Welcome to Season 6 of The Climate Conversation podcast! To kick off the season, we are discussing a book, The Octopus in the Parking Garage: A Call for Climate Resilience . Since its publication earlier this year, The Octopus in the Parking Garage has helped non-expert readers understand climate resilience in a way that is not only accessible, but also empowering. Author Rob Verchick—a renowned climate law scholar and professor at Loyola University New Orleans—sits down with Dan and Alison to t...
Sep 05, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Surprise! We are thrilled to share this Season 5 bonus episode, which came about from an unexpected opportunity to interview a member of Congress. From California’s 17th Congressional District, we are joined today by Representative Ro Khanna, who played a vital role in the formation of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act. Rep. Khanna sat down with Dan and Alison to discuss how the CHIPS and Science Act contributes to climate policy, progress on imple...
Jun 13, 2023•14 min
It’s the last episode of Season 5! Over the past six episodes, we have talked about growing the electrification workforce, how the Supreme Court shapes environmental protections, partnerships between universities and tribal nations for climate adaptation research, and much more. Before The Climate Conversation begins its summer hiatus, we are closing out the season with an exploration of the circular economy and how the private sector can incorporate circularity into their business models. The d...
May 16, 2023•34 min
In 2020, there were 4.1 million climate jobs in the United States. One sector of these jobs that is not well-documented but is growing rapidly is climate adaptation. As the threats from climate change continue to worsen and we tackle this challenge, it will be critical to grow this workforce so we can prepare our communities as best as possible. In this episode, we speak with Rachel Jacobson from the American Society of Adaptation Professionals and Frank Niepold from the National Oceanic and Atm...
May 01, 2023•32 min
Our work at EESI is always science-based, which means we need to keep up with the latest research so we can best educate others. One initiative that is strengthening climate adaptation research in particular is the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, or CASCs, which are federal-university partnerships made up of a consortium of universities, tribal nations, and NGOs. Rather than isolating scientific research in academia, these centers involve lots of groups in decision m...
Apr 17, 2023•32 min
At EESI, our work primarily focuses on the legislative and executive branches of the government. Yet, decisions made by the judicial branch touch all of our lives and can have a huge impact on the air we breathe, water we drink, and food we eat. In this episode, Dan and Emma discuss this power with Steph Tai, a Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, through examining two present-day cases: West Virginia v. EPA and Sackett v. EPA. These cases highlight how Supreme Court decision...
Apr 03, 2023•25 min
Over the past two months, EESI has been running a four-part briefing series called Congressional Climate Camp to help get Congressional staff and other people working in the policy space up to speed with the legislative process and key opportunities for climate mitigation and adaptation action. This series covered four topics: budget and appropriations; public polling; non-CO2 greenhouse gases; and the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. ...
Mar 20, 2023•28 min
We know that the world needs to rapidly transition from burning fossil fuels towards renewable energy to address the climate crisis. This includes in our homes: switching to electric appliances instead of using natural gas or oil to heat our spaces and cook our food. David Smedick from RMI explains how we have great technology in heat pumps and induction stoves and a pathway of incentives and rebates from the big climate bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, to make this transition happen. But ther...
Mar 06, 2023•36 min
Welcome to Season 5 of The Climate Conversation podcast! We are starting off with a discussion about biodiversity and conservation, especially how this work connects with climate change and the role of policymakers in addressing biodiversity loss. EESI’s Dan and Emma speak with Barbara Martinez, a National Geographic conservation biologist and a member of EESI’s Board of Directors. Barbara shares her thoughts on the role of science in the federal government, the outcomes of the recent U.N. biodi...
Feb 17, 2023•27 min
It’s the final episode of season 4! To wrap things up, Dan and Anna are joined by Alejandro Moreno, the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Together, they recap the federal climate action that took place during the past two years of the 117th Congress, from the climate legislation that passed to new programs launched by federal agencies. Dan, Anna, and Alejandro also discuss where the federal government, and specifically the...
Dec 19, 2022•31 min
U.S. agriculture policy deeply influences how we interact with food. If you have ever shopped at a farmers market, eaten a school-provided meal, or bought something using food stamps, then you have seen a massive piece of legislation known as the Farm Bill at work. This bill, which Congress is set to update next year, shapes how the U.S. farms, eats, and trades. Dan and Emma talk with Vanessa García Polanco, policy campaigns co-director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, to understand the ...
Dec 05, 2022•35 min
Across the United States and around the world, motherhood is often the foundation of vital caregiving networks that help make communities more resilient in the face of crisis and conflict. Effective climate adaptation policy should account for the ways in which mothers are disproportionately affected by climate change hazards, while also supporting the essential caregiving role their communities depend upon. With COP27 underway, Dan and Alison sit down with Diana Duarte from MADRE, an internatio...
Nov 07, 2022•32 min
October 26, 2022 marks the two-year anniversary of EESI’s comprehensive report called A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities. This report is a guidebook for policymakers on coastal resilience, featuring policy recommendations, guiding principles, case studies from across the country, and so much more. To mark this anniversary, Dan and Emma speak with Shana Udvardy, Senior Climate Resilience Policy Analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, to learn about how the climate of the present is ...
Oct 24, 2022•29 min
Many faith buildings across the country are old and inefficient, racking up huge energy bills that faith groups sometimes cannot afford to pay. In Delaware, two state nonprofits have formed a partnership to help address this problem, running energy audits and providing educational outreach to faith communities across the state. Dan and Emma speak with Shweta Arya from Delaware Interfaith Power & Light and Tony DePrima from Energize Delaware to learn about their Faith Efficiencies program and...
Oct 04, 2022•31 min
People are always inventing new climate solutions, but it is challenging to go from an idea to a commercially-viable product. But we urgently need these technologies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, especially in heavy industries like steel manufacturing. Enter: Third Derivative, a climate accelerator with a mission to help climate start-ups bridge finance and resource gaps to enter the market faster. Dan and Emma speak with Elaine Hsieh, Third Derivative’s co-founder and principal, and E...
Sep 20, 2022•32 min
Welcome to season 4 of The Climate Conversation! We are heading back to school to learn about reducing cafeteria food waste with Food Policy Researcher Melissa Terry and representatives from the Boulder Valley School District and the Chef Ann Foundation in Colorado. Each day, the school district cooks over 15,000 fresh, cooked-from-scratch meals that kids actually want to eat. At the same time, they have also reduced their food waste by installing bulk milk dispensers, a salad bar, a composting ...
Sep 12, 2022•35 min
It’s the final episode of Season 3 of The Climate Conversation, which takes a close look at the newest version of the Climate Opinion Maps developed by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Yale has been publishing these maps since 2014, which display responses to prompts such as “global warming is happening” and “Congress should do more to address global warming” across different geographic levels in the United States. Dan and Emma speak with Dr. Jennifer Marlon, the lead researcher...
May 10, 2022•26 min
It's the launch of the Beneficial Electrification Toolkit at EESI! This resource is a one-stop-shop for utilities to learn, plan, and implement a beneficial electrification program. To explore this kind of electrification in action, we travel to Durango, Colorado, a small rural town in the southwest corner with a big source of pride: the first electric school bus with vehicle-to-grid capabilities in the state. This bus, which first hit the road in January 2022, not only takes students to school ...
Apr 26, 2022•31 min
In April 2021, Washington State passed the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, a landmark piece of environmental justice legislation that defines environmental justice, establishes an Environmental Justice Council, requires the use of an environmental health disparities map to analyze cumulative impacts, and builds community input into the decision making process. Dan and Emma discuss how the provisions within the HEAL Act can address environmental disparities and progress over the past year...
Apr 12, 2022•29 min
In Puerto Rico, sustainable agriculture practices are helping residents regain food sovereignty and break free from the roots of colonialism. Investing and supporting farmers cultivating these techniques will help Puerto Ricans reduce their dependence on foreign imports, help make food systems more resilient to extreme weather, bolster the local economy, and provide more options for a healthy diet. Dan and EESI Communications Associate Alison Davis talk about these topics and more with Dr. Glady...
Mar 29, 2022•33 min
On February 28, 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a new report focusing on the impacts of climate change and our capacity to adapt to them. This 3,000+ page document can help inform policymakers about the latest climate science and possible solutions. But what are the biggest takeaways from the report and where do we go from here? Dan and EESI Policy Manager Anna McGinn talk with Dr. Anand Patwardhan, previous coordinating lead author for the IPCC and co-chair o...
Mar 14, 2022•28 min
The aviation industry will be one of the toughest sectors to decarbonize. Yet, most of the major airlines have announced net zero emissions goals by 2050. So how are they going to get there? Dan and Emma talk with Aaron Robinson, Senior Manager of Environmental Strategy and Sustainability at United Airlines, about how United is investing in more efficient aircraft, sustainable aviation fuels, and carbon capture and storage facilities to get to net zero - without buying offsets. He also discusses...
Feb 28, 2022•27 min
In Louisiana, rising sea levels, more intense storms, and high tide flooding threaten coastal ecosystems and livelihoods of people in those communities. But Louisiana has been both planning for coastal resilience for a long time - and putting those plans into action. In this episode, Dan and Emma explore the benefits that wetland restoration can have for the coast and the role that wetlands play in the planning and implementation of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan. They are joined by Natalie Sni...
Feb 11, 2022•33 min
Welcome to the first episode of season 3 of The Climate Conversation! In this episode, EESI’s Dan Bresette and Amber Todoroff interview coastal resilience expert, Western Carolina University professor, and EESI Advisory Board member Dr. Rob Young. They discuss climate change threats to Charleston, a proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seawall project, and solutions to make the coastline more resilient.
Jan 28, 2022•27 min
With all the depressing climate news out there, it’s sometimes hard to see progress. The Climate Conversation cuts through the noise and presents you with relevant climate change solutions happening on the Hill and in communities around the United States. Twice a month, join Environmental and Energy Study Institute staff members as they interview environmental, energy, and policy experts on practical, on-the-ground work that communities, companies, and governments are doing to address climate ch...
Jan 01, 2022•2 min
It’s the last episode of Season 2 of The Climate Conversation! This week, Dan and Emma look back on EESI’s 2021 briefings and projects to discuss favorites, lessons learned, and what’s coming up next year. They are joined by EESI Senior Associate Dan O’Brien and Policy Associate Savannah Bertrand. The Climate Conversation will return for Season 3 in February 2022.
Dec 15, 2021•29 min
Dan and Emma explore in this episode how climate adaptation work is being done on the ground in communities across the United States. Through the USDA Climate Hubs, communities can get the regionally-specific tools and resources they need to better prepare for future climate impacts. Our guests today include Dr. Emile Elias, the director of the Southwest Climate Hub, and Dr. Julian Reyes, the national Climate Hubs coordinator.
Dec 07, 2021•26 min
Dan and EESI Senior Associate Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo spoke with Denise Abdul-Rahman, a field organizer for the National NAACP Environmental Climate Justice Program, about the NAACP Equitable Solar Policy Principles. These principles can help develop a shared understanding of equitable solar policy and assist advocates and policymakers craft solutions. Dan, Miguel, and Denise discuss the formation of these principles, how they can be applied, and how they can be used to spur an equitable transitio...
Nov 09, 2021•29 min
The Great Lakes is an incredibly diverse and important region, providing millions with water, contributing billions for the economy, and supporting the continuation of Indigenous lifeways for the approximately 20 tribal nations with land within the basin. But climate change and other environmental threats could upend all of that. Dan and Emma learn about the federally-funded climate resilience work happening in the region that could help protect this valuable area.
Nov 05, 2021•28 min
This week, Dan and guest host Susan, sat down with Lukas Haynes of the David Rockefeller Fund to discuss how grant-awarding foundations can help power climate solutions. The David Rockefeller Fund recently joined the Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance, one of the first U.S. foundations to do so, in an effort to drive decarbonization and inspire other asset owners to do the same.
Oct 22, 2021•23 min
