The Climate Conversation

6.6 It’s Time for World Leaders to Put Their Subsidies Where Their Climate Goals Are

As EESI prepares for our extensive coverage of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, we turn our attention to a topic that will be critical for global emission reductions—fossil fuel subsidies. Government subsidies are an important tool for stabilizing the economy, especially after a shock to the market, but they can also generate profits for polluting industries, as is the case with fossil fuels. Earlier this year, Canada made headlines by releasing the first national plan to eliminate inefficient subsidies to domestic fossil fuel companies. Dan and Alison are joined by Phil Gass and Laura Cameron of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to discuss Canada’s framework and the state of global fossil fuel subsidies in the lead-up to COP28.
 
Show notes:
Proposals to Reduce Fossil Fuel Subsidies (2021): https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-proposals-to-reduce-fossil-fuel-subsidies-2021 
Fossil Fuels: https://www.eesi.org/topics/fossil-fuels/description 
What Congress Needs to Know About COP28: https://www.eesi.org/cop28-briefings 

6.5 Hot Today, Hotter Tomorrow: Policy Solutions to the Dangers of Extreme Heat

Extreme heat is the silent killer out of all climate-related disasters. Fatalities from extreme heat typically do not receive as much attention as those from other severe weather events like hurricanes, floods, blizzards, or wildfires, and yet heat is the top weather-related public health hazard in the United States. For today’s episode, Dan and Alison are joined by Kurt Shickman, the newest member of EESI’s Board of Directors, to hear his perspective as an expert on policy solutions for extreme heat. Kurt details many different strategies to combat heat that are both affordable and attainable, and how the right policies can bring these solutions to life.
Show notes:
Q&A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Response to Extreme Heat: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/qa-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-preventions-response-to-extreme-heat
Living with Climate Change: Extreme Heat: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/062422climatechange
In a Warming World, Urban Forestry Programs Help Residents Beat the Heat: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/in-a-warming-world-urban-forestry-programs-help-residents-beat-the-heat 

6.4 How the Department of Energy is Catapulting Clean Energy Innovation to Commercial Liftoff

The most complicated part of solving the climate crisis is not developing clean energy technologies—we’ve already made enormous strides there—but, rather, funding the deployment and widespread adoption of those technologies. The Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working to overcome that barrier by financing large-scale energy infrastructure projects to help the United States reach its climate goals. In this episode, Dan and Alison are joined by LPO Chief Strategist Jonah Wagner to discuss DOE’s Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Reports, the role of the private sector in the transition to a decarbonized economy, and some of the clean energy technologies on the front lines of this transition.

6.3 Policy Approaches for Building Resilience against Sea Level Rise in Coastal Communities

Idyllic water views may be great for tourists, but for homeowners and residents of coastal communities, they can be a foreboding red flag. With each passing year, the climate crisis brings more extreme storms, storm surge, and even sunny-day flooding—all on top of rising sea levels. This episode explores policy approaches to help build resilience for coastal communities. Dan and Alison sit down with Jeff Peterson, co-facilitator at the Coastal Flood Resilience Project, to talk about a wide range of solutions, including risk disclosure, strengthening infrastructure, supporting relocation efforts, and more.
 
Show notes:
Sea Level Rise: Policies to Anticipate Threats and Build Preparedness: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/051822climatechange 
A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/a-resilient-future-for-coastal-communities 
Celebrating Two Years of Coastal Resilience Solutions at EESI! https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/4.4-celebrating-two-years-of-coastal-resilience-solutions-at-eesi 
In the Face of Rising Sea Levels, Experts Call for Nationwide Coastal Management Approach: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/in-the-face-of-rising-sea-levels-experts-call-for-nationwide-coastal-management-approach
Q&A: What Is the Future for New Jersey’s Coastal Marshes? https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/qa-what-is-the-future-for-new-jerseys-coastal-marshes

6.2 How Climate Adaptation Researchers Are Working across Sectors and Cultures in the Red River Basin

Last season, in Episode 5, we talked about the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, or CASCs. These regional consortiums facilitate partnerships between universities, tribal nations, and other institutions to deliver science that helps fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate. In this episode, Dan and Anna explore the South Central CASC and its work on the Red River Basin. They are joined by Barney Austin, president and CEO of Aqua Strategies Inc, and Newakis Weber, water resource manager for the Chickasaw Nation, to talk about why the Red River is so critical and how decision-makers in the region can increase resilience to the projected impacts of climate breakdown.

