How to provide cooling for everyone -- without warming the planet | Rachel Kyte

Exactly when and where did life on Earth begin? Scientists have long thought that it emerged three billion years ago in the ocean — until astrobiologist Tara Djokic and her team made an unexpected discovery in the western Australian desert. Learn how an ancient rock found near a hot volcanic pool is shifting our understanding of the origin-of-life puzzle.

Everyone has the right to a clean environment — but major disparities exist when it comes to who faces the consequences of pollution. Environmental justice leader Peggy Shepard points to the disproportionate impact that hazardous environmental conditions have on Black, brown and Indigenous communities and challenges us to build a truly equitable future that turns "sacrifice zones" — where community health is sacrificed for the sake of development — into "green zones" that redress the legacy of pollution and harmful policies.

Your closet is likely full of all kinds of materials — leather, cotton, nylon and polyester, to name a few — that contribute to fashion's sustainability crisis. Biomaterials investigator Dan Widmaier explains how we could look to nature for sustainable replacements for these much-used materials and introduces a leather alternative made from mushrooms that looks great and doesn't harm the environment. "We can make fashion sustainable, and we're going to do it with science," Widmaier says.

What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It's possible through "cellular agriculture," says Isha Datar. In a talk about cutting-edge science, she explains how this new means of food production makes it possible to eat meat without the negative consequences of industrial farming — and how it could fundamentally change our food systems for the better. "It's our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a second chance at agriculture," she says.

From the return of nomadic living to a climate-disrupted world, author and global strategist Parag Khanna has some predictions for humanity. Get a fascinating glimpse at the future as he tackles an urgent question: Where on Earth will eight billion humans live in the uncertain times ahead?

(This conversation, hosted by TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member.)

The single most important thing for avoiding a climate disaster is cutting carbon pollution from the current 51 billion tons per year to zero, says philanthropist and technologist Bill Gates. Introducing the concept of the "green premium" — the higher price of zero-emission products like electric cars, artificial meat or sustainable aviation fuel — Gates identifies the breakthroughs and investments we need to reduce the cost of clean tech, decarbonize the economy and create a pathway to a clean and prosperous future for all.

Today's youth have inherited a big, unprecedented climate problem to solve — and the eco-anxiety to go with it. Gen-Zer and activist Clover Hogan knows the struggle firsthand, but she also understands the path to climate action starts with the one thing you can control: your mindset. She explains why challenging the stories that keep you feeling powerless can help you take the first step to protecting the planet for generations to come.

This is an episode from a show we think you might like: The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast.

Holiday shopping season is upon us, but instead of having a wasteful, plastic-heavy Christmas, why not have a green one? Hosts Candice and Caleigh have tips for how to celebrate sustainable holidays, from your wrapping paper to the menu at your holiday dinner.

The third season of Sold Out examines the intersection of the climate and housing crises. Hosted by Erin Baldassari, the series tells the stories of families and communities throughout California, as they grapple with the ways that climate is challenging the very idea of home. Sold Out shines a light on the solutions that can help us all face the future, highlighting the people who are actively working to protect their communities. This series questions assumptions that dictate how and where people live, while examining the barriers – whether political, financial or social – that hold us back from embracing or realizing change. 

Listen to Sold Out wherever you listen to podcasts. 

TED Climate will be back soon -- in the meantime here is an episode of another podcast we thought you'd enjoy.

This is the first episode of a five-part series exploring the European energy crisis in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this season, we ask the trillion dollar question: Will this crisis speed or slow down the energy transition in Europe? And what does that mean for the rest of the world?

Unpacking the history behind Europe’s dependence on Russian energy

Putin’s assault on Ukraine triggered an energy crisis that sent Europe’s economies into a tailspin and put the European energy transition to the test. But how did the European Union, a leader in climate action, become so dependent on Russian oil and gas to begin with?

This season, we look at the energy systems of Germany and Poland. Both have very different energy systems, but both became dependent on Russian energy for heating homes, firing power plants, and fueling businesses.

In this episode, we look at the immediate impact of the Ukraine invasion on that dependency and the historical influences behind it– from Germany’s pursuit of natural gas to Poland’s centuries-long relationship with coal.

Then we ask whether Europe’s initial response to the crisis– leaning more heavily on fossil fuels– will accelerate or slow down Europe’s push toward green energy.

