The United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, wrapped up in the United Arab Emirates last month, bringing several steps forward for global climate cooperation. Chief among them: all 195 countries signed onto a “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.” That said, some countries’ plans are not in keeping with this commitment. A new investigative report revealed Saudi Arabia is working with developing countries to try to set up oil-based infrastructure, locking in future oil demand for the coming decades. In this week’s Tip of the Iceberg, Ethan explores the good news from COP28, how Saudi Arabia’s Oil Demand Sustainability Program could derail it, and why wealthier countries like the U.S. should outcompete the Saudis with clean energy partnerships in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at ⁠patreon.com/thesweatypenguin⁠.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio

Fact Checker: Alia Bonanno

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

As climate change drives the melt of Arctic sea ice, polar bears are facing a major challenge. Scientists have said it is likely the global population of polar bears will fall by more than a third within the next three generations. But why does this issue matter, beyond polar bears being really cute? Today, we explore the ecological and economic importance of polar bears, the variety of threats they face in a changing climate, and a variety of tangible solutions to protect polar bears moving forward. With special guest Dr. Andrew Derocher: Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta.

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at ⁠patreon.com/thesweatypenguin⁠.

CREDITS

Writers: Aana Shenai, Emma Quarequio, Emma Jones, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Alia Bonanno

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

As Hurricanes Idalia and Lee hit Florida and ocean temperatures reach record highs across the world, there's much reason to be concerned about the state of our oceans. Unfortunately, some in the media took this sentiment way too far. A few weeks ago, several news outlets published stories with headlines saying the Gulf Stream could collapse as soon as 2025, sparking global climate chaos. The study they reference found that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) — not the Gulf Stream — could collapse sometime in the next century, with error bars spanning from 2025 to 2095. Moreover, this was one study, far from scientific consensus. An AMOC collapse would be very bad, but it is extremely unlikely to happen in two years. Ethan breaks down the current state of our oceans, the difference between the Gulf Stream and AMOC, and why this mixup damages the public’s understanding of climate change in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio

Fact Checker: Aana Shenai

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Emma Quarequio

Music: Brett Sawka

Monkeypox — a zoonotic disease native to tropical rainforest regions of central and west Africa — has spread outside its usual range, reaching Europe and North America. Seeing the global reaction to this new pathogen prompted a few questions. How serious is monkeypox? Why were we not discussing monkeypox when it was causing dozens of deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year? Why are we not discussing other pathogens in the Global South right now? And as climate change worsens and zoonotic diseases spread more easily, how do we prepare? Ethan contemplates all these questions and more in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In March, news outlets everywhere rang alarm bells after the collapse of the Conger Ice Shelf — a mass of ice the size of Rome in East Antarctica. But what is an ice shelf? And why are they so important? This week, we explore what purpose ice shelves serve, why they collapse, and where we go from here. With special guest Dr. Peter Neff: Assistant Research Professor of Soil, Water, and Climate at the University of Minnesota.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Ysabel Wulfing

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Following last year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, The Guardian did a five-month investigation piecing together as clear a picture as possible of planned future oil and gas exploration and production. They found that the world’s biggest fossil fuel firms are quietly planning 195 projects nicknamed carbon bombs, due to the fact that they would emit over a billion tons of carbon from start to finish. If they proceeded as planned, these 195 projects together would produce 646 billion tons of carbon emissions and make global climate targets all but impossible to achieve. Ethan breaks down The Guardian’s report, discusses why the economic interests of oil and gas companies aren’t aligned with those of the overall economy, and considers what comes next in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

**Correction: In the "Ask Me Anything" segment, Ethan mistakenly says that to have a 50:50 chance of containing global warming to 2°C, the world would be able to emit 1.5 trillion tons of carbon. The correct figure is 1.35 trillion tons.**

