Climate change and household financial well-being 

The increase in climate-related disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and heat waves, has created serious financial burdens on households across the country. Since 1980, the world has seen a fivefold increase in the number of billion-dollar natural disasters. 2018 to 2022 alone saw an estimated $617 billion in damages from climate and weather related events. Beyond the public health and safety concerns, these disasters have hit Americans in the pocketbook. An estimated 13% have reported facing severe economic hardship following such disasters, with this number projected to rise as climate extremes become more frequent. For particularly vulnerable households, high financial costs from disasters can further exacerbate existing inequities. In order to adapt to a changing world of more frequent climate catastrophes, policy makers will need to develop solutions to assist populations in disaster recovery. 

Solutions to climate-related financial disaster

The impacts of climate-related disasters are numerous. In addition to harming businesses and infrastructure, extreme weather events can lead to worker displacement, job loss, and migration. Catastrophic climate events, known as climate hazards, create financial strain on households from damage done to one’s property. Many households may not have the immediate resources or savings needed to repair the damage, leading to long-term displacement and financial instability. Healthcare costs, transportation expenditures, and inability to access proper insurance coverage are other burdens many individuals face following a natural disaster.

Low-income communities will face the brunt of climate change impacts. By understanding the historical inequities that have pushed marginalized communities into regions particularly vulnerable to climate change, policy makers can create more equitable outcomes. Many officials are now encouraging increased access to education, “democratized” climate decision making, and new ways to engage and empower people to take a stance in decisions about the climate. 

The US Department of the Treasury further suggests that households consider utilizing government incentives to adopt climate-resilient property modifications, such as tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient home improvements. Policymakers further plan to support financial well-being by assisting households in financial resiliency efforts with programs through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Advantages of improving financial stability following a climate disaster

Initiatives designed to address vulnerable communities affected by climate disasters can assist in adaptation towards climate extremes. Having access to resources, whether political or social, is key to providing impacted communities with the support they need to adapt to a changing environment. With increased educational awareness and government assistance, households facing financial distress and instability following a climate-related event will have the support they need to recover.

Setbacks to achieving financial stability 

In order for these goals to be realized, policy makers will need to overcome significant challenges. For example, many households across the country face underinsurance, as climate extremes become more common and push insurers to raise rates or pull out of the insurance market altogether. As a result, vulnerable regions may be left without the proper resources to recover. A recent report found that policies for 39 million properties (about a quarter of all homes in the US) are under-priced for the climate risk needed to insure those properties. Without insurance coverage, homeowners are unable to fix damaged property.

Furthermore, the most severe effects of climate change disproportionately affect socially vulnerable populations. Less than 60% of single-family homeowners living in areas where mandatory flood insurance is required actually have the necessary insurance. As such, policy makers need to pay more attention to those communities most vulnerable to climate change in order to ensure they have access to the insurance needed to recover from a disaster and achieve financial stability following a climate-related event.

Dr. Andrew Rumbach, Senior Fellow in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute, studies household and community risk to natural hazards and climate change. Dr. Rumbach is involved in the policy implementation and research of numerous federal and state-declared disaster events and is on the forefront of addressing disaster vulnerability and environmental risk.

Resources

• NBC: Climate change could impose ‘substantial financial costs’ on U.S. household finances, Treasury warns
• World Bank: Social Dimensions of Climate Change
• US Treasury: The Impact of Climate Change on American Household Finances
• US Treasury: Fact Sheet: The Impact of Climate Change on American Household Finances

Further Reading

• BBC: Climate change is fuelling the US insurance problem

For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/including-marginalized-communities-in-policy-decisions/.

A New Sustainable Culture

Through the rise in pop culture, climate change awareness has increasingly been integrated into the entertainment industry. Particularly in the Black community, multimedia cultural campaigns are used to increase interest in environmental movements with the use of light-hearted, fun content. Artists, musicians, and influencers are leveraging their platforms to highlight the impacts of climate change and promote sustainable practices, which, in turn, provides easily accessible resources and information to marginalized communities that empower them to participate in the fight against climate change. 

Black Communities and Environmental Justice

Populations of color face disproportionate energy burdens caused by climate change. A study conducted by Rice University found that Black communities were more prone to live in vulnerable areas, a generational problem caused by the history of Black gentrification. Even now in 2024, Black communities in Georgia are forced to pay higher electricity bills, despite having lower rates compared to other states, due to old and inefficient household systems. According to the National Black Environmental Justice Networks, African Americans were also found to breathe in 56% more pollution than they cause, whereas their White counterparts breathe in 17% less pollution than generated. African Americans are also 75% more likely than White Americans to live in polluted communities, leading to 13.4% of African American children suffering from asthma, compared to 7.3% of White children. 

Starting in the 1970s, some black musicians included environmental themes in their productions. Artist Marvin Gaye released “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” to tackle discussions about oil spills and mercury waste; funk group Earth, Wind, & Fire released “Burnin’ Bush” to bring awareness about the global destruction of Mother Earth. Those themes continue today in  music produced by Black artists, such as in the popular single “Feels Like Summer” by Childish Gambino, which conveys worries about uncertain impacts caused by global warming. Additionally, artists such as SZA have partnered with brands to promote sustainable merchandise, encouraging a societal paradigm to rely on eco-friendly products. 

Representation and Education

With more than 50% of the world’s population active on social media, people are continuously exposed to the influx of information circulated by entertainment. Through the entertainment industry, climate news has become increasingly accessible and engaging, allowing communities to educate themselves on sustainability and mobilize action. Although hip-hop and rap were once considered controversial music genres due to themes of violence, drugs, and misogyny, there is a growing effort to utilize the storytelling aptitude of these genres for social and environmental commentary. Artists use rhymes and flow in hip-hop and rap to effectively share the living conditions, natural disasters, and climate injustice that people face. This empowerment of entertainment has motivated marginalized people to strengthen their community bonds and collaborate in fighting against climate change. The widespread influence of entertainment is fostering inspiration for a new culture promoting climate equity and agency, as well as the normalization of environmentalism in society.  

