Betsy Rosenberg is a veteran climate journalist, who wants to implement regular designated coverage of environmental issues on mainstream media. We discuss her vision of a major-cable-news-media world where global warming is treated as the top-of-the-masthead topic, with both dedicated discussion and integration into all the other fodder of the 24-hour news cycle.

You can read more about Betsy here .

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The State of Massachusetts released a strategy to achieve net zero by 2050 along with near term actions for 2030. Listen in to hear what it all means. Oh, BTW, call Governor Baker now to insist he sign the climate legislation that supports the roadmap! (617) 725-4005

The reading list:

• Commonwealth Magazine on the roadmaps
• The official 2030 roadmap
• The official 2050 'decarbonization' roadmap
• The Climate Minute on the climate elements of the COVID bill
• The Climate Minute on the legislation awaiting the Governor's signature
• The Climate Minute on planning for national coal shutdowns
• Dave Roberts on Electrifying Everything
• What Churchill said about planning
• What Eisenhower said about planning
• T. E. Lawrence wrote "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"
• Wikipedia on Laissez-faire

How to Contact Governor Baker

Email Governor Baker using this portal: https://www.mass.gov/forms/email-the-governors-office 

You can also use this email: [email protected]

(this email has not bounced back according to advocates)

CC Gov. Baker’s Legislative Director: [email protected], plus Community Affairs Director: [email protected]

Call Governor Baker’s Office using the following telephone number: (617) 725-4005

Tag Governor Baker on Twitter using his twitter handle: @MassGovernor

Tag Kathleeen Theoharides, the Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, on Twitter using her twitter handle: @ClimateKatie and @EEASecretary

Phone Script

Hello, this is ____ (name) calling from (your town). I’m calling today to ask Governor Baker to take leadership on climate action by signing Bill S.2995, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy.

I have been working with Rep (your Rep) and Sen (your Senator) on ensuring that the strongest possible climate bill comes out of the conference committee. (optional) Including ____ in the climate bill is crucial to my community’s climate goals.

This legislation makes important advances to our current climate action efforts that are critical to ensuring that our communities are protected from the worst effects of climate change. Governor Baker has a huge opportunity to be a leader on this issue and (your town) is counting on him.

Will Governor Baker stand with his constituents and sign this bill?

[Conclude Conversation] I am happy to follow up with more information over email.  Is there anything else you need from me? 

As a resident of (your town) I appreciate Governor Baker's leadership on this important issue.

Email Script 

Dear Governor Baker,

I’m [name], your constituent from [your town]. I’m writing today to ask you to take leadership on climate action by signing Bill S.2995, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy.

As an active member of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, it’s important to me that you sign S.2995. This legislation makes important advances to our current climate action efforts that are critical to ensuring that our communities are protected from the worst effects of climate change. In particular, it: 

• Writes environmental justice into Massachusetts law and provides new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods.
• Creates a first-time greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants and imposes a five-year moratorium on biomass. 
• Allows for a local option "net-zero stretch energy code" and adds 4 energy efficiency seats to the BBRS.

Governor Baker, you have a huge opportunity to be a leader on this issue and (your town) is counting on you. Thank you, in advance for your support and leadership.

Your Constituent,

[Your Name]

[Your address]

Sample Social Media

.@MassGovernor Please sign the #ClimateRoadMap that includes #EJ4MA + #netzero stretch code. #ClimateBillWithTeeth = #CovidRelief = #Publichealth.   

#mapoli

.@MassGovernor Please be a leader on climate action by signing the #ClimateRoadMap. Our communities need #EJ4MA + #netzero stretch code. #ClimateBillWithTeeth = #CovidRelief = #Publichealth.   

#mapoli

.@MassGovernor We need your leadership on climate. Sign #ClimateRoadMap. Our communities need #EJ4MA + #netzero stretch code. #ClimateBillWithTeeth = #CovidRelief = #Publichealth.   

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The long slow MA legislative process finally produced a good climate bill. It now sits on Governor Baker’s desk, in limbo and awaiting his signature. If the Governor fails to sign it, there may be no new policy for years. Listen in for some good reasons to support this bill.