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Outdoor cannabis cultivation can have several environmental benefits, from sequestering carbon to remediating polluted soil. But most U.S. cannabis is grown inside greenhouses with sophisticated climate-control systems and high-powered lights that require a lot of energy — over 1% of total U.S. electricity use. Seeing as cannabis is projected to have a $70 billion market by 2028, this energy issue has the potential to get a lot worse if left unchecked. Today, we discuss how cannabis cultivation affects the environment, the links between cannabis and climate change, and how policymakers could help steer the industry’s environmental, economic, and social impacts in the right direction. With special guest Dr. Brandy Phipps: Research Assistant Professor of Food, Nutrition and Health at Central State University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Olivia Amitay, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Last week, the World Meteorological Organization issued a report stating that there is a 50:50 chance that at some point in the next five years, the global annual temperature could spike past 1.5°C hotter than preindustrial times. The goal that nearly every country in the world has agreed upon is to keep global warming under a threshold of 1.5°C by 2100, making the possibility of breaching it in the next five years particularly noteworthy. However, there is an important distinction: a blip over 1.5°C in a single year does not mean the world failed its climate goal. Ethan explains why year-to-year average temperatures are not the measuring stick for climate change and how the WMO’s report successfully explained that nuance in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

For many people, sustainable housing brings to mind either show heads and toilets with zero water pressure or futuristic buildings that look like a spaceship. In reality, sustainable houses can actually look quite normal, and achieve carbon emission cuts, water conservation, and long-term cost savings. But what will it take to make millions of houses sustainable? Today, we explore what sustainable housing could look like, what stands in the way of making it happen, and how any of those hurdles could be overcome. With special guest Dr. Andréanne Doyon: Assistant Professor of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Last week, Politico published a leaked draft opinion in the Mississippi abortion case facing the Supreme Court, showing the majority of justices in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade’s precedent of a constitutional right to abortion. In the climate world specifically, this draft sparked many conversations about how sexual and reproductive health is, in fact, a climate issue. So what do these two seemingly unrelated topics have to do with each other? Ethan gives a very truncated summary of the links between climate change and sexual and reproductive health and shares some climate solutions that could help both issues in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Located in northeastern Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical forest in the United States, the home to many rare species such as the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot, and the source of 50% of the water supply for the San Juan metro area. It also is one of the most important destinations in the Caribbean for ecotourism, hosting one million visitors and contributing $5.5 billion to the Puerto Rican economy every year. But between more severe droughts and more extreme hurricanes such as Maria, the forest is undergoing several changes that could put many of these important ecosystem services at risk. Today, we explore the significance of El Yunque, what risks hurricanes and droughts pose to the forest and nearby communities, and how the forest and island can adapt for the future. With special guest Dr. Maria Uriarte: Professor of Biology at Columbia University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Isabel Plower, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water shortage emergency last week and ordered outdoor water usage be restricted to just one day a week for about 6 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties. From a policy perspective, the move may make sense. But when climate change clearly shows water availability in Southern California is only going to get worse, is framing the problem as an “emergency” giving false hope of a future day where the water shortage is over? Ethan reflects on why it may be less overwhelming to acknowledge the tough reality and put more emphasis on strategic, collaborative, money-saving water conservation solutions in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Frank Hernandez

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

When rain or other precipitation runs off to a new location, it usually picks up a lot of gunk along the way. In fact, an estimated 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater runoff, containing everything from raw sewage to trash to toxins, enters U.S. waterways from city sewer systems every year. This polluted water can ruin water quality, erode streambanks, and cause algal blooms that devastate marine ecosystems. And with climate change causing more extreme rains, the stormwater issue is poised to get even worse. Today, we explore the problems caused by stormwater, how they affect our economy and health, and how to better manage stormwater moving forward. With special guest Dr. Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman: Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Olivia Amitay, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In addition to being a tasty appetizer, oysters produce $186 million dollars and supports 1.7 million jobs in the U.S. each year. They’re also essential role players in the global nitrogen and carbon cycles, making them building blocks for life on earth. Unfortunately, climate change and other human activities have posed some serious threats to these important mollusks. Today, we explore why oysters matter, what challenges they face, and how we can best conserve them moving forward. With special guest Dr. Wally Fulweiler: Professor of Earth & Environment and Biology at Boston University.