Who are the co-founders of Klean Energy Kulture?

Corey Dennard and Michael Hawthorne Jr. (Akachè Marcino) are the co-founders of Klean Energy Kulture, a non-profit environmental entertainment company. Corey Dennard, popularly known as Mr. Hanky, is a hit producer who has worked with top charting artists, including Snoop Dog, Usher, and Soulja Boy. Michael Hawthorne Jr., also known as Akachè Marcino, is an environmentalist and political organizer. Hawthorne has worked on Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign and Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. Together, they lead Black communities towards climate resiliency through campaigning for clean energy.

Further Reading

• Canary Media: This Atlanta duo has a theory to drive climate action: Make it cool
• Medium: How Michael Hawthorne Jr Of Klean Energy Kulture Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice
• American Lung Association: Disparities in the Impact of Air Pollution
• Atmos: Composing Climate Change: The Radical Legacy of Black Musicians
• Climate Reality Project: Environmental Racism

For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/promoting-clean-energy-through-pop-culture-with-klean-energy-kulture-co-founders-michael-hawthorne-jr-and-corey-dennard/.

Reconductoring power grids to boost energy efficiency

The expansion of renewable energy has resulted in a heightened need for greater transmission capacity of the electrical grid. Unfortunately, permitting and cost allocation have been large hurdles to the potential of rapid expansion to meet future demand. As an alternative, large-scale reconductoring of advanced conductor systems has been proposed as a solution. Such an alternative can double transmission capacity cost-effectively, without the need to ensure additional permitting. In order to achieve this transition, old steel power lines would be replaced with carbon fiber, reducing electricity loss and boosting the overall capacity of the power grid. 

How does reconductoring work?

In order to achieve clean energy goals, it is vital that we increase power grid capacity. To briefly summarize, electrons travel along transmission lines between towers made of conducting elements and a strength member, which allows conductors to hang between towers. The most common type of reinforcement is ACSR, aluminum conductor steel reinforced, used in overhead electrical transmissions. ACSR is susceptible to degradation and breakage, which may lead to more frequent power outages and increased chemical runoff into the environment. As an alternative, ACSS has been proposed by researchers as it carries more current than ACSR and is supported at higher temperatures. 

According to recent studies by the Goldman School and GridLab, replacing power lines with advanced conductors would enable 90% clean electricity by 2035. The report revealed that reconductoring transmission lines could add approximately 65 TW-miles of new interzonal transmission capacity in ten years, compared to 16TW-miles from building only new transmission lines. In terms of pricing, implementing advanced conductors costs around 20% more than building new lines. Yet replacing old lines with advanced conductors is typically half the cost than building new lines for the same capacity, partly because you reuse old infrastructure and the new models are much more energy efficient. Further policy and legislation is necessary in order to drive this technology into the future and ensure proper permitting, funding, and planning. 

What are some of the benefits?

Advanced composite-core conductors such as ACSS can carry double the existing capacity, operate at higher temperatures, and reduce line sag. Further, replacing the steel for a stronger yet smaller composite-based core can avoid the construction of new lines which bring about land acquisition and increasing permitting. There is already a growing movement towards reconductoring, as 90,000 miles of advanced conductors have been deployed globally. More advanced conductors also have the benefit of being cost-effective, with an estimated $180 billion in systems cost savings with more long-term structure. Advanced conductors enable a doubling of line capacity at less than half the cost of new lines. Alongside the benefits, at large, reconductoring can play a pivotal role in low-cost decarbonization of power systems.

What are some of the drawbacks?

Amidst the potential advantages are obstacles that may impede the future progress of reconductoring. First, there is a lack of awareness. Conventionally, the only way to expand the grid capacity has been to build new lines. Utilities are not aware of the existing solution and often fail to take reconductoring into account. Alongside this is a lack of experience and misconception that implementing reconductoring lines is difficult and unrealistic. As there is a lack of incentives for utilities to improve their products, cheaper solutions are not enticing for their rate of return regulation. Particularly if reconductoring only occurs in localized areas as opposed to system-wide implementation, the benefits may be limited. Thus, government prioritization of this new solution is critical in order to boost conductor efficiency.

About our guest

Umed Paliwal is a senior scientist at the Center for Environmental Public Policy and the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. Umed conducts research on ways to integrate renewables on the grid and understand its impact on reliability and energy pricing. Umed’s research has revealed that replacing old power lines with newer technology can boost the capacity of the power grid and help to achieve clean energy goals. He holds a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley where he focused on energy markets, regulation, power systems modeling and data analytics. 

Resources

• Grid rewiring: An answer for Biden’s climate goals?
• Reconductoring Could Help Solve America’s Looming Grid Crisis
• Reconductoring US power lines could quadruple new transmission capacity by 2035: report

Further Reading

• Accelerating Transmission Expansion by Using Advanced Conductors in Existing Right-of-Way
• Advanced Conductors on Existing Transmission Corridors to Accelerate Low Cost Decarbonization
• The 2035 Report: Reconductoring With Advanced Conductors Can Accelerate The Rapid Transmission Expansion Required For A Clean Grid

 

For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/increasing-efficiency-through-power-line-reconductoring-with-umed-paliwal/

What are zero-emission zones?

