The Climate Minute

An environmental injustice is happening in British Columbia, where yet another pipeline is being built against the wishes of the indigenous people. The names are different but the story line is familiar. One common theme is that banks like JP Morgan Chase are providing the funding. This gives us an opportunity to fight far away injustice right here at home.

Municipal Light Plants (MLP) in Massachusetts are a great opportunity for reducing emissions and experimenting with new ideas. MCAN recently held a summit of activists from MLP towns. Listen in as we learn from MCAN’s Clean Energy Program Director.

Rolling Stone magazine has published an expose of the irresponsible disposal of radioactivity material from fracking wells. It is a scandal and a shame, and can be attributed to the intentional blindness of regulators in local, state and federal agencies. Responsible management of this radioactive waste would impose significant cost to the producers- costs that now are borne by the people who live near the well. We must pay for this ‘externality’ in the present. Listen in.

Listen to Prof. Nathan Phillips of BU speak about why he is in the 4th day of a hunger strike protesting the injustice happening in Weymouth. Please call Governor Baker and Commissioner Suuberg and say “I am calling to urge you to meet the three demands that will allow the ongoing hunger strike of Nathan Phillips to cease.” The Governor’s number is 617-725-4005, and Commissioner Suuberg’s is 617-292-5500x71098. Follow @NathanPBoston and #Hunger4JusticeMA.

In his State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Baker announced a “Net Zero by 2050” climate goal. It is good that the state is setting a path, but the ambiguity around the definition of net-zero leaves lots of area for wiggle. We discuss.

The utilities have committed $9B of your monthly payments to upgrading gas pipes. The new idea is to replace underground gas lines with ‘just the right temperature’ water lines. Then ‘heat pumps’ can cool or warm your home, instead of dangerous methane gas. It’s so crazy it just might work! We discuss.

A Federal Appeals Court rejected a case brought by children demanding a right to a stable climate. We discuss this case, called Juliana, and the general state of legal action on climate.

Exxon needs JP Morgan Chase more than Morgan needs Exxon. If the money pipeline from the banks to the fossil fuel majors ever shut down, new oil exploration would stop almost overnight. That’s why Blackrock’s letter and McKibben’s arrest are so important. We review.

Climate hawks went to Beacon Hill last week to press for climate action. We debrief on events.

The Green New Deal will play a role in our politics in 2020. A new bill before Congress shows a good example of how it will be implemented. We lay out what to watch for as the year progresses.