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Dare Fitzpatrick, Maddie Salman, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Mikaela Gonzalez

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970, and it turned out to be an extremely unifying cause during a time of deep social and cultural division in the United States. 52 years later, as climate change becomes more and more serious, has Earth Day lost a bit of its charm? Ethan shares some reflections on Earth Day 2022 in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

People have always migrated due to changes in their environment, but as climate change has exacerbated droughts, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, crop failures, and more, increasing numbers of people are being forced to move rather than choosing it for themselves. Climate migration disproportionately affects many developing countries in the Global South, but is also increasingly prevalent within the United States after disasters such as the Camp Fire and major hurricanes. On Earth Day 2022, we take a look at this important human dimension of climate change and consider how we prepare for more climate migration in the future. With special guest Dr. Gregory White: Mary Huggins Gamble Professor of Government at Smith College.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Over 1,000 scientists in over 25 countries took part in climate protests last week, risking their careers and reputations in the process. Ethan breaks down why this is not normal, why scientists would be compelled to turn to activism, and why these protests are a reminder that climate change CAN be addressed in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Ethan sits down with The Sweaty Penguin’s newest team members Hallie Cordingley, Isabel Plower, and Maddy Schmidt to recap season 4. They’ll share what they do behind the scenes, some takeaways from the season, favorite episodes, and then face off in the third ever Sweaty Penguin finale bonus episode Kahoot! See how much you remembered from season 4 and listen to us crown the next Sweaty Penguin Kahoot champion.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released the third part of their Sixth Assessment Report last week, titled “Mitigation of Climate Change,” and with it, came the usual doom and gloom reactions. But the report itself was overflowing with reasons to be hopeful, and even excited. Ethan breaks down why he came away from the report feeling more optimistic about the climate than ever before in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.” Plus, a first-time “Reverse Ask Me Anything” segment with Sweaty Penguin Producer Frank Hernandez that you won’t want to miss!

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In 1991, 78 percent of Americans identified as environmentalists. By 2021, it had dropped to 41 percent. Why, in the last few decades, has environmentalism experienced this steep decline in popularity? In the final deep dive of season 4, we consider some of the reasons why environmentalism might have rubbed people the wrong way and where the movement might go from here as it works to generate swift climate progress. With special guest Dr. Jenny Price: Research Fellow at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis and author of “Stop Saving the Planet: An Environmentalist Manifesto.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

After pressure from both Democratic and Republican senators, President Biden is invoking the Defense Production Act to encourage domestic production of the minerals used in batteries for electric vehicles and long-term energy storage, minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite. This move has major implications for U.S. national security and the global climate, and also serves as a reminder of some of the fossil fuel dynamics behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ethan breaks down the reasoning for this bipartisan move in the U.S. and examines some other transformations in the global energy sector in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Although most experts agree that carbon capture and storage strategies cannot combat climate change on their own, carbon capture absolutely has the potential to offset some of the “tough-to-get” emissions and possibly even make the world carbon negative. In order to achieve that potential though, each method of carbon capture has some challenges to overcome. Today, we break down ten methods of carbon capture, discuss the hurdles they face, and consider how they might improve. With special guest Wake Smith: Lecturer at Yale University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Learn more at solutionsjournalism.org.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Caroline Koehl, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Frank Hernandez