A zero-emission zone (ZEZ) is a designated area where only zero-emission vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists are permitted unrestricted access. Other vehicles are not permitted entrance, or must pay a fee to enter. Some ZEZs permit hybrid electric vehicles to enter, and these zones are referred to as “near-ZEZs”. Due to freight transportation’s outsize impact on carbon emissions, several cities have chosen to establish zero-emission zones exclusively focused on freight transport. 

Several dozen cities around the world, most of them in Europe, have implemented or announced plans to establish zero-emission zones. The United States is yet to implement a ZEZ. Global ZEZ development occurs in the context of a rapid increase in electric vehicles on city streets. Increased electric vehicle sales enable the establishment of ZEZs, which, in turn, incentivize electric vehicle ownership. 

How to establish a ZEZ? What are some possible obstacles to establishing zero-emission zones?

Legal/PoliticalLack of political acceptance due to fears of public reactionsBureaucratic/slow decision makingPrivacy concerns regarding street sensors and cameras, enabling occupancy control and street chargingFinancialNeeds large-scale investment in EVs and EV infrastructureIncremental long-term vs immediate short term improvement impacts budget considerationsHow to account for a wide range of stakeholders with competing financial interestsTechnologicalPutting in sensors and street cameras at scaleCreating convenient apps and platforms Open-source data and data platforms (ie data on traffic flow)OtherSupport from local communitiesWhat happens to those that cannot afford electric vehicles?How to scale up, ie from a single street to an entire section of a city

Who is Arjan Oranje?

Arjan Oranje is program manager for zero emission mobility in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Starting in 2025, Rotterdam is designating its city center as a zero-emissions zone. 

Learn More

How C40 cities are implementing zero emission areas

Zero emissions areas: Why aren’t they everywhere? | World Economic Forum

Zero Emissions Zones: A tool to target benefits of vehicle electrification to communities that need it most - The Greenlining Institute

Can low emissions zones effectively regulate traffic in cities? | Automotive World

 

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/zero-emission-zones-with-rotterdams-arjan-oranje/

AYR is the world’s first virtual digital platform that provides users with credits for carbon emissions saved. Created  by the Center for Engineering and Product Development (CEiiA), the AYR app works to reward users with “eco-tokens” for every kilometer traveled using sustainable forms of transportation, such as public transportation, biking, or walking. The goal of AYR is to accelerate individuals, businesses, and local communities' transition to carbon neutrality. AYR is currently operating in the Municipality of Matosinhos, in the Metropolitan Area of Porto, Portugal where CEiiA is based. The municipality hopes to be part of the European Union's Horizon Europe Program’s mission to create 100 carbon-neutral cities by 2030, and Matoshino is using AYR to help achieve this goal. 

The app quantifies carbon emissions in real-time and utilizes blockchain technology to reward users in “tokens [that] circulate in the city ecosystem as a ‘local sustainability coin’”. Users of AYR receive crypto-tokens in their digital wallet that can be exchanged for green goods, mobility, and municipal services in the local economy. The crypto-tokens can also be used to offset carbon emissions in a local voluntary carbon market. One example of AYR’s success is in “six months, a group of bike and scooter sharing services in the city of Matosinhos, Portugal, helped avoid 18.1t CO2 and generated 181,000 digital credits that users could spend on other city services.” AYR extends beyond individual users to local businesses, which can receive crypto-tokens and other financial benefits that can be used to fund green projects. The data collected with AYR is also used in the local decision and policy-making process. 

Many carbon mitigation programs charge a tax or fee for carbon emissions emitted, but AYR instead rewards and pays users for carbon emissions avoided. AYR was designed to help remove cars from the road and take back public spaces to transform and enhance neighborhoods to be more environmentally friendly. CEiiA is also currently testing the platform in Itajaí, Brazil, and hopes to expand to ten more cities in Northern Portugal, Brazil, Europe, and Latin America in the next two years. AYR received the New European Beaches (NEB) Prize for Products and Lifestyles in September 2021 and the platform is backed by Google Impact Challenge on Climate. 

Paulo Humanes

Paulo Humanes is the Director of Mobility, Automotive, and Cities at CEiiA where he works as an engineer to innovate the mobility sector. Humanes received a Master’s in Transport Engineering at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and now works as a visiting professor there. Humanes also received the title of fellow from the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation and served as the chairman of the institute in 2009. In his role at CEiiA, Humanes works with institutional partners such as the World Resource Institute, World Bank, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, to build zero-emission mobility solutions. Humanes also works with local cities and government partnerships, through projects such as AYR, to build capacity for new transportation and mobility climate solutions. 

Sources:

• https://www.themayor.eu/en/a/view/catarina-selada-on-the-first-ever-platform-that-assigns-credits-for-saved-carbon-emissions-10339
• https://new-european-bauhaus-festival.eu/fair/72wsc7zCKmGVMpoQsLy20J
• https://www.ceiia.com/about-us
• https://www.ceiia.com/ayr
• https://2022.itf-oecd.org/speaker/paulo-humanes
• https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/climate2020/charities/ceiia
• https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/climate-neutral-and-smart-cities_en#:~:text=EU%20missions%20are%20commitments%20to,ensuring%20soil%20health%20and%20food.

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-cryptocurrency-to-reward-sustainable-transportation-with-paulo-humanes/

In 2018, nearly one-third of the 39 million tons of waste in California landfills was compostable organic material. Organic material – food and agricultural waste – releases methane, a very potent greenhouse gas, as it decomposes. As a result, California’s Short-Lived Pollutant Reduction law, SB-1383, targets such food waste by establishing methane reduction targets and takes aim at food insecurity in the state. The implementation of SB-1383 is vital in supporting California’s climate goals. Methane is produced when organics rot, and it is critical to reduce methane emissions levels as the gas is eighty-four times more potent than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over a 20 year period. When implemented, SB-1383 will reduce California’s methane emissions from organic materials in traditional landfills by an estimated twenty percent.

