The Climate Minute

The UN reports that climate will throw millions into poverty even as the rich (look in a mirror) pay to survive, using the phrase “Climate Apartheid.” Here in the US, we see environmental injustice exposed in the dramatic Philadelphia refinery explosion and the poorly covered climate insurrection in Oregon. Listen in.

Municipal Light Plants (MLP) are a great opportunity for introducing clean energy. Proposed legislation would dim that bright chance. Listen to Oriana Reilly as we discuss the latest twists in the saga of the Massachusetts MLP’s path to a green future.

We cover the waterfront for you ‘in case you missed’ these important climate stories!

The movement of people based on climate related effects has already begun. Some asylum seekers at the US border are there because of climate stress. Trump’s repugnant border policies may set a precedent for the future management of much larger flows of people, across the globe. It is fair to say that the US is building a concentration camp system. History teaches us that such efforts only deteriorate, and we see this in increasing deaths in custody. This is unacceptable to American ideals. We must view our border circumstances in the context of climate change, and demand a humane and farsighted response.

Sunrise Movement says “The Green New Deal is the only plan put forward to address the interwoven crises of climate catastrophe, economic inequality, and racism at the scale that science and justice demand.” We discuss some of the ideas underlying this bold proposal.

Carbon pricing is in front of Congress in the form of the “Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.” We catch up Gary Rucinski on the recent lobby day efforts in Washington, and discuss some philosophy with Rick Herron of Sunrise Nashville.

Massachusetts is moving ahead with new wind power developments. This is great, but a few questions sneak into our discussion. The issue of Environmental Justice continues to take stage in the climate movement. From Weymouth to Springfield to Beacon Hill, we discuss various aspects of this important topic.

American farmers are late-almost too late- to plant corn because of massive flooding in the Midwest. (Spoiler alert: It’s climate change!) What is to be done? The back and forth between personal climate guilt (because you don’t recycle) and corporate guilt (that they don’t feel) is laid out in stark detail by Mary Annaise Heglar . A better way to think about this is to ‘broaden’ your definition of personal action. Seek those personal action that self-amplify, having a ripple effect on other people. Simply talking about climate change is personal action that influences other people. But how? Listen in as we consider that as well.

The Pilgrim Station nuclear power plant outside Boston shut down this week. That is good news, but also raises questions about what comes next. Fracking technologies can be put to use in creating clean geothermal energy. Should they? Our mindless trade war with China risks the availability of rare earth metals, which are needed for some renewable energy technologies. Should we fight wars, or recycle what we already have? Listen in as we discuss these difficult, but good questions.

Hi all. You may have noticed that we have had a technical glitch posting today's show. Here is another try, with the file intended to be put up earlier today. Sorry for any confusion. The Trump Administration is undermining the credibility of US science by attempting to suppress data and modifying the next “National Climate Assessment” so that the science doesn't seem as dire. It is that equally heartening (NCA provides legal basis to attack Trump's dismantling of climate protections) and maddening (Trump is therefore trying to adjust the next NCA so it loses its teeth and can't be used against bad policy.) In particular, the efforts will 1) Force the USGS to model climate effect only thru 2040, hiding the truly bad effects that come later 2) Eliminate the ‘worst case’ scenario in future reports 3) Resurrect the idea of a White House Panel to review (and distort) the science. All this is in keeping with the latest press release that renames natural gas as ‘freedom gas’ and ‘molecules of freedom.’ After the chuckles die down, we consider the role of branding. Why not call solar panels “Patriot Panels?” Finally, we discuss the upcoming all generation climate strike slated for September 20. This is your opportunity to take action, wherever you are! Listen in.