A Matter of Degrees

Gina McCarthy has been at the center of nearly every federal climate fight of the last two decades. She led the EPA during the Obama years. Then, under President Biden, she became the first ever White House National Climate Advisor.  In this episode of A Matter of Degrees, we sit down with Gina for a sweeping conversation about the victories, the setbacks, and why the climate story is much longer than any single administration. We cover the collapse of the Waxman-Markey Bill, the strange victory of a Clean Power Plan that was stayed before it started, the rollercoaster of getting the Inflation Reduction Act over the finish line, and what it all means now, as we move to defend all of Gina’s hard-won progress.

Emily Atkin, independent climate reporter and founder of HEATED; Ben Passer, Midwest climate policy leader at McKnight Foundation; and Aru Shiney-Ajay, Sunrise Movement director and frontline organizer. They recount Minneapolis resistance to ICE, how climate organizing defended democracy, links between fossil fuel power and state violence, and tactics that disrupted enforcement while protecting community and climate wins.

Dr. Kate Marvel, a NASA climate scientist and author, delves into the intersection of climate science and human emotion. She explores the power of storytelling to connect facts with feelings, emphasizing nine emotions such as wonder, guilt, and hope in her book. Marvel candidly discusses the fossil fuel industry's deception and the grief of witnessing changing landscapes. Highlighting the roles of varied climate helpers, she argues for collective action while emphasizing the importance of love and human agency in shaping our climate futures.

 ”In the midst of a lot of big, bad things happening, there's one big good thing happening on planet Earth right now.” Today on A Matter of Degrees, we’re bringing back the podcast’s very first guest — legendary activist and author Bill McKibben. Bill’s latest book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, shows how clean energy can create a healthier, safer, more prosperous world. Bill is also organizing “Sun Day”  – a national day of action on September 21st to celebrate the power of clean energy. You can get involved in an event in your area by visiting SunDay.earth In this episode, Bill takes us through the history of solar – how it became the cheapest energy on earth, its potential to transform our lives, and how we can harness it to heal our planet.

Ingrid Malmgren, Senior Policy Director at Plug In America, shares insights on crucial tax incentives for electric vehicles and clean energy that are set to expire soon. The discussion reveals how these incentives can drastically reduce pollution and energy bills. With a focus on the surge in clean energy jobs, Ingrid encourages listeners to act quickly before the credits vanish. The episode also touches on the benefits of solar energy and heat pumps, emphasizing their role in creating a sustainable future.

Thousands of people lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires. Now, they’re looking to their insurance companies to help them rebuild. But as the world warms, disasters like these are becoming more frequent and more severe, exposing an insurance system that isn’t equipped to cover the rising damages. In Los Angeles, people who lost everything were left to fend for themselves. This is just the latest example of how insurance is failing to keep up with climate change. In this episode of A Matter of Degrees, we’re joined by Dave Jones, California’s Insurance Commissioner from 2011 to 2018 and the current Director for the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment. We dive into how the climate crisis is breaking our home insurance system, what we can do to fix it, and how to make fossil fuel companies pay their fair share.

Sammy Roth, a climate columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of the Boiling Point podcast, chats with Kelly Sanders, a USC civil engineering professor and former White House clean energy advisor. They dissect the severe wildfires in Los Angeles, linking them to climate change and discussing innovative resilience strategies for rebuilding. Topics include the challenges of water management, the transition to a zero-carbon energy system, and the need for sustainable urban design to mitigate future wildfire risks.

Dr. Leah Stokes, 2024 Schneider Award winner and climate science communicator, engages in a riveting discussion with Greg Dalton, founder of Climate One. They tackle the evolution of climate advocacy, stressing systemic change over personal guilt. Stokes also reflects on the implications of recent elections for climate policy and emphasizes the power of local initiatives. Additionally, Rebecca Solnit shares her insights on harnessing community joy and resilience in the face of climate challenges, advocating for collaboration over individualism.

Join Eric Masanet, a world-leading expert in industrial decarbonization, Rebecca Dell from ClimateWorks, and Yinka Bode-George, CEO of Sustain Our Future, as they tackle the pressing issue of industrial pollution. They discuss innovative decarbonization strategies, focusing on hydrogen in steel-making and the automotive sector's sustainability practices. The conversation highlights the critical need for transparency in environmental claims, the impact of pollution on marginalized communities, and the importance of collaboration for effective solutions.

Join marine biologist and climate advocate Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for a compelling chat on her new book, where she emphasizes the importance of community in envisioning climate futures. She discusses how asking the right questions can ignite action and collaboration in the climate crisis. Ayana also explores the intersection of AI and climate policy, touching on its risks and opportunities. Finally, she highlights transformative journeys like transitioning from fishing to regenerative farming, showcasing the emotional depth of adapting to climate change.