SB 1383 also supports California's commitments to improving human health, creating clean jobs, and supporting local economies. Some of SB-1383 targets include: expanding California’s organics infrastructure, ensuring all residents and businesses have access to recycling and organics collection services, a seventy-five percent reduction in organic waste disposal from 2014 levels, and that no less than twenty percent of currently disposed edible food is reserved for human consumption by 2025. The bill also requires jurisdictions to conduct outreach and education to all businesses, residents, solid waste facilities, and local food banks. 

Chris Seney is the Director of Organics Operations at Republic Services and has operated organic facilities for over twenty years in California. Seney helped lead the development of organics infrastructure and enactment of SB-1383 across the state. The implementation of SB-1383 has resulted in an increase in demand for composting facilities, which, in turn, has increased energy demand. Now, California has its first fully solar-powered compost facility,  Republic Services’ Otay Compost Facility in Chula Vista. The facility runs completely on renewable energy, processes one hundred tons of organic waste a day, and helps the San Diego region meet the demands of SB-1383. 

Compost also supports California’s climate goals as it promotes a “an economy that uses a systems-focused approach and involves industrial processes and economic activities that are restorative or regenerative by design.” A circular economy focuses on sustainability and  the lifecycle of materials, maximizing resources while minimizing waste. Compost is a critical part of a circular economy as the compost produced from recycled organics preserves natural resources, nutrients, and water that would otherwise be lost in landfills. Along with preserving resources, the composting initiatives in SB-1383 are expected to significantly support decarbonization goals. Whendee Silver, a UC Berkeley ecosystem ecologist, “has estimated that applying an inch of compost to just 5% of California’s rangelands would suck enough carbon out of the atmosphere to equal pulling 6 million cars off the road.” Composting may be the next climate crusade and SB-1383 is leading the nation in efforts reducing both food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Sources: 

• SB 1383 Resources - CalRecycle Home Page
• Chris Seney - COMPOST2023 - USCC Conference Site (compostconference.com)
• SB 1383: Cal Recycles Organic Waste Recycling Requirement | City of Corona (coronaca.gov)
• Organic Materials Management and Climate Change - CalRecycle Home Page
• Understand Senate Bill (SB) 1383 - Recycling & Waste Reduction Division - County of Santa Clara (sccgov.org)
• Republic Services (RSG) Opens Solar-Powered Compost Facility | Markets Insider (businessinsider.com)
• https://www.scsengineers.com/californias-first-fully-solar-powered-compost-facility-shines-brightly-scs-engineers/
• https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-09/trash-compost-california-climate-change-law
• https://www.epa.gov/recyclingstrategy/what-circular-economy#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20change%20to,manufacture%20new%20materials%20and%20products.
• https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/speech/methane-action-tackling-warming-planet#:~:text=Methane%20in%20the%20atmosphere%20is,also%20delivering%20air%20quality%20benefits.

 

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-solar-energy-to-power-large-scale-compost-with-chris-seney/

What is the GeoGrid?

The Geo Grid is a network of heating pumps that harnesses the geothermal energy stored under the Earth’s surface to heat and cool buildings. It operates through a network of pipes that go deep into the ground and connect houses to each other. These pipes are filled with water, which brings the constant underground temperature up to the Earth’s surface, and into the buildings. The pipes that connect the buildings to each other are then used to exchange energy between buildings, so one building's need for cooling can be balanced by another’s need for heating, ensuring that no energy is wasted. A heat pump located inside each building determines whether the heating or cooling is needed. This interconnected system has already been initiated at college campuses across the country. These networks can be expanded by connecting more systems along city streets, allowing the GeoGrid to spread across neighborhoods, cities, and states. This would help replace natural gas with geothermal energy as a primary heating method, and greatly reduce carbon emissions. 

Installing geothermal energy for a single household can be expensive and inaccessible for many. In order to keep costs low and expand the accessibility of GeoGrids, HEET has worked with utility companies to install geothermal technology for entire neighborhoods for the same cost of providing gas utilities. This is not only cost-efficient, but energy efficient. Positioning heat pump technology as utility infrastructure will reduce the financial burden of switching to renewable energy for consumers while preserving jobs in utility companies.

About HEET

HEET, or the Home Energy Efficiency Team, is an organization working to find innovative ways to cut carbon emissions. HEET has worked on several initiatives beyond the GeoGrid Micro Districts in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions. HEET started out as a group of volunteers working together to make their homes more efficient through heat trapping doors, insulated windows, and efficient light bulbs. HEET has also supported solar panel installation challenges, resulting in discounted installation prices and greater adoption of the technology in the area. 

HEET has also worked to cut methane-polluting natural gas leaks. Natural gas is the most common resource used to heat buildings, and leaks can occur in heating systems. HEET has gained data on these leaks from utility companies, and publishes annual maps showing their location and severity to draw public attention to the issue and spark action to stop them. To improve the way utility companies and governments deal with leaks, HEET also worked to pass a Massachusetts law requiring the most environmentally-impactful leaks to be addressed first. After developing a method to measure environmental impact through the Large Volume Leak Study, HEET worked with community members and the largest utility companies in Massachusetts to plan a path forward to stop the most methane-producing leaks first. 

 

Who are Audrey Schulman and Zeyneb Magavi?

Audrey Schulman is the co-executive director of HEET, which she co-founded in 2008. She spearheaded the public mapping of utility-reported gas leaks as well as the Large Volume Leaks Study, and has worked to implement the GeoGrid Micro Districts, several of which have been installed in New York and Massachusetts. She is also the author of six novels, which have won several awards including the Philip K. Dick Award 2019, and have been translated in twelve languages. 

