The Climate Conversation

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

5.4 How Supreme Court Decisions Can Shape Our Future Climate

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 decisions can shape federal agencies’ ability to tackle the climate crisis, water pollution, and other environmental challenges.
Shownotes:
EESI press release on West Virginia v. EPA: https://www.eesi.org/press-releases/view/supreme-court-decision-makes-congressional-climate-action-even-more-critical
Briefing on corporate climate risk disclosure: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/092022risk

5.3 Get Up to Speed on Federal Climate Policy with Congressional Climate Camp

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. We had 17 amazing speakers across the panels share their knowledge and expertise with our audience. In this episode of the podcast, Dan and Alison recap some of the series highlights and discuss major themes across the four briefings, featuring clips of the briefing panelists.
Shownotes:
Congressional Climate Camp Briefing Series: https://www.eesi.org/2023climatecamps

5.2 Powering Up the Electrification Workforce for an Equitable Clean Energy Future

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 there’s a big missing piece—the people to actually do these electrification installations. Dan and Emma speak with Dr. Janell Hills from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and Vaughan Woodruff from ReVision Energy about the challenges and opportunities of growing this critical workforce in an equitable way.
Shownotes:
- Inflation Reduction Act incentives article: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/new-climate-law-expands-household-efficiency-and-electrification-incentives
- Reflection on switching to an induction stove: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/i-made-the-switch-from-gas-to-electric-cooking-heres-why-i-love-my-new-induction-stove
- Clean energy educational resources: https://sustainableenergyaction.org/clean-energy-clearinghouse/
- IREC’s Clean Energy Career Maps: https://irecusa.org/career-maps/
- ReVision’s Electricians Will Save the World video: https://www.revisionenergy.com/solar-company/solar-careers-and-training/electricians-will-save-world

5.1 How Biodiversity Research Can Inform Public Policy

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. biodiversity conference, COP15, in Canada, and how Congress can boost conservation solutions.
Shownotes:
Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss article: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-twin-crises-interconnected-solutions
Global Sustainable Development briefing: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/100821unep
Natural Climate Solutions briefing: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/102822cop
Microbes and Climate Change report: https://asm.org/Reports/Microbes-Climate-Change-Science,-People,-Impacts