The Climate Pod

This week, we discuss the underwhelming results at COP25, as the World Wildlife Fund's Vanessa Perez-Cirera joins the show to talk about her experience in Madrid and where she feels the summit fell short. An incredibly insightful and informative discussion. Then, Rob Bilott, author of "Exposure" and the real-life inspiration for the film "Dark Waters," talks to us about the dangers of "forever chemicals" and his years-long legal battle against polluting corporations. How did this happen? What do we do now? Rob helps us better understand the issue. This is a great conversation with a true environmental hero. This episode was sponsored by Hero Power, Chicago's newest 100% renewable energy option that provides affordable, reliable electricity to Illinois residents at the same price as ComEd. Learn more at myheropower.com. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Follow Rob Bilott on Twitter Follow Vanessa Perez-Cirera on Twitter Further Reading/Action: COP25: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Madrid Get Rob Bilott's book "Exposure" https://www.amazon.com/Exposure-Be-Confirmed/dp/1501172816 Learn more about "Fight Forever Chemicals" here Learn more about the World Wildlife Fund here

A recent study made news last week when it confirmed many past climate models were pretty damn accurate. We talk to Zeke Hausfather, one of the study's co-authors, about why his group did the study, what exactly they found, and what it means to climate science. Then, we talk to Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, who was named 350.org's North American Director in 2019. This is a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation about building a better climate movement and driving real change in the face of a growing threat to the planet and powerful interests pushing back against progress. This episode was sponsored by Hero Power, a 100% renewable energy option that provides affordable, reliable electricity to Illinois residents at the same price as ComEd. Learn more at myheropower.com. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Follow Zeke Hausfather on Twitter Follow 350.org on Twitter Further Reading/Watching: Evaluating the performance of past climate model projections Ty's appearance on Hal Sparks Radio Program Megaworldwide (13 min mark)

World leaders are meeting at COP25 in Madrid, Spain as a wave of new reports continue to be released outlining the growing climate crisis. Will this make a difference? What's at stake for COP25? The Guardian's Environmental Correspondent Fiona Harvey joins the show from Madrid to report on the summit. Then, Fiona McPherson, Senior Editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, joins the podcast to explain why "climate emergency" was 2019's Oxford Word of the Year. This is a very good conversation with a lot of really good words. Two Fionas in one show! Give it a listen and thanks for being great. This episode was sponsored by Hero Power, a 100% renewable energy option that provides affordable, reliable electricity to Illinois residents at the same price as ComEd. Learn more at myheropower.com. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Follow Fiona Harvey on Twitter Follow Oxford English Dictionary on Twitter Further Reading: Climate crisis: what is COP and can it save the world by Fiona Harvey Word of the Year 2019 by Oxford Dictionaries

On Tuesday, the United Nations released its annual "emissions gap" report to determine how the world is progressing towards the goals set in the Paris Agreement. The Washington Post's Brady Dennis joins to show to explain the findings in the report, what this means for world leaders set to meet in Spain to discuss climate next month, and how scientists are viewing the bleak reality outlined in their report. Then, we talk to two protesters from Fossil Free Yale about Saturday's demonstration during the Harvard-Yale football game. Martin Man and Alex Cohen tell us what it was like to be on the field, why they felt the protest was a necessary step in their divestment campaign, and what happens now to all the students that were arrested and still face pending charges. To learn more about their organization visit https://nobodywins2019.home.blog/. This episode was sponsored by Hero Power, a 100% renewable energy option that provides affordable, reliable electricity to Illinois residents at the same price as ComEd. Learn more at myheropower.com. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Follow Brady Dennis on Twitter Follow Fossil Free Yale on Twitter Further Reading: In bleak report, U.N. says drastic action is only way to avoid worst effects of climate change by Brady Dennis 2°C: Beyond The Limit - Extreme climate change has arrived in America by Steven Mufson, Chris Mooney, Juliet Eilperin and John Muyskens

Our first live show! This week, we were at Lincoln Hall in Chicago to discuss the climate crisis in the Windy City with inspiring local activists and hilarious comedians for a night benefiting Friends of the Chicago River. With a panel that includes Naomi Davis of Blacks In Green, Justin Goldberg of the Sunrise Movement Chicago, Jenny Kendler of Extinction Rebellion Chicago, Amelia Diehl of Rising Tide Chicago, Melissa Brice of 350 Chicago, and comedian Adam Burke ("Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me," "Doug Loves Movies"). Plus, performances by Jill Hopkins (Vocalo Radio's "The Morning AMp," WBEZ' "Making Beyoncé") and Chad The Bird, and an interview with Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River. This is the best show ever. Our guests were amazing. We put a bird puppet on the stage. This episode was sponsored by Hero Power, a 100% renewable energy option that provides affordable, reliable electricity to Illinois residents at the same price as ComEd. Learn more at myheropower.com. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Follow Friends of Chicago River on Twitter Follow 350 Chicago on Twitter Follow Blacks In Green on Twitter Follow Extinction Rebellion Chicago on Twitter Follow Rising Tide Chicago on Twitter Follow Sierra Club Chicago on Twitter Follow Sunrise Movement Chicago on Twitter Follow Adam Burke on Twitter Follow Jill Hopkins on Twitter Follow Chad The Bird on Twitter