Zeyneb Magavi is the co-executive director of HEET. Zeyneb designed the Geo Micro District to make buildings energy efficient in a scalable way. Six Geo Grid installations have been funded, mainly by gas utility companies, and she has started an independent research group to optimize the transition from gas to Geo Micro Districts. She studied physics at Brown University and global health and sustainability at Harvard, where she is now guest faculty at the School of Public Health. Zeyneb previously worked in the public health field, bringing technological solutions to public health problems in the developing world. She has also been part of two start-up launches. 

Sources

• https://heet.org/who-we-are/about/
• https://youtu.be/fXAum1rXdks
• https://www.coloradomesa.edu/facilities/sustainability/geo-systems.html
• https://heet.org/gas-leaks/fix-big-gas-leaks/
• https://audreyschulman.com/bio

 

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-geothermal-technology-to-replace-natural-gas-in-homes-with-heet/

What is “place-based” climate change communication?

Climate change can feel overwhelming and impersonal when discussed on a global or national scale. Place-based communication works to make climate change feel relevant to local communities and individuals. Issues that impact local communities and have connections to climate change, such as waste, energy, and food initiatives are often good places to start discussions  on how to implement climate policies.  A focus on local issues can empower communities to take action on matters of local importance with broader implications. When replicated in many communities, place-based communication can enable wide-scale implementation of climate solutions, better communication of science to laypeople, and even engender greater trust in national institutions and scientists advocating for climate solutions. Climate communication is more effective when it incorporates climate solutions that are already being implemented in specific localities. For example, climate communicators can build upon local energy initiatives, spreading information to speed-along a renewable energy transition. 

Knowledge Co-production

Another useful approach to climate communication is referred to as knowledge co-production, a collaborative process bringing together different people, perspectives, and experiences, rather than presenting climate change from, for example, solely from an academic or scientific perspective. When global and national actors engage in knowledge co-production with local communities, both groups benefit. Local communities gain crucial knowledge from experts, enabling them to create smarter/more effective solutions for their communities. Meanwhile, scientists and higher-level policymakers gain knowledge they otherwise would not have, and are empowered to bring diverse perspectives into their work. Part of effective climate communication is not only communicating knowledge, but also taking in new perspectives that can help inform how information is communicated, and what is communicated.  

Who is Dr. Candice Howarth?

Dr. Candice Howarth is a Senior Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics. She is additionally co-Director of the Place-Based Climate Action Network. She researches how the co-production of knowledge and science communication can be used to inform better decision-making with regard to climate change.

Learn More

Unpacking the power of place-based education in climate change communication

Local knowledge in climate adaptation research: moving knowledge frameworks from extraction to co-production

Book: Addressing the Climate Crisis: Local action in theory and practice

What is climate change communication?

 

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/what-does-effective-climate-communication-look-like-with-dr-candice-howarth/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/environmental-racism-with-dr-robert-bullard/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/how-do-oyster-reefs-protect-shorelines-with-claire-arre/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/how-to-protect-water-supply-from-agricultural-pollutants-with-des-moines-water-works/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/carbon-farming-with-ian-howell/

West Virginia v. EPA

The U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency on June 30, 2022, determining (in a 6-3 ruling) that, without explicit congressional instruction, the EPA cannot curb emissions at existing power plants by forcing a change to renewable energy sources (as opposed to directing specific emissions reductions from the power plants themselves). Chief Justice Roberts, writing the majority, declared that mandating a switch to renewables is such a major shift that it falls under the “major questions doctrine.”  That doctrine – which is a creation of the Supreme Court – has not been fully developed, but has been presented as a limit on the power of the Executive Branch, requiring Congress to provide specific direction through legislation before the President may act.  What constitutes a “major question” and when it is to be invoked is unclear.  

The West Virginia case involved a regulation from the Obama-era that called for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from coal fired power plants, which could take the form of replacement of those plants with renewable energy. That regulation was withdrawn by the Trump administration, which issued a regulation much more limited in scope. The Biden administration then withdrew the Trump-era regulation and is working on a new regulation. So, the Obama-era regulation at issue in West Virginia was not operative, which would normally make the case moot. The Supreme Court ruled, however, that because the rule could be reinstated, the case could proceed, underscoring the majority’s strong intent to create the major question doctrine.  The doctrine is presented as a check on executive power, but also represents a potentially significant expansion of judicial power. It is the Court that apparently will decide the parameters of what constitutes a major question, when and under what circumstances it will be applied, and when the President needs explicit authorization from Congress to take action.   

Though West Virginia v. EPA hinders EPA authority, it still leaves open several avenues for effective government climate action. The case does not touch on local and state government ability to regulate pollutants, and does not affect the EPA’s regulation of high-emitting sectors such as transportation. Additionally, this Court decision does not affect new power plants, only existing plants. Though it prevents the EPA from mandating renewable energy for existing power plants, the EPA can still require specific emissions reductions from individual plants. Finally, West Virginia v. EPA highlights the importance of passing effective congressional climate change legislation with explicit authority for the executive branch. West Virginia v. EPA is a further reminder that climate change cannot be fought without bold congressional action. 

For a more detailed discussion, we invite you to listen to the long version of this podcast on this website, and check out the links below.

Who is Professor Dan Farber?

Dan Farber is one of the nation’s most cited and influential scholars of environmental and constitutional law, and is faculty director of the Center of Law, Energy, and Environment at Berkeley Law. After law school, he clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court, giving him an intimate look into the workings of the nation’s highest court. His most recent book is Contested Ground: How to Understand the Limits on Presidential Power (UC Press 2021). Dan Farber is the Sho Sato Professor of Law at the University of California, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Life Member of the American Law Institute.