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Last week was a big one for the poles of the Earth, with record-shattering heatwaves in both the Arctic and Antarctica followed by the collapse of the Conger Ice Shelf in Eastern Antarctica. Many headlines suggested scientists were surprised, even flabbergasted! Ethan breaks down why these events were surprising, and why surprise does not mean doom-and-gloom in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Solar energy is clean, cheap, renewable, and surprisingly land-efficient, making it a really exciting technology to scale up. But to do that as effectively as possible, solar has some challenges to confront, from human rights and geopolitical dilemmas in the manufacturing process to siting challenges to the fact that people’s electricity use spikes in the evening when the Sun isn’t shining. Today, we consider the potential of solar power to improve the climate and energy sector overall, contemplate some of the challenges in the supply chain, and consider how solar can achieve its full potential. With special guest Dr. Dustin Mulvaney, Professor of Environmental Studies at San José State University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Learn more at solutionsjournalism.org.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Caroline Koehl, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

On August 18, the National Hurricane Center issued the first Southern California tropical storm watch in history as Hurricane Hilary barreled up the coast. At its worst, Hilary was a category four Pacific Hurricane, which hit 145 mile per hour winds, brought flooding, mudslides, and torrential rainfall to the Pacific Coast of Mexico, the Baja California Peninsula and the Southwestern United States, and broke state rainfall records as far away as Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon.,In California, portions of I-8, I-10, I-15, SR 14, and the Pacific Coast Highway closed due to flooding and rockslides; more than 5,000 customers in LA were left without electricity, and rainfall totals reached as high as 11.74 inches around San Jacinto Peak. The worst of the damage, however, was in Mexico, where nearly 1,900 people were evacuated to shelters in the Baja Peninsula and the country has faced two casualties. In Los Angeles, this was many people’s first hurricane, and while understandable that people may not have known what to do, it was a bit surprising to see the degree to which individuals failed to heed basic safety recommendations and downplayed the storm on social media. Ethan explores how climate change and El Niño could have impacted this historically unusual storm and why the response from Angelenos was so unsettling in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio

Fact Checker: Ainsley Jane Tambling

Editor: Megan Antone, Saige Gipson

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Gasoline prices have hit record highs over the last month, and understandably, people are not happy about it. But some of the theories floating around social media that it’s because of gas taxes, greedy oil CEOs, or climate policy are actually not all that relevant to today’s high prices. Ethan breaks down why these three explanations make no sense, what has actually caused the price swing, and some short-term and long-term solution ideas in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Unlike plant-based proteins like Beyond Meat or Impossible Burgers, lab-grown meat is actually meat. Scientists take stem cells from a cow, chicken, or any other animal, culture them in a lab, and create anything from steak to seafood to leather to egg whites. The process hasn’t been perfected yet, and Americans can’t buy lab-grown meat in the supermarket, but startups and investors have flooded this market with the hope that lab-grown meat could become a safer, more ethical, and more sustainable competitor to conventional meat. That said, lab-grown meat still faces many hurdles to get there, from cost to public perception to a part of the production process that still leads to the slaughter of animals. Today, we explore how lab-grown meat is made, what the barriers are, and how the industry could overcome them. With special guest Dr. David Block: Ernest Gallo Endowed Chair of Viticulture and Enology and Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of California, Davis.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Learn more at solutionsjournalism.org.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Olivia Amitay, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released part two of the 6th Assessment Report, leading to several doom-and-gloom headlines and soundbites saying variations of “we need to act now or it’ll be too late.” But haven’t we been hearing that for decades? When is this supposed time that’s “too late?” Turns out, it’s a lot more nuanced than that, and this IPCC report actually helps clarify this “too late” concept through its in-depth analysis of climate adaptation research. Ethan breaks down what this major report is actually about and some key information we can glean from it in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

According to measurements from NASA’s GRACE satellites going back to 2002, the Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets are losing 427 billion metric tons of ice per year, equivalent to eight Olympic swimming pools per second. That melting—driven by climate change—is the number two driver of global sea level rise, it harms nearby corals and shellfish, and more. Today, we explore how we know the ice sheets are melting, what the consequences are, and where we go from here. With special guest Dr. Robin Bell: Professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics at Columbia University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Dain Kim, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

Between malaria and a long list of other diseases, mosquitoes are responsible for a million global deaths per year, making mosquitoes the most deadly animal in the world. And due to climate change, among other factors, mosquito populations are on the rise. Today, we explore what threats mosquitoes present, why their populations are increasing, and what we might be able to do about it. With special guest Dr. Amanda Tokash-Peters: Assistant Professor of Biology at Centenary University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Haley Cronin, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Frank Hernandez

Music: Brett Sawka

Companies, cities, and countries are making new climate plans and setting carbon neutral targets left and right. But how does anyone know if they’ve succeeded? That’s where carbon accounting becomes important, and today, the practice is facing some growing pains, not the least of which being that it is completely voluntary. Today, we explore why carbon accounting is important, what challenges it faces, and how the practice can improve. With special guest Dr. Delphine Gibassier: Professor of Finance at Audencia Business School in France.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Isabel Plower, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

Palm oil is used in close to 50% of packaged products at the supermarket, and according to the 2021 IPCC report, land use change for needs such as conversion from forest to oil farm is the second greatest contributor to human-induced climate change, behind fossil fuel use. The deforestation caused by palm oil causes not just climate change, but habitat loss for endangered species, land conflicts with Indigenous communities, and more. But while there’s some activists pushing palm oil bans/boycotts and other activists pushing sustainable palm oil, both solution proposals face some major challenges. Today, we discuss what palm oil is, why it’s responsible for so much destruction, and where we go from here. With special guest Dr. Janice Ser Huay Lee: Assistant Professor at the Asian School of Environment at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Ethan Brown

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

Two lawsuits against a group of major oil companies have made news in the last couple weeks, both initiated by local governments alleging that these companies misrepresented and buried evidence for the climate damage that their products would cause. The oil companies have responded by essentially trying to move the lawsuits to other courtrooms. Environmentalists are frustrated by this tactic, but honestly, doesn’t it seem like oil companies are grasping at straws here? Ethan breaks down why these lawsuits might actually be shaping up well for environmentalists and gives a hot take on what might be a smarter strategy for oil companies who want to stay profitable in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning, Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

More than 60 experts, including several past guests on The Sweaty Penguin, made headlines last week for signing a letter that encourages the international community to adopt a non-use agreement for solar geoengineering—a set of technologies that aim to reflect or block out a fraction of the sunlight hitting the Earth in order to artificially cool the climate. But given the urgency of climate change, why do these experts want to take a potential solution off the table? Today, we explore what solar geoengineering could accomplish at its best, what some of solar geoengineering’s (arguably insurmountable) challenges would be, and what comes next for this technology. With special guest Dr. Elizabeth Chalecki: Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Dain Kim, Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The word “aerosol” might make us think of hairspray and Fabreeze cans, but under the scientific definition, aerosols are a wide range of solid and liquid particles ranging from sea salt to dust to black carbon that end up in the atmosphere. These aerosols actually have a net cooling effect on the climate, but considering their health impacts and their propensity to worsen droughts and rainstorms, excess aerosols are far from desirable. Today, we explore the problems aerosols create, how they are emitted both naturally and anthropogenically, and where we go from here. With special guest Dr. Faye McNeill: Professor of Chemical Engineering and Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University.  

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.  

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.  

CREDITS 

Writers: Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Ethan Brown, Maddy Schmidt 

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley 

Editor: Frank Hernandez 

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl 

Ad Voiceover: Frank Hernandez 

Music: Brett Sawka

Vinyl chloride is a manmade chemical primarily used to make PVC, which is found in a variety of everyday products, including cables, pipes, flooring, shoes, and credit cards. The chemical is linked to cancer, liver disease, and a variety of other human health impacts. In February, a Norfolk Southern train carrying vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in 23,000 gallons of the chemical being released which caused air pollution, contaminated waterways, and harmed the health and environment of the surrounding community. Today, we explore what vinyl chloride is, why it’s so dangerous, and how we can protect ourselves moving forward. With special guest Dr. Juliane Beier: Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Aana Shenai, Hallie Cordingley, Velina Georgi, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Alia Bonanno

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

When people flick a light switch, they expect the light to turn on. And supplying enough electricity to meet that expectation in a climate-friendly, cost-efficient way is a major challenge, which led to the invention of the smart grid—an electrical grid where suppliers also receive data back from customers to help them distribute electricity and avoid power outages. But as promising as this technology seems, there are also some aspects of smart grids that are worth discussing to ensure they don’t become issues, such as cybersecurity and integrating decentralized renewable energy. Today, we explore some of these smart grid dilemmas and consider how to ensure smart grids live up to their full potential. With special guest Dr. Ankit Kumar: Lecturer in Development and Environment at The University of Sheffield.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Caroline Koehl, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

Natural rubber is widely considered a more eco-friendly and better product than synthetic rubber, but it still presents some issues. Natural rubber contributes to deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and more. But climate change and disease also threaten natural rubber. And in a global market that already sees volatile prices, impoverished farmers, the stealing of land from Indigenous communities, and an international rubber cartel, these climate challenges just add to a laundry list of concerns. Today, we explore how rubber is made, what environmental, economic, and national security issues rubber presents, and what options we have moving forward. With special guest Dr. Miles Kenney-Lazar: Assistant Professor of Geography at the National University of Singapore.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Haley Cronin

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

Research presented at the American Geophysical Union this month found cracks on the ice shelf holding back the Thwaites glacier: a mass of dense, landlocked ice the size of Florida. When the shelf collapses, which scientists now estimate will happen in five years, Thwaites will start moving toward the ocean, leading to sea level rise that exceeds even our worst-case scenario projections and would threaten coastal cities and communities around the world. Ethan breaks down this new research and contemplates what level of panic is appropriate in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

On December 10th and 11th, historic tornadoes wreaked havoc on Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and almost instantaneously, people made the assumption that climate change played a role. But while tornadoes of this severity in December are unprecedented, scientists have not yet determined a link between climate change and tornadoes. Ethan breaks down what we know, what we don’t know, and why it’s important to stick to the facts in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

They’re older than the dinosaurs, they’ve survived four mass extinctions, and yet today, in the wake of climate change, pollution, and commercial fishing, sharks are endangered. As an apex predator, this steep decline in sharks also has massive ramifications for marine ecosystems and the economy more broadly, and because sharks don’t produce offspring at nearly the levels of other fish, it’s very difficult to help shark populations get back on track. Today, we explore what challenges face sharks, why sharks are important, and how we can support them moving forward. With special guest Dr. Jodie Rummer: Associate Professor of Marine Biology at James Cook University. 

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise. 

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Why is it so difficult to achieve effective environmental policy in the United States? Is it just a lack of willpower, or is there a little more to it? Today, we explore some of the lesser-discussed procedural barriers to environmental policy development such as the amendment process, the recent preference for omnibus bills, and certain state preemptions, and consider if there are ways around these challenges to allow for more innovative, nuanced, and popular environmental policy in the future. With special guest David Johnson: Lecturer in Law at Stanford University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Flu season is fast approaching, and with it comes a Sweaty Penguin episode revealing that temperature rise, air pollution, and wildfires can actually make the impacts of the flu worse. But how can that be? The flu is at its worst in the winter, so shouldn’t a warmer climate help? Unfortunately, and perhaps surprisingly, it doesn’t actually play out that way. Today, we cover how influenza works, what this unexpected connection to climate change is, and what that means for the future. With special guest Dr. Jeffrey Shaman: Director of the Climate and Health Program at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

