The Climate Conversation

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

4.7 Year in Review: Progress on U.S. Climate Action and the Road Ahead

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 Department of Energy, will go from here as they work towards meeting national climate goals in a holistic and equitable way.
Shownotes:
Inflation Reduction Act articles: https://www.eesi.org/page/IRA+-+Inflation+Reduction+Act
Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits article series: https://www.eesi.org/energy-efficiency-for-nonprofits
Federal Agencies in Action briefing series: https://www.eesi.org/0203Fed

4.6 From Farm to Table: The Role of the Farm Bill in How We Eat, Farm, and Trade

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 history and impact of the Farm Bill. They are also joined by Keefe Keeley, executive director of the Savanna Institute, and Tucker Gretebeck of All Seasons Farm in Cashton, Wisconsin, to explore how a small but important aspect of the Farm Bill, planting trees on farms, can also benefit the climate.
Shownotes:
Farm Bill Resources: https://www.eesi.org/2023-farm-bill
Agriculture and Climate Article Series: https://www.eesi.org/agriculture-and-climate-series

4.5 Love into Action: The Power and Politics of Motherhood in Climate Activism

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 international women's human rights organization and feminist fund, to talk about how motherhood empowers climate activism in the global south. They are also joined by Moms Clean Air Force Co-Founder Dominique Browning for her insight on how networks of moms and dads are engaging with climate policy in the United States.
Show notes:
Go-To Resources on Gender Day:
https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/go-to-resources-on-the-key-themes-of-cop27-week-2#Gender
What Congress Needs to Know About COP27 briefing series:
https://www.eesi.org/cop27
COP27 Dispatch newsletter:
https://www.eesi.org/salesforce

4.4 Celebrating Two Years of Coastal Resilience Solutions at EESI!

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 affecting our coasts, what the big climate bills in the United States mean for coastal communities, and some examples of coastal resilience in action.
Show notes:
A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities report: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/a-resilient-future-for-coastal-communities
Regional coastal resilience briefing series: https://www.eesi.org/initiatives/coastal-resilience

4.3 Energy Efficiency Brings Blessings to Delaware Houses of Faith

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 the benefits it can have for houses of worship. They are also joined by Pastor John Graham of Temple United Church in Wilmington, who shares stories of the transformation in his church after completing energy efficiency upgrades.
Show notes:
Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits article series: https://www.eesi.org/energy-efficiency-for-nonprofits
Articles on the Inflation Reduction Act: https://www.eesi.org/page/Inflation+Reduction+Act

4.2 Boosting Innovative Companies to Accelerate Climate Solutions

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 Erica Nemser, chief executive of Compact Membrane Systems, a company part of the Third Derivative portfolio that makes membranes to capture carbon from industrial activity. Elaine and Erica discuss the importance of supporting small companies for climate solutions, strategies to address the lack of diversity in climate tech, and how federal policies can support their work.
Show notes:
Scaling Up Innovation to Drive Down Emissions briefing series: https://www.eesi.org/tech2022