Why It Matters

Under international law, the North Pole and the Arctic waters surrounding it are not owned by any country. But this January, President Donald Trump announced his plans to buy the Arctic territory of Greenland, testing the claims of rivals and opening up a greater conversation around who governs the Arctic Circle. On top of these icy tensions, the North Pole is warming. Melting ice caps are opening up new shipping routes and making the region increasingly mineable, generating even more interest from leaders around the world.

This episode was originally released on March 29, 2023.

Featured Guests

Esther Brimmer, James H. Binger Senior Fellow in Global Governance

Jeff Randall, Military Fellow, U.S. Coast Guard

What does it mean to price our climate? The goal of fees like the “carbon tax” is to put a price on pollutants such as carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change, and incentivize businesses to reduce their emissions and make cleaner choices. But many companies are continuing to value profit over protecting the planet, backing out of their clean energy goals and sinking more money into fossil fuels and other short-term investments that harm the Earth. This has been happening for years, but has ramped up in anticipation of a new Trump administration which has pulled away from climate initiatives like the Paris Accord and Inflation Reduction Act since taking office.

This episode was originally released on July 29, 2020.

Featured Guests

Kate Mackenzie, Green Columnist, Bloomberg

Michael Greenstone, Professor of Economics, University of Chicago

For decades, U.S. homeowners have counted on property insurance to protect them from catastrophic loss if their homes are destroyed. But last year, private companies pulled their coverage in multiple climate-sensitive states, only months before the fires in Los Angeles and the hurricanes in the Southeast region wreaked havoc. As climate disasters become more frequent, can home insurance hold up? 

This episode was originally released on September 27, 2023.

Featured Guests

David Marlett, Managing Director of the Brantley Risk & Insurance Center, Appalachian State University

Nancy Watkins, Principal and Consulting Actuary, Milliman

Our editors top picks of Why It Matters episodes on climate.

What powers artificial intelligence (AI)? As global electricity use is surging, with unprecedented demand coming from an increase in data centers, AI’s dependence on fossil fuels presents a serious issue for the planet. In the United States, data center power usage is on track to double by 2030, largely due to the proliferation of AI technology. But while the application of AI shows potential to mitigate climate problems, will its power grab stall the clean energy transition?

Featured Guests:

Varun Sivaram, Senior Fellow for Climate and Energy, CFR

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/dirty-energy-powering-ai 

Tumultuous events have rocked the last four years: the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe’s largest land war in eighty years, and an escalating Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces. On top of that, the United States faces an intensifying geopolitical struggle with China and Russia. Now, U.S. President Joe Biden is running out of time to secure his legacy while the transition to a second Donald Trump administration comes sharply into focus. The U.S. president-elect has been quickly nominating leaders to his cabinet and receiving calls from foreign leaders.

Why It Matters sits down with the hosts of The World Next Week to talk about what the United States–and a closely watching world–should expect in the weeks and months to come as incoming President Trump takes office.

Featured Guests:

Robert McMahon (Managing Editor, CFR)

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/why-world-next-week-matters 

For most of our history, the realm of international relations was dominated by nation-states. They waged wars and signed treaties through the framework of governance. But today, more so than ever before, tech titans are acting as unilateral decision-makers, upsetting the balance and structure of global power around the world.

Featured Guests:

Rana Foroohar (Global Business Columnist and Associate Editor, Financial Times; Global Economic Analyst, CNN)

Adam Segal (Ira A. Lipman Chair in Emerging Technologies and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program, CFR)

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/new-tech-world-order

With the rise of social media, influencers around the world have increasingly taken on the role of newscaster without a traditional media organization behind them. Some say it has democratized journalism, but with the rise of misinformation, influencers who capture massive audiences online also run the risk of spreading false or even harmful information. How much have influencers altered the media landscape?

Featured Guests:

Nic Newman (Senior Research Associate, Reuters Institute)

Michael Spikes (Lecturer and Director of Teach for Chicago Journalism Program, Northwestern University)

Renee DiResta (Technical Research Manager, Stanford Internet Observatory)

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/world-under-influence 

The United States national debt is rising to levels not seen since World War II. Many economists say Washington is on an unsustainable track, but no one knows when it will pass the point of crisis. What is at risk if U.S. debt continues to grow?

Featured Guests:

Maya MacGuineas (President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget)

Roger W. Ferguson Jr. (Steven A. Tananbaum Distinguished Fellow for International Economics, CFR)

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/whos-afraid-national-debt 

The world is watching the U.S. presidential contest between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris with intense interest. Few countries are tracking the race more closely than Germany, Europe's biggest economy and a founding member of the NATO alliance. Its experiences provide insights into how this election is reverberating globally.

Featured Guests:

Liana Fix (Fellow for Europe, CFR) 

Stefan Kornelius (Foreign Editor, Süddeutsche Zeitung)

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/wim/why-world-obsessed-us-election-ask-germany