COP26 concluded with the adoption of the “Glasgow climate pact,” which was revised at the last minute due to demands from China and India to change the phrase “phase out coal” to “phase down coal,” which infuriated much of the rest of the world. But are the two phrases really that different? Will phasing “down” lead to a different outcome? Why would China and India make this demand? Ethan breaks all of this down in episode 2 of “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

The average American coffee drinker drinks over three cups of coffee per day, and that demand is only getting bigger. But unfortunately, coffee is a ridiculously sensitive plant, meaning even the tiniest changes in climate can eliminate many of the world’s current coffee growing regions and put farmers who often make as little as $2-3 per day in an even more difficult situation. Today, we discuss how climate change affects coffee, how these changes can exacerbate other issues such as poverty, deforestation, and child labor, and how the coffee industry could adapt moving forward. With special guest Dr. Janina Grabs: Assistant Professor of Business and Society at Esade Business School in Spain.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Even before the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow started, many in the environmental movement were ready to call it a failure, feeling world leaders would just spend the two weeks making empty promises. But while frustration about climate change to this point is warranted, is COP26 the right outlet? In The Sweaty Penguin’s first ever edition of “Tip of the Iceberg,” Ethan breaks down some of the challenges facing global environmental governance and considers why COP26 may be meaningful even if the resulting pledges and treaties don’t seem groundbreaking.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

On August 8, intense winds from nearby Hurricane Dora led to around 30 downed utility poles causing outages for over 12,400 customers. These winds and downed power lines contributed to fires in various parts of Maui. In Kula, a fire scorched about 1,000 acres, threatening 544 structures and burning 16, with evidence suggesting a fallen power line as the ignition source. Meanwhile, Lāhainā experienced its most devastating fire on August 8 due to a downed power line. This fire led to widespread evacuations, gridlock, and desperate escape attempts, including people diving into the ocean. As of August 15, 106 deaths were confirmed in Lāhainā, with search operations still underway. This fire consumed 2,170 acres and destroyed over 2,200 buildings, resulting in damages estimated near $6 billion. The Lāhainā fire's death toll became the highest for a U.S. wildfire since 1918. In the immediate aftermath of the fires, many began discussing the connections between these fires, climate change, and colonization. But what are these connections, and why are they important? Ethan explores how climate change worsened the fires, how colonization worsened both climate change and the fires, and what lessons we can learn going forward in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio

Fact Checker: Dare Fitzpatrick

Editor: Ethan Brown

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Velina Georgi

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Today, orangutans are confined to just two islands in Indonesia and Malaysia, and due to forest loss, poaching, and climate change, they’re endangered. And although there’s tons of conservationists doing interesting work to protect orangutans, finding a long-term solution for the species may require us to think more outside the box. Today, we explore why orangutans are important, what threats they face, and how we need to reframe these issues in order to identify a path forward. With special guest Dr. Liana Chua: Tunku Abdul Rahman Lecturer in Malay World Studies at the University of Cambridge.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

We may never notice it ourselves, but climate change and air pollution can actually affect our day-to-day performance at our jobs. Studies ranging from agricultural workers to call center workers to chess players and baseball umpires find measurable decreases in productivity because of these environmental issues. And whether you’re concerned about your health, your paycheck, your career advancement opportunities, your employees if you’re an employer, or you just like your job and want to do it well, we all have cause for concern. Today, we explore the impacts of heat stress, hurricanes, particulate matter, and more on worker productivity, and consider how we might adapt to these challenges in the future. With special guest Dr. Matthew Neidell: Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Is nuclear energy good or is it bad? Is it the answer to our climate woes or is it Chernobyl 2.0? Or, maybe, is it a little bit more nuanced than that? Today, we break down some of the criticisms of nuclear energy such as safety, radioactive waste, water use, and cost, consider to what degree these criticisms are issues, and discuss the future of nuclear energy in a carbon-free world. With special guest Dr. Jacopo Buongiorno: TEPCO Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.