Learn More

West Virginia v. EPA: A Quick Explainer - Legal Planet

Emerging Answers to Major Questions - Legal Planet

Opinion | The Supreme Court's EPA Decision Is More Gloom Than Doom - The New York Times

The Supreme Court's EPA Ruling Is Going to Be Very, Very Expensive - The Atlantic

West Virginia v. EPA and the Future of the Administrative State - Legal Aggregate - Stanford Law School

 

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/what-does-west-virgina-v-epa-mean-for-environmental-policy-with-professor-dan-farber-and-ken-alex/

What is Carbon Mineralization

Carbon mineralization is a naturally occurring chemical process that occurs when carbon dioxide becomes “mineralized” through a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction occurs when certain rocks, most often in deep underground igneous and metamorphic formations, are exposed to carbon dioxide. Carbon mineralization holds greater amounts of carbon than carbon storage in sedimentary reservoirs, as the chemical reactions in carbon mineralization create new carbonate minerals like calcium carbonate.

Carbon mineralization is potentially an important solution for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, as the mineralized carbon cannot escape to the atmosphere, so serves as long-term carbon storage. This process can be artificially sped up to sequester greater amounts of atmospheric carbon and prevent atmospheric warming. Mine waste and industrial sites also hold potential for fast carbon mineralization as crushed rocks can be more easily used for mineralization and at lower cost than injecting underground rocks. Surface carbon mineralization can also help mitigate onsite carbon emissions by reducing energy usage.

Carbon mineralization is not without risks, including the potential to trigger earthquakes or change the pressure profiles of rock formations.  Current methods also require significant water use. In the United States, the Pacific Northwest holds the greatest potential as it is abundant in basalt rocks. States such as Minnesota,Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Hawaii hold potential for deep underground infections. Crushed rock and mine sites all across the country also have the potential for carbon mineralization. 

Why Concrete is Attractive

Unlike other methods of carbon mineralization, storing carbon in concrete can serve a dual purpose by also reducing the emissions associated with the concrete and cement industries. Currently, the cement industry emits approximately eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. It also comes with less potential to disrupt rock formations.

For guest Dr. Erica Dodds, who sees financeability as key to the success of any carbon removal technology, the concrete industry’s size is an advantage, because companies bundling carbon removal with concrete can profit from an existing market with plenty of demand. Dodds says that state and local governments can go a long way towards supporting these approaches by establishing procurement plans that require government infrastructure projects to source concrete from carbon removing producers.

Foundation for Climate Restoration 

The Foundation for Climate Restoration (F4CR) is a non-profit organization that works to restore Earth’s climate to pre-industrial levels. The organization's philosophy is to restore our atmosphere primarily through carbon removal to protect our planet for future generations. To fulfill this mission, F4CR works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while simultaneously building capacity for carbon dioxide removal. F4CR aims to remove 1,000 gigatons (Gt) of carbon by 2050, as “the IPCC recognizes that we will need 100-1,000 gigatons (Gt) of carbon removal by the end of the century just to meet 1.5 degree C warming goals.”

 

Who is Our Guest?

Dr. Erica Dodds serves as the Chief Operating Office at F4CR and is committed to climate activism and poverty reduction. Dodds believes that today’s climate youth activists are the key to the fight against climate change and restoring a safe and healthy world. She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Evaluation, an M.A. in International Development Administration, and has experience working with NGOs across the world along with the Evaluation Office of the International Labor Organization in Geneva. 

Sources

• About - Foundation For Climate Restoration
• Making Minerals - How Growing Rocks Can Help Reduce Carbon Emissions
• CarbonCure

 

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-concrete-for-carbon-removal-with-dr-erica-dodds/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/wildfire-resilience-in-california-with-chuck-bonham/

West Virginia v. EPA

The U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency on June 30, 2022, determining (in a 6-3 ruling) that, without explicit congressional instruction, the EPA cannot curb emissions at existing power plants by forcing a change to renewable energy sources (as opposed to directing specific emissions reductions from the power plants themselves). Chief Justice Roberts, writing the majority, declared that mandating a switch to renewables is such a major shift that it falls under the “major questions doctrine.”  That doctrine – which is a creation of the Supreme Court – has not been fully developed, but has been presented as a limit on the power of the Executive Branch, requiring Congress to provide specific direction through legislation before the President may act.  What constitutes a “major question” and when it is to be invoked is unclear.  

The West Virginia case involved a regulation from the Obama-era that called for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from coal fired power plants, which could take the form of replacement of those plants with renewable energy. That regulation was withdrawn by the Trump administration, which issued a regulation much more limited in scope. The Biden administration then withdrew the Trump-era regulation and is working on a new regulation. So, the Obama-era regulation at issue in West Virginia was not operative, which would normally make the case moot. The Supreme Court ruled, however, that because the rule could be reinstated, the case could proceed, underscoring the majority’s strong intent to create the major question doctrine.  The doctrine is presented as a check on executive power, but also represents a potentially significant expansion of judicial power. It is the Court that apparently will decide the parameters of what constitutes a major question, when and under what circumstances it will be applied, and when the President needs explicit authorization from Congress to take action.   

Though West Virginia v. EPA hinders EPA authority, it still leaves open several avenues for effective government climate action. The case does not touch on local and state government ability to regulate pollutants, and does not affect the EPA’s regulation of high-emitting sectors such as transportation. Additionally, this Court decision does not affect new power plants, only existing plants. Though it prevents the EPA from mandating renewable energy for existing power plants, the EPA can still require specific emissions reductions from individual plants. Finally, West Virginia v. EPA highlights the importance of passing effective congressional climate change legislation with explicit authority for the executive branch. West Virginia v. EPA is a further reminder that climate change cannot be fought without bold congressional action. 