The reading list:

• The Climate Minute from August 2020 on the initial passage of the bill
• MassLive on the final passage of the bill
• WBUR explains the bill

How to Contact Governor Baker

Email Governor Baker using this portal: https://www.mass.gov/forms/email-the-governors-office 

You can also use this email: [email protected]

(this email has not bounced back according to advocates)

CC Gov. Baker’s Legislative Director: [email protected], plus Community Affairs Director: [email protected]

Call Governor Baker’s Office using the following telephone number: (617) 725-4005

Tag Governor Baker on Twitter using his twitter handle: @MassGovernor

Tag Kathleeen Theoharides, the Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, on Twitter using her twitter handle: @ClimateKatie and @EEASecretary

Phone Script

Hello, this is ____ (name) calling from (your town). I’m calling today to ask Governor Baker to take leadership on climate action by signing Bill S.2995, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy.

I have been working with Rep (your Rep) and Sen (your Senator) on ensuring that the strongest possible climate bill comes out of the conference committee. (optional) Including ____ in the climate bill is crucial to my community’s climate goals.

This legislation makes important advances to our current climate action efforts that are critical to ensuring that our communities are protected from the worst effects of climate change. Governor Baker has a huge opportunity to be a leader on this issue and (your town) is counting on him.

Will Governor Baker stand with his constituents and sign this bill?

[Conclude Conversation] I am happy to follow up with more information over email.  Is there anything else you need from me? 

As a resident of (your town) I appreciate Governor Baker's leadership on this important issue.

Email Script (Senator)

Dear Governor Baker,

I’m [name], your constituent from [your town]. I’m writing today to ask you to take leadership on climate action by signing Bill S.2995, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy.

As an active member of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, it’s important to me that you sign S.2995. This legislation makes important advances to our current climate action efforts that are critical to ensuring that our communities are protected from the worst effects of climate change. In particular, it: 

• Writes environmental justice into Massachusetts law and provides new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods.
• Creates a first-time greenhouse gas emissions standard for municipal lighting plants and imposes a five-year moratorium on biomass. 
• Allows for a local option "net-zero stretch energy code" and adds 4 energy efficiency seats to the BBRS.

Governor Baker, you have a huge opportunity to be a leader on this issue and (your town) is counting on you. Thank you, in advance for your support and leadership.

Your Constituent,

[Your Name]

[Your address]

Sample Social Media

.@MassGovernor Please sign the #ClimateRoadMap that includes #EJ4MA + #netzero stretch code. #ClimateBillWithTeeth = #CovidRelief = #Publichealth.   

#mapoli

.@MassGovernor Please be a leader on climate action by signing the #ClimateRoadMap. Our communities need #EJ4MA + #netzero stretch code. #ClimateBillWithTeeth = #CovidRelief = #Publichealth.   

#mapoli

.@MassGovernor We need your leadership on climate. Sign #ClimateRoadMap. Our communities need #EJ4MA + #netzero stretch code. #ClimateBillWithTeeth = #CovidRelief = #Publichealth.   

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

In the waning days of 2020, Congress passed a COVID relief bill that included a good package of climate legislation. Among many other topics, the bill tells the EPA to deal with the 'super' greenhouse gases used in air conditioning. Why does this matter? Listen in.

The reading list:

• USA Today on the climate legislation
• The House press release on the legislation
• The Senate press release on the legislation
• Dave Roberts on the legislation
• Rolling Stone on the legislation
• Inside Climate News on the legislation
• Slate calls for focus on HVAC as climate issue
• Grist on A/C and HFC
• Inside Climate News on use of Propane in Chinese A/C systems
• Info on the GHG properties of refrigerants

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

As 2021 dawns, we see climate experts assemble in the White House, and opportunities to gain traction on the challenges before us.