If you like The Big Switch, you can listen wherever you get your podcasts.

What's happening with climate change these days? How is our adaptation going? What are the gloomy and bright spots? Join Dr. Stewart J. Cohen, climate change adaptation scientist, as he discusses the latest science and societal discussions about humanity adapting to a rapidly changing climate. Have a listen!

Direct download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/multi-hazards/Are_We_Adapting_to_Climate_Change_Yet_with_Dr._Stewart_J._Cohen.mp3 
Best-looking link: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/20289026 
Study Guide here, click where it says "PDF" on the middle left: https://multi-hazards.libsyn.com/are-we-adapting-to-climate-change-yet-with-dr-stewart-j-cohen 

Topics include:
* How have climate change deniers been "mutating" their message over the years, much like COVID-19 is mutating?
* What is the harm that climate change deniers are doing on social media?
* What are some solutions to dealing with climate change deniers?
* What is the new assessment from the International Panel on Climate Change, "IPCC Sixth Assessment Report – The Physical Science Basis"?
* Why is the word "unequivocal" so important in climate change science and in this report?
* What is this new field of "attribution studies"?
* What is the “Canada in a Changing Climate -- National Issues Report”?
* What's happening to communities across Canada with climate change?
* "You can't fight today's battle with yesterday's battle plan!"
* What's "just transition" and why is it so important?
* What's the case for optimism about climate change?
* Why is "polarised dialogue" about climate change so harmful?
* Even though heavy industry, transportation, agriculture, etc. are big fossil fuel emitters, how do our own voting and purchasing decisions also matter?
* What is the most urgent issue in climate change adaptation nowadays?
* How can we get away from so many surprises when it comes to climate change adaptation?

Dr. Stewart J Cohen's Bio:

Dr. Stewart J. Cohen is an author and educator on human-caused climate change. Dr. Cohen is currently a part-time instructor on climate change adaptation at Royal Roads University, and is writing posts on his blog, www.doctorclimatechange.com.

His university education was in geography, obtaining degrees from McGill University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Illinois. Dr. Cohen has recently retired from a 35-year research career with Environment and Climate Change Canada. He began his career in Toronto where he created and led studies on the impacts of projected climate change throughout Canada, including the Great Lakes, Saskatchewan River and the Mackenzie Basin. In 1995, as part of a research partnership agreement with the University of British Columbia (UBC), he moved to Vancouver and began developing collaborative projects with the UBC community. He led several climate change impact and adaptation studies of the Okanagan region, and contributed to studies on forests in central and northern British Columbia, and on projected climate impacts and adaptation actions in the Vancouver area. He also created and taught a graduate course, “Climate Change in the 21st Century”. This led to him publishing a textbook with that title in 2009 (McGill-Queen’s University Press).

He has been a member of author teams for national assessments of climate change in Canada and the United States, as well as several publications of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

Intro: "Ten Inch Spikes" by Jeremy Korpas on Youtube Audio Library
Outro: "Travel Nonstop" by Squadda B on Youtube Audio Library
Main Episode Photo by ELG21 on Pixabay

Wonder what it's like to work in climate change mitigation at ground level? James Byrne is the Climate Change Coordinator for the City of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Job shadow with him on this episode, a lively discussion with host Vin Nelsen. Check out: Working in Climate Change at Ground Level: Conversation with James Byrne (Multi-Hazards Podcast S02 E10). With Study Guide: Click where it says PDF on the top left! On Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
https://multi-hazards.libsyn.com/tackling-climate-change-at-the-local-level-conversation-with-james-byrne

BIO - James Byrne

Observing the state of the global climate deteriorating sparked in him a deep call to action. With the carbon clock persistently ticking away to unfathomable bleakness, he decided to engage and make this his life’s work. That decision led him to enroll and graduate from the University of Waterloo’s Master of Climate Change program. After graduating, he worked for Sustainable Peterborough in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, as the organization’s Climate Change Coordinator. He was primarily tasked with assisting eight rural townships and two First Nation communities in chronicling climate actions to date and assessing the levels of greenhouse gas emissions emanating from each community.

Presently he's the Climate Change Coordinator for the City of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. In this role, he monitors and evaluates the extent of greenhouse gas emissions being emitted from municipally-owned assets and from the broader community composed of residents and businesses. One key project he's currently working towards is establishing a city-wide home energy retrofit program. The goal of the program is to alleviate the extensive high energy demand of Peterborough’s older residential homes.