6.1 Talking about “The Octopus in the Parking Garage” with Rob Verchick

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 talk about the major themes and findings from his book, including public perception of climate and resilience, modern forms of casteism, and planning for an uncertain future. 
 
Show notes:
A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities: Federal Policy Recommendations from Solutions in Practice: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/a-resilient-future-for-coastal-communities 
Climate Adaptation: A Review of Federal Legislation Enacted Since 2017: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-adaptation-a-review-of-federal-legislation-enacted-since-2017 
In the Face of Rising Sea Levels, Experts Call for Nationwide Coastal Management Approach: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/in-the-face-of-rising-sea-levels-experts-call-for-nationwide-coastal-management-approach 
Planning and Acting for a Resilient Coastal Louisiana: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/s3e2-planning-and-acting-for-a-resilient-coastal-louisiana 
Climate Adaptation Programs across Agencies: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/031822fed
Public Polling on Climate Change: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/020923camp

5.8 Representative Ro Khanna on the CHIPS and Science Act

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 implementation, the bipartisan appeal of the law, and more.
Shownotes:
How the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Work Together to Advance Climate Action: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/how-the-inflation-reduction-act-and-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-work-together-to-advance-climate-action
Briefing Series: Scaling Up Innovation to Drive Down Emissions: https://www.eesi.org/tech2022
Content Tag: California: https://www.eesi.org/page/California

5.7 How Companies and Communities Can Stop Wasting Time and Start Reducing Waste with the Circular Economy

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 dominant economic system in the United States and around the world encourages a linear form of consumption resulting in excessive waste for the sake of an ever-higher GDP number. Dan and Alison speak with Pieter van Exter from Metabolic and Amy Aussieker from Envision Charlotte about how breaking away from the linear economy is good for business, good for people, and good for the planet. Progress being made in the Netherlands and Charlotte, North Carolina provides a framework for what policies and practices can support the transition to a circular economy.
Shownotes:
Rethinking Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Policies and Programs to Address Waste: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/042021waste
Government Economic Models Fail to Account for Climate Change, Hindering Action: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/government-economic-models-fail-to-account-for-climate-change-hindering-action
Reduce and Reuse: How to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Building Materials, Plastics, and Food: https://www.eesi.org/1221waste

5.6 Building Up Adaptation Jobs to Rise to the Climate Challenge

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 Atmospheric Administration about what these jobs are, how the government can track them, and strategies to increase equity and education within the adaptation workforce.
Shownotes:
Climate Jobs Fact Sheet: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-climate-jobs
Adaptation Jobs Explainer: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/adaptation-jobs-explainer-understanding-this-critical-and-growing-workforce
Adaptation Legislation Article: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-adaptation-a-review-of-federal-legislation-enacted-since-2017

5.5 Elevating Climate Adaptation Research Through Collaboration

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 making and make their results accessible. Dan and Emma speak with Dr. Jessica Hellmann from the Midwest CASC and Emma Kuster from the South Central CASC to learn about how these collaborations support students, elevate voices from tribal nations, and deliver key scientific research to natural resource managers.
Shownotes:
Climate adaptation programs briefing series: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/031822fed
Briefing on coastal resilience in the Great Lakes: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/021320greatlakes
Podcast on the USDA Climate Hubs: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/s2e7-planning-for-climate-adaptation-at-the-regional-level