The reading list:

• The Paris Accord demands attention
• Biden on CSPAN announcing his climate team
• The NYT on the the Biden team
• SciAm on the Biden team
• The Climate Minute on the need to pressure the Biden team
• Heated's Atkins on the Duty and Care we need to give

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Joe Biden has assembled a powerful team to address climate change. Their nearly super-human responsibilities demand that we provide continuing support and honest feedback in order to force them to succeed.

The Reading List:

• Atkins on MSNBC
• Atkins' HEATED site
• All We Can Save
• Drilled podcast
• Hadestown
• NYT on Biden's climate team

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich are environmental leaders. We talk about the experiences of their lives that led to this commitment.

The reading list:

• The Global Environmental Media homepage
• Amazon link to Dennis' autobiography "Courage to Survive"
• Amazon link to Dennis' recent book "A Prayer for America"
• Elizabeth Kucinich's homepage

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

The new president had plans to spend upwards of $2 trillion dollars addressing climate change. To do that effectively, honestly and equitably is no small task. A recent proposal for a “National Investment Authority” may provide a pragmatic path forward.

The reading list:

• The American Prospect's Big Idea section discusses public investment
  • Today we are publishing Omarova’s article describing her proposal. Tomorrow we will publish four reactions, and Omarova will offer a brief final response on Thursday. This is another in the Prospect’s continuing series of Big Ideas—proposals that will not be enacted today or tomorrow, but that can set the agenda.

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Covid denial and climate denial seem bizarrely unexplainable, but a recent article plumbs the roots of the distrust of science from the 1920’s forward. Understanding why some people reject what seem to be obvious scientific facts is the first step toward building a better relationship between science and society.

The reading list:

• How Americans Came to Distrust Science
  • Through all of this disputation, the core image of science as a value-neutral, and thus innately amoral, enterprise has sunk ever deeper into the cultural bedrock. Generations of commentators have taken for granted that science entails a morally detached approach to the world, even as they clashed bitterly over its applications and implications.
• Tuskeegee Study suggests why some might distrust science.
  • In order to track the disease’s full progression, researchers provided no effective care as the men died, went blind or insane or experienced other severe health problems due to their untreated syphilis.

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Achieving the goal of 100% clean energy by 2035 will require thoughtful preparation and crisp execution. A new paper highlights the opportunity to shutter existing fossil fuel plants at minimum cost and with maximum care for the communities involved. All it takes is a little planning.

 The Reading List:

• Biden's 2015 plan
  • "That started to change this summer. In a surprise move for a cautious candidate, Joe Biden put a 100% clean grid at the core of his climate agenda. Even more remarkable was his proposed timeline: 15 years. It was startlingly ambitious, considering his prior goals for eliminating emissions focused on a more gradual and familiar 30-year timetable."
• Summary of Grubert article, via Twitter's Thread Reader
• Link to Fossil Electricity Retirement Schedule for a just transition.
  • "Out in Science today: decarbonizing US electricity by 2035 only strands about 15% of capacity-years, based on typical lifespans. Setting explicit deadlines can help with the #JustTransition."
• Could coal plants run on green hydrogen instead?
  • "You see an old coal plant and an obsolescent workforce; I see a superb opportunity for green hydrogen. Green?Hydrogen? Let’s start with hydrogen. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe but just coming into its own as a versatile fuel for a world moving away from hydrocarbons. Capturing hydrogen is simple in theory: just apply a lot of energy to water to break the two H’s (hydrogen) from the O (oxygen) to create pure hydrogen. Like natural gas, that hydrogen contains heat that can be released with combustion to drive a generator. Unlike natural gas, that combustion is GHG-free."
• Gray, blue and green hydrogen
  • “As gas turbines are inherently fuel-flexible, they can be configured to operate on green hydrogen or similar fuels as a new unit, or be upgraded even after extended service on traditional fuels, i.e. natural gas,” GE says. “The scope of the required modifications to configure a gas turbine to operate on hydrogen depends on the initial configuration of the gas turbine.”

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for a building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist the United States transform it’s energy sector, over the next decade, under a just and equitable plan, that uses regulations, investments and a price on carbon to safeguard our collective future.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre