The Climate Minute

A WV coal executive gets convicted, but Lamar Smith continues his witch hunt. Here in Boston, are we adapting fast enough? We discuss.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

The nations of the world are meeting in Paris at COP21 to find ways to address climate change. We discuss the big picture of what the “Conference of the Parties” is trying to achieve.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

“Blockadia is a place where the future of the environmental movement is being negotiated” according to a recent blog. Across the country, local activists are taking a stand against new fossil fuel infrastructure.  From the tar sands in Canada to kayaktivists in Seattle to pipelines in Massachusetts, resistance is growing. This week we go to the front lines and talk to a Climate Hawk who is working to stop the proposed Algonquin Pipeline in Southern New England.  With a recent study concluding there is no need for the pipeline, an oversized design intended to support the export of gas, and a financial charge to electric customers to pay for Spectra’s pipeline, the Algonquin Pipeline is a bad idea whose time has passed.  We discuss the nuts and bolts of opposition to these kinds of projects, and what motivates us to take action. Despite it’s diversity, the inhabitants of Blockadia share a state of mind that demands a sustainable future.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

There is an old saying that goes “You don’t want to watch either sausages or laws get made.” However, sometimes an unpleasant sight can spur a response. The Massachusetts Legislature is locked in a stalled process to raise the solar energy ‘net-metering’ cap, with the House and Senate discussing a bill that is either really bad (House version) or acceptably bad (Senate version.) You can let your representative know we need to support solar fully by checking the ‘Where do I vote?” link. The MA Attorney General commissioned a study the shows we do NOT need new pipelines, which is a boon to activists. Finally, DR notes a concrete example of the harm that might come from the ISDS clause of the TPP. Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

The kaleidoscopic sequence of events, from acts of terror to climate negotiations to refugee flows, can be confusing and distressing. We discuss recent events from a Climate Hawk’s perspective.  How do we think about ‘national security’ in an age of terror and warming? Are terrorism and climate change really separate issues? Could an investment in clean energy in troubled areas kick start  a just world? We discuss.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

The kaleidoscopic sequence of events, from acts of terror to climate negotiations to refugee flows, can be confusing and distressing. We discuss recent events from a Climate Hawk’s perspective.  How do we think about ‘national security’ in an age of terror and warming? Are terrorism and climate change really separate issues? Could an investment in clean energy in troubled areas kick start  a just world? We discuss.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

The Keystone victory has left us smarter and stronger. What is next? We can fight pipelines, support new wind projects and demand to stop extraction of fossil fuel on Federal land. We discuss.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

The President recently denied permission to build the Keystone XL pipeline and it is clear that the pipeline opposition movement was crucial to the Mr Obama’s decision. This has been a big, transformative moment for climate activists, and a little self evaluation is worthwhile? What have we Climate Hawks learned about ourselves from all the effort over the last few year? We discuss a few possible answers.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is mostly an agreement among corporations, not among real people or even nations. The text was finally opened for public scrutiny last week. Let’s just say there is a lot of discussion that needs to happen! On top of that, Exxon-and the fossil fuel industry in general- is suddenly at legal risk over their efforts to obstruct climate progress.  We discuss.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

Big news this week- Trans Canada blinked first and has asked for a ‘suspension’ of the Keystone XL pipeline applications. Climate Hawks should be proud of leading this fight.  Keystone is part of the ‘supply’ of fossil fuels. Carbon emissions result from the demand for (or use of) fossil fuels. Should activists target one or the other, or both? Good question. We discuss.Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that various meats are bad for your health. Did you know they are also bad for the planet? The carbon footprint of meat is very large. According to the Guardian, “The global livestock industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all cars, planes, trains and ships combined..”  So eating less meat is good for you and the planet. There a lot of other meaty stuff going on for Climate Hawks, so we make a lightening review of TPP, CPP, COP21, Solar caps and Pilgrim. If that alphabet soup makes no sense to you, listen in and we’ll catch you up!Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

Halloween is very scary for climate scientists this year. In Washington, the House “science” committee is on a witch-hunt for researchers who publish inconvenient truths. With nearly unlimited subpoena power, these new inquisitors are intimidating individual scientists by demanding years of unrelated emails and internal documents, demands that come with associated legal costs and career disruption for each researcher. This effort to ‘chill’ the work of scientists is destructive in many ways. We discuss. Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

Moral imperatives aside, exactly what will it take to bring society to a clean energy system? Venkatesh Rao in the Atlantic Monthly argues that only a “World War II” scale effort will suffice, but goes on to point out that war was won by many faceless bureaucrats who carried out wise policy. If there is no single technology or super-human leader to guide us, can we trust ‘the gu’mint’ to do the right thing?  Check out live  links at our blog, http://www.massclimateaction.net/blog.Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

Massachusetts’ Governor Baker released a plan to raise the solar ‘net metering’ limits. It’s a start, at least, but the details of the proposal show some real risks for the continued growth of the solar market. Climate Hawks should take some credit for demanding action, but now is the time to redouble our efforts to improve the bill. We discuss.The reading list:The Administrations Press ReleaseDoes the bill "put the brakes' on solar?Some analysis of the billFind the live links at our blog: http://www.massclimateaction.net/blogBecause we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast

The opinions and reaction to the President’s Clean Energy Plan have come quickly and loudly, from both the left and right of the political spectrum.  It is important to know what all the talking heads are saying, but as Mother Nature points out (here channeled by Julia Roberts), the planet doesn’t need us-we need the planet.  The laws of physics will be obeyed no matter what James Hansen or Mitch McConnell say. Listen in!The reading list:•    NYT Op-Ed•    USA Today Op-Ed•    350.org Press Release•    James Hansen on MSNBC•    Opposition to the planBecause we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.Thanks for listening.…Ted McIntyreDownload Enhanced Podcast