Community

An e-bike program in Worcester leads the way

Demystifying Decarbonization Episode 1

New perspectives after a trip to Uganda

How to make polluters pay

Two Good Things

Junctures and paths

What does it take to become a ClimateLeader Community?

Massachusetts to look at methane through a ’new lens’

Update on the COP28 in Dubai

News from New England

Can a new kind of global map help address climate issues?

How to stop private jet expansion at Hanscom (or anywhere)

Should Hanscom accept more private jet traffic? A new report explains who is flying where.

Challenges and conundrums in making sense of climate

SCOTUS takes aim at EPA as well as most of the rest of your government

An update on windpower from TUE Chair Jeff Roy

Voices from the March to End Fossil Fuels

The best ideas to accelerate the green energy transition

From Leominster to your town

Strange weather, green amendments, and carbon offsets

Why you should go to NYC on Sep 17 and how you can get there

Bill Sargent’s “Backstory”

From geo-engineering to bicycle riding

What is a green bank?

Bad things and good things

Every tenth of a degree matters

Smaller but happier lives

A new chapter in ISO transparency

Climate Lessons from Roller Skating

Embodied Carbon, explained

The Forward Clean Energy Market, explained

Renewable Energy Certificates explained

Do we want more electric cars or more bison?

“Green Growth” vs “De-growth”

A new idea to pull CO2 out of the air

A Poem for the IPCC

A better question: “What could go right?”

Hydrogen for home heating is a dead end solution.

The Zero Carbon Renovation Fund

Senior voices say “Stop the Money Pipeline”

#StopCopCity

Reducing the climate impact of health care

”Fixing the Grid” through transparency at ISO-NE

From flood plains to climate grief

The Clean Heat Report is a breath of fresh air

Making clean energy accessible to everyone