NEXT MONDAY: The Climate Pod is live at Lincoln Hall at 7 pm. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE *** This week, we discuss the outbreak of bushfires in New South Wales in Australia. Peter Hannam of The Sydney Morning Herald joins the show to discuss the situation in New South Wales and how climate change is contributing to the problem. Then, we talk to Stanford University's Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson about strategies and timelines for a 100% renewable energy future. He explains where he has found success, what technologies aren't working well, and what gives him hope about the transition to renewable sources. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more! Follow Peter Hannam on Twitter Follow Mark Z. Jacobson on Twitter Further Reading: Is there a link between climate change and bushfires? by Peter Hannam The health and climate impacts of carbon capture and direct air capture by Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson

ANNOUNCEMENT - The Climate Pod Live is happening on November 18th at 7 pm at Lincoln Hall in Chicago! GET TICKETS HERE *** This week, the Trump Administration announced formal plans to exit the Paris Climate Agreement. What does this mean? What happens next? How will voters feel about it? Axios' Amy Harder joins the show to explain the stakes and weigh in on our attitudes toward the agreement and climate change overall. Then, Mark Arax, author of The Dreamt Land, discusses revisiting Paradise, California, on the first anniversary of The Camp Fire for his piece in California Sunday Magazine. Mark helps explains the myriad factors that have contributed to California wildfires, how the history of Paradise shaped the event, and who bears the most responsibility for the damage. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more! Follow Amy Harder on Twitter Follow Mark Arax on Twitter Further Reading: Trump begins formal withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement by Amy Harder Gone by Mark Arax

Recently, the House held hearings on Big Oil to allow former Exxon scientists to testify and explain what the company knew about climate change and when they knew it. E&E News' Nick Sobczyk breaks down the day and what Democrats in the House may want to accomplish with these hearings. Also, as a prominent Republican lawmaker complains about the hearings being held by the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, Earther's Yessenia Funes explains why that's exactly the right place for these hearings to occur. Finally, InsideClimate News' Nicholas Kusnetz reviews the first week of Exxon's trial in New York, tells us the central question that will likely decide the case, and describes some of the courtroom drama that has already occurred. AND WE ANNOUNCED A LIVE SHOW WOOHOOO! Get tickets to The Climate Pod Live at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on November 18th at 7 pm here. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more! Follow Yessenia Funes on Twitter @yessfun Follow Nick Sobczyk on Twitter @nick_sobczyk Follow Nicholas Kusnetz on Twitter @nkus Further Reading: Yessenia Funes' "Why the Oil Industry's Climate Denial Is a Civil Rights Issue" Nick Sobczyk's "Democrats Target Big Oil, Starting With Exxon" Nicholas Kusnetz' "Key Question As Exxon Climate Trial Begins: What Did Investors Believe?"

Busy week! Finally, one of the 14 climate lawsuits against the fossil fuel industry will go to court, as Exxon faces trial this week. We talk to Umair Irfan of Vox about what's at stake with these litigation efforts, how it compares to the Big Tobacco in the 1990s, and what the 2020 Democratic candidates are saying about it. Then, we are joined by Liz Perera, Sierra Club's Climate Policy Director, talks about why mayors around the country will be flying into Washington D.C., to advocate for a federal clean energy bill. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more! Follow Umair Irfan on Twitter @umairfan Follow Sierra Club on Twitter @SierraClub Further Reading: Pay attention to the growing wave of climate change lawsuits: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/2/22/17140166/climate-change-lawsuit-exxon-juliana-liability-kids What 2020 Democrats will do to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate change: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/14/20908335/2020-democratic-debates-climate-change-fossil-fuel-companies-lawsuits

This week, we look at a few of the more disastrous aspects of climate adaptation and energy management in the face of changing weather and rising temperatures. First, we untangle the messy Pacific Gas and Electric blackouts last week with The Guardian's Susie Cagle, who explains why the power was shutoff for almost one million people and why it's so difficult for the utility to change. Then, Paris Martineau, Staff writer, WIRED, joins us to discuss why big tech HQs were spared from the PG&E blackouts despite many of their close neighbors losing power. Finally, investigative journalist Jeff Ernst talks about the essay he wrote for California Sunday Magazine and the climate movers in Honduras, who are unable to farm and must relocate to live. As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more! Follow Susie Cagle on Twitter @susie_c Follow Paris Martineau on Twitter @parismartineau Follow Jeff Ernst on Twitter @jeffgernst Further Reading: Paris's story, "Why the Pacific Gas and Electric Blackouts Spared California's Big Tech HQs" is up on WIRED.com. https://www.wired.com/story/why-the-pgande-blackouts-spared-californias-big-tech-hqs/ Susie's story in The Guardian: "California power shutoffs: when your public utility is owned by private investors" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/11/california-power-shutoffs-when-your-public-utility-is-owned-by-private-investors Susie's story in Vice: "This Is Why California Will Keep Burning" ll-keep-burning" https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/qvygeq/this-is-why-california-will-keep-burning Jeff's story in California Sunday Magazine: "You can't make a living here anymore." The Honduran climate-movers https://story.californiasunday.com/honduras-climate-movers