For a more detailed discussion, we invite you to listen to the long version of this podcast on this website, and check out the links below.

Who is Professor Dan Farber?

Dan Farber is one of the nation’s most cited and influential scholars of environmental and constitutional law, and is faculty director of the Center of Law, Energy, and Environment at Berkeley Law. After law school, he clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court, giving him an intimate look into the workings of the nation’s highest court. His most recent book is Contested Ground: How to Understand the Limits on Presidential Power (UC Press 2021). Dan Farber is the Sho Sato Professor of Law at the University of California, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Life Member of the American Law Institute.

Learn More

West Virginia v. EPA: A Quick Explainer - Legal Planet

Emerging Answers to Major Questions - Legal Planet

Opinion | The Supreme Court's EPA Decision Is More Gloom Than Doom - The New York Times

The Supreme Court's EPA Ruling Is Going to Be Very, Very Expensive - The Atlantic

West Virginia v. EPA and the Future of the Administrative State - Legal Aggregate - Stanford Law School

 

 

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/what-does-west-virgina-v-epa-mean-for-environmental-policy-with-professor-dan-farber-and-ken-alex/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/why-does-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-matter-for-energy-policy/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/environmental-racism-with-dr-robert-bullard/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/what-u-s-china-diplomacy-relationship-means-for-fighting-climate-change-with-kevin-rudd-california-china-climate-institute/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/ev-vehicle-grid-integration-with-dr-carla-peterman-california-china-climate-institute/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/the-importance-of-merging-humans-and-nature-with-dr-liz-hadly-california-china-climate-institute/

For a transcript, please visit the episode's webpage: https://climatebreak.org/climate-101-s1e1-lessons-from-california-where-weve-gone-wrong-that-other-states-can-learn-from-as-well-as-where-weve-gone-right/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/climate-disaster-mitigation-through-political-action-with-dr-michael-mann-california-china-climate-institute/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/decarbonization-in-the-short-term-with-christiana-figueres-california-china-climate-institute/

Mass mobilization in climate activism

By the mid 2000s, the climate justice movement was beginning to gain momentum across the world. Through organized rallies and marches, the public has begun to see an increased recognition of climate justice issues amidst various other social movements. The existential threat of the climate crisis has given rise to an increased potential for transformational movements to ignite change. Mass mobilization thus provides a tactic of community organizing and civic engagement that can unite people across the globe – or create the possibility of a backlash. As climate activism becomes more prevalent, it is plausible that climate mobilizations will rise in urgency and frequency. 

How mass mobilization can spark change

Mass mobilization is a way for people and organizations to rally together in order to promote  widespread changes in a society. Social movements can accelerate action on climate change by providing windows of opportunity for transformative climate action. When people perceive a risk, such as climate change, to be extremely critical they may respond to the growing threat through various strategies of mobilization. Perceived risk can drive social change; if the risk appears to be strong enough, people may change their behaviors and push social actors to respond. 

Why mass mobilization is advantageous

On an individual level, it is hard to achieve large-scale changes given the immensity of the climate crisis. Community mobilization is thus a tool that can be harnessed in the fight to increase awareness of climate change. Mass strikes and protesting can re-emphasize social norms and the effectiveness of collective civic engagement. Collective action provides a collective voice that is more likely to be heard than solo protest. By encouraging friends and family to also engage in climate action, a movement can gain momentum and promote social norms that will support and normalize climate action. Beyond non-disruptive demonstrations and legally permitted marches, there are also more confrontational methods such as boycotts, sit-ins, and direct action that target political leaders and policymakers. 

What are the drawbacks of mass mobilization? 

The Internet and online social media are two factors that have contributed to the ease of coordinating widespread large-scale mobilizations of groups of people. However, one potential concern is that if we solely rely on the use of social media, we may forget the potential benefits of in-person action. Furthermore, it is sometimes difficult to continue activism efforts after a protest, rally, or march to foster long-lasting effects. In the Fridays for Future (FFF) youth climate protests led by Greta Thunberg, some have questioned whether those participating have held themselves personally accountable for their own carbon footprint outside of the movement. While strikes and protests can create solidarity, they also are susceptible to collective action problems as many individuals may hope to benefit from actions resulting from the protests without actually participating. Additionally, youth-climate strikes likely pose little direct threat to polluters, whereas those direct actions or strikes in particular polluting industries  may have a stronger impact on the decisions of fossil fuel firms. Although FFF has led to conversations on the need to address climate change, the broader social and political implications are uncertain, raising questions about the efficacy of mass mobilization. Large-scale mobilization efforts can also lead to significant political backlash, thereby complicating the landscape for collective action. Not everyone responds similarly to mass mobilization efforts, leaving debate on the potential efficacy of such actions.

About our guest

Dana R. Fisher is the Director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity and Professor at American University. Her seventh book, Saving ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action, presents mass mobilization as a realistic path forward for climate action in response to the growing severity of disastrous events. Fisher explores further the various types of activism, and which are most applicable to the climate crisis. 

Further Reading

• After Protest: Pathways Beyond Mass Mobilization
• Climate justice and sustained transnational mobilization
• Saving ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action

 

For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/mass-mobilization-for-climate-with-dana-fisher/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/how-policy-change-boosts-electric-vehicle-transformation-in-europe-with-laurence-tubiana-california-china-climate-institute/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/intergovernmental-pressure-on-climate-finance-with-mary-mary-robinson-california-china-climate-institute/

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For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/how-seaweed-helps-scientists-reduce-methane-emissions/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/corporate-climate-policy-advocacy-with-bill-wiehl/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/large-scale-solar-with-shannon-eddy/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/regenerating-food-systems-with-grizzly-corps/

What are the problems with current beer production methods?

