Climate Break

Climate 101 – S1E1: Lessons from California: Where we’ve gone wrong that other states can learn from, as well as where we’ve gone right

“Climate 101” is a new roundtable podcast that our show producer, Ethan Elkind, will talk to different experts to get the basics on various climate topics in each episode. This time, the guest is California’s trailblazing climate leaders Mary Nichols, Louise Bedsworth, and Aimee Barnes and they will talk about lessons from California: Where we’ve gone wrong that other states can learn from, as well as where we’ve gone right.

Climate & Society

Climate Disaster Mitigation Through Political Action with Dr. Michael Mann – California China Climate Institute

Combating the effects of climate change requires effective policy solutions, and in democratic societies, one of the most effective climate actions citizens can take is voting for candidates that support sustainable climate solutions. Thus, climate change must be viewed as a voting issue to build public and political demand for climate solutions. This week, listen to the climate scientist Michael Mann in this California China Climate Institute discussion.

Climate & Society

Decarbonization in the Short Term with Christiana Figueres – California China Climate Institute

As climate change impacts rapidly increase, global leaders are working to greatly accelerate their emission reductions by 2030. They are working to reach short-term decarbonization solutions as quickly as possible. This week, listen to Christiana Figueres at a recent California China Climate Institution discussion and how investors and advocates can enhance scrutiny over international fossil fuel investments.

Energy

How Policy Change Boosts Electric Vehicle Transformation in Europe with Laurence Tubiana – California China Climate Institute

The European Union has recently seen a significant transformation in the market for electric vehicles. Nearly 1,325,000 electric car registrations in 2020 has been reported which is an 11% increase in registration from 2019. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, indicated that there are still hurdles for people who looks for switching to electric cars in a California China Climate Institute discussion. This week, listen to Tubiana about policies to boost this transformation.

Climate & Society, Transportation

International Climate Finance with Mary Robinson – California China Climate Institute

To keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, countries with more financial resources need to indicate an awareness to contribute more by distributing funds for developing countries with less resources. Mary Robinson, the former and first female President of Ireland, talked about efforts to boost international climate finance, for a recent California China Climate Institute discussion.

Climate & Society, Economics & Finance

How Environmental Voters Can Influence Climate Policy with Dr. Martin Rees – California China Climate Institute

Environmental Voter Project identified over 11 million potential environmentalists in Fall of 2020 who were “unlikely to vote in the presidential election.” Increasing environmental voter turnout could make a significant impact on climate policy through legislative action and budget provisions. This week, listen to what Dr. Martin Rees said in a California China Climate Institute discussion.

Climate & Society, Climate Justice

What You Need to Know About COP26

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference was taken place in November 2021 in Glasgow. After 13 days of intense negotiations, 200 countries reached an agreement on the Glasgow Climate Pact, which will accelerate climate action this decade and completed the Paris Rulebook. This week, listen to Ethan Elkind and Ken Alex, the Executive Producers of Climate Break, about the major outcomes of the conference.

Climate & Society, Climate Justice

President Biden has Signed the Infrastructure Bill. What Will Happen Next?

In November of 2021, President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that will have significant impacts on how we address the United States’ current and future infrastructure. California is probably going to get about $375 million electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This week, listen to Ken Alex, Executive Producer of Climate Break, about what this bill is and how it will impact the climate.

Climate & Society

How Seaweed Helps Scientists Reduce Methane Emissions

Livestock produce significant amounts of methane as part of their normal digestive processes. It’s about the same from oil and gas. Scientists are now tackling methane emissions with seaweed feed. This week, listen to Ermias Kebreab, Associate Dean and Professor of Animal Science at UC Davis, to learn about how seaweed diets can help cows produce less methane.

Climate & Society

Corporate Climate Policy Advocacy with Bill Weihl

Public policy is an essential element of climate change response. However, to date, big tech has only devoted about 4% of their federal lobbying activity in the US to climate-related policies. Bill Weihl, Executive Director of ClimateVoice, is calling on the big US tech companies to make climate one of their top advocacy priorities and devote one in five of their lobbying dollars to policies that will keep warming below 1.5 degrees.

Climate & Society, Climate Justice