Lastly, his career aspirations are focused on making all municipalities in Ontario, Canada, more resilient to climate disruptions. This is coupled with decreasing the high-carbon lifestyles of residents and transitioning businesses to adopt climate-friendly business practices in communities. Achieving both goals will protect communities locally and aligns with the global climate justice movement. By 2050 he will know if he's succeeded or missed the target by a county mile. Wish him luck!

Can we actually adapt to a changing climate that seems like a runaway train? As the world heats up and nature quickly readjusts itself, how can we survive? In this episode, Dr. Stewart J. Cohen discusses how we predict where the climate is headed and how we can reduce its impacts on society. He discusses how the adaptation process works and how to involve stakeholders. If you want to dive deep into climate change adaptation, here's your chance! Be sure to check out the Study Guide for the program! Click on the top left where it says "Pdf" above the date! https://multi-hazards.libsyn.com/adapting-to-our-changing-climate-interview-with-dr-stewart-j-cohen

Also, check out Dr. Cohen's popular blog, Doctor Climate Change: https://doctorclimatechange.com

Dr. Stewart J. Cohen's Bio

Dr. Stewart J. Cohen is an author and educator on human-caused climate change. Dr. Cohen is currently a part-time instructor on climate change adaptation at Royal Roads University, and is writing posts on his blog mentioned above. His university education was in geography, obtaining degrees from McGill University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Illinois. Dr. Cohen has recently retired from a 35-year research career with Environment and Climate Change Canada. He began his career in Toronto where he created and led studies on the impacts of projected climate change throughout Canada, including the Great Lakes, Saskatchewan River and the Mackenzie Basin. In 1995, as part of a research partnership agreement with the University of British Columbia (UBC), he moved to Vancouver and began developing collaborative projects with the UBC community.

He led several climate change impact and adaptation studies of the Okanagan region, and contributed to studies on forests in central and northern British Columbia, and on projected climate impacts and adaptation actions in the Vancouver area. He also created and taught a graduate course, “Climate Change in the 21st Century”. This led to him publishing a textbook with that title in 2009 (McGill-Queen’s University Press).

He has been a member of author teams for national assessments of climate change in Canada and the United States, as well as several publications of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

Photos: Flood: Photo by Chris Gallagher on Unsplash Okanagan Vineyard: Photo by Kelowna09 on Wikimedia Seaside: Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Kaboom Pics Busy Street Scene: Photo by Anubhav Saxena on Unsplash Wave: Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash Smoke Stack: Photo by Mohri UN-CECAR on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/66770481@N02/6741179149) California Wildfires: Photo by Bjorgialt on Wikimedia Drought: Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

Today we’re talking about another potential tool in the climate solutions toolbox: carbon capture.

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law put $12 billion toward the tech, which promises to take carbon emissions straight from the air and store them underground. But there are concerns that supporting the fledgling industry could backfire.

On the show today, Inside Climate News’ Nicholas Kusnetz explains the ins and outs of carbon capture and the challenges of making it work on a scale big enough to be meaningful. Plus, how investing in the tech could prolong dependence on fossil fuels.

Then, studios want to own actors’ digital likenesses forever, and that’s a sticking point for SAG-AFTRA in the actors strike. We’ll get into what this has to do with trends in the generative AI industry. And, some news about former President Donald Trump’s net worth that made us say, “Huh?”

Later, we’ll hear from listeners about hydrogen fuel cell cars and shower design flaws. Plus, what a listener got wrong about the climate crisis.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• • “Pipe Dreams” from Inside Climate News

• • “How Does Carbon Capture Work?” from The New York Times

• • “Controversial carbon removal technology just got $1.2 billion from the Biden administration” from The Verge

• • “Carbon Capture” from MIT Climate Portal

• • “Companies capture a lot of CO2. Most of it is going into new oil.” from The Washington Post

• • “SAG-AFTRA won’t budge as studios push to own actors’ likenesses in perpetuity” from The Verge

• • “OpenAI unveils personalized AI apps as it seeks to expand its ChatGPT consumer business” from Reuters

• • “As shutdown looms, US House Republicans search for stopgap solution” from Reuters

• • “Donald Trump Net Worth Reaches $3.1 Billion Amid Trial” from Bloomberg

• • “How We Survive” from Marketplace

We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.