Beer is primarily composed of water—making up about 90 percent of its content. Annually, over 100 billion gallons of beer are produced and shipped, meaning nearly 90 billion gallons of water are being transported in the form of beer. This is significant because approximately 20 percent of a beer’s carbon footprint is attributed to transportation. In response, Sustainable Beverage Technologies (SBT) has proposed a new type of beer that can reduce transportation costs, material use, and overall emissions. 

A Sustainable Solution

SBT’s approach allows beer to travel through the supply chain as a concentrated liquid, reducing its water content to one-sixth that of conventional beer. In practical terms, one 13-pound bag of concentrated beer can yield the equivalent of 48 pints of fully hydrated beer. The condensed form of the beer significantly decreases the weight and physical size of the beer as it moves through the supply chain, which in turn reduces between 450 and 500 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions for every 48 pints produced. 

Additionally, the only packaging that is not recyclable is the bag of beer itself. All of the boxes used in transportation are recyclable, which significantly reduces the waste from beer production and transportation. Current partnerships allow SBT to ship this concentrated beer formula to various vendors, who then rehydrate the beer before selling it to consumers. SBT is actively working to expand these partnerships to further reduce emissions in the beer industry. 

Effect on Consumers

This new beer will have minimal effect on the end consumer and will mainly influence partners and suppliers. SBT’s beer requires rehydration at its final destination; SBT is developing specialized technology to facilitate this. This beer allows consumers to keep enjoying their drinks while knowing they are contributing to a sustainable solution. 

About Gary Tickle 

Gary Tickle serves as the CEO of Sustainable Beverage Technologies.Alongside his partner, the original founder, he leads a team of innovators focused on crafting sustainable solutions for the beer industry while maintaining the beer flavor and feel. 

For a transcript of this episode, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/raising-the-bar-brewing-a-greener-future-with-concentrated-beer-with-gary-tickle/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/nature-based-solutions-with-dr-deborah-brosnan/

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For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/shifting-to-renewable-energy-with-hal-harvey-california-china-climate-institute/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/prescribed-burns-with-bill-tripp/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/the-american-conservation-coalition-with-karly-matthews/

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For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/rooftop-solar-with-bernadette-del-chiaro/

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For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/zero-emission-aviation-with-val-miftakhov/

A Need for Clean Energy

Energy harvesting from environmental sources is key to mitigating the harm associated with fossil fuels. Renewable energy is generated from naturally replenishing resources, and common sources include solar, wind, and water. Currently, renewable energy only makes up roughly 20% of all U.S. electricity, and many of these sources are intermittent – they do not produce continuous energy on a 24/7 basis. These sources of clean energy often require a large amount of land and specific weather conditions, and can face various barriers to being cost-effective. 

Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a method to harness energy from air humidity, potentially revolutionizing clean energy production. Dubbed “Air-gen,” this device has the capacity to produce continuous clean electricity.

How does Air-gen Work?

The prototype device is small in size, comparable to the size of a fingernail, and as thin as a strand of hair. The device contains tiny holes, known as nanopores, that allow water vapor in the air to pass through. As the water molecules travel through the nanopores, the molecules’ contact with the walls of the device creates small charges. The frequency of this contact causes a charge imbalance in the upper and lower parts of the device effectively creating a battery. Despite its current small-scale energy output, stacking multiple Air-gens has the potential for significant electricity generation.

Why Air Energy

The “Air-gen Effect” would offer a sustainable, accessible source of continuous clean energy as it utilizes humidity that is always present in the air. Air-gen technology has the ability to suit most environments, operating 24/7 day and night and even indoors. The devices can be stacked upon each other to increase energy output without increasing the footprint of the device. Air-gens do not require any specific material in their construction as well, minimizing the amount of material extraction needed in comparison to other forms of renewable energy. 

Clean Energy Challenges

The Air-gen team faces challenges in efficiency, material selection, and scalability. They aim to reduce the number of devices and space needed to generate significant amounts of energy, as well as optimize the device by finding ideal device materials that can operate across different climates. It is unclear how long these developments will take. 

Air-gen is one of many possible solutions, all of which faces challenges, both technical and economic. A competing solution is nuclear energy, which produces large amounts of energy and has grown in use globally. Nuclear power produces renewable, clean energy without pollutants or greenhouse gas emission, however, the byproduct of nuclear energy is radioactive material. Geothermal energy is another clean energy solution that drives turbines using steam power. Geothermal energy is flexible as it can run consistently regardless of time or weather, like the Air-gen, and also has a minimal footprint, but is limited in its location dependency, costs to start, and earthquake risks. There are many ideas for clean energy generation and storage, but finding the right solutions is only part of the challenge. 

About the Guest

Jun Yao is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Yao’s other work involves developing novel nanoelectronic and bioelectronic sensors and devices for health/physiological monitoring. Yao received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Rice University. 

 

Further Reading

• Energy from Almost Any Material (Washington Post,2023)
• Humid Air into Renewable Power (The Guardian, 2023)
• Air Humidity and Energy Harvesting (Advanced Materials, 2023)
• Jun Yao speaks on Harvesting Electricity from Air

 

For a transcript of this episode, visit https://climatebreak.org/generating-electricity-from-air-with-jun-yao/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/ev-charging-vehicle-to-grid-integration-with-scott-moura/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/ev-charging-vehicle-to-grid-integration-with-scott-moura/

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/plant-based-meat-with-ricardo-san-martin/