Plans to build a police training facility (AKA Cop City) in Atlanta’s Weelaunee urban forest, over local protests, encapsulates many issues of racial, environmental and climate justice. We get an update on why ‘Cop City’ is important, why you should care, and what you can do about it from two climate activists.

The reading list:

• Community Movement Builders on Cop City
• Southern Center for Human Rights on killing of activist in Atlanta
• Protecting Atlanta's Forest
• Unicorn Riot's coverage of Cop City Protests
• GoFundMe to support the activist killed by police
• A list of corporations complicit in the funding of Cop City. You can request they stop their support.
• Actions you can take
• Atlanta Solidarity Fund supporting people arrested
• Stop Cop City solidarity
• Killing of Rayshard Brooks
• https://350nh.org/
• https://350ct.org/
• Find the current global CO2 ppm here
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Providing health care in the US generates about 8% of our annual carbon emissions. That is a big number! We were joined by the Sustainability Program Manager at a hospital in Boston We discuss how hospitals are working to reduce their carbon impact.

In this episode we covered the following topics:

• Avery shares her ‘short story’ on how she got to this position.
• We get into some of the insights on the work she is doing inside a ‘corporate / heath environment’ to bring about sustainability
  • Supply chain (Sope 1, 2, & 3)
  • Single use equipment, tools
  • The Cool food pledge
  • anesthetic gases, and reducing loss through leaks
• We reveal an ongoing learning opportunity in the course of the discussion

The reading list:

• To start this discussion -> https://healthtrustpg.com/thesource/workplace-trends/sustainability-workplace-trends/avery-palardy-receives-the-healthtrust-2022-social-stewardship-award/
• The Health Care sector is responsible for 8.5% of GHG emissions
• Cool Food Pledge site -> https://coolfood.org/pledge/
• Article related to Cool Food Pledge discussion - food greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and factors https://ourworldindata.org/greenhouse-gas-emissions-food
• Background on Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions for healthcare
• https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01247
• See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html
• https://www.massclimateaction.org/helping_hospitals_reduce_their_carbon_pollution_november_14_2022
• Find the current global CO2 ppm here
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

We talk to the campaign manager of the “Fix the Grid” effort about a recent rally for clean energy. “The people who run our regional electric system, called ISO-New England, are keeping us hooked on fossil fuels and costing residents money. And the worst part is, we ratepayers who fund this whole system have no seat at the table! They make their decisions behind closed doors, without any accountability. We're calling on our new Governor Maura Healey to demand reform from ISO-New England”

The reading list:

• Slingshot home
• Invite to the March 2 event
• Media toolkit for the Fee Party
• Video of the Fee Party
• The Climate Minute on the need for grid transparency
• The Climate Minute on Demystifying FERC
• Find the current global CO2 ppm here
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

In this episode we were joined by the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent and as you’ll hear, we had a great discussion. We go from flood plain, to the water cycle, to dealing with climate grief..In this episode we covered the following topics: 

• Breeka Li Goodlander provides her "road to Franklin Conservation Agent"
• Open Space & Recreation update process underway
• Franklin is basically a flood plain source for the Charles River
• Role of wetlands, fragility of cycle, point source, non-point source
• Climate grief, Skype a scientist
• The remedy for grief is to take action, to make a difference

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

The reading list:

• Franklin Conservation page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation
• Open Space & Recreation Plan update ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/2023-open-space-and-recreation-plan-update
• The town of Franklinà https://www.franklinma.gov/
• The “Book of the Dead” that Goodlander mentioned can be found https://therevelator.org/species-extinct-2022/
• See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html
• Find the current global CO2 ppm here
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The Clean Heat Commission report presents a bold vision for how to go about the task of decarbonizing buildings, from homes to skyscrapers, here in Massachusetts. We get the perspective of an expert working on the issues.

The reading list:

• Acadia Center blog post on the Clean Heat Commission
• MA Gov description of the commission
• Download the report here
• find the current CO2 ppm
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

A person’s FICO score shouldn’t prevent them from being able to lower their energy bills and being a part of climate crisis solutions. We talk to the Founder and CEO of the Capital Good Fund, a non-profit working to create solutions to overcome the financial barriers that prevent people from transitioning renewable energy.

The reading list:

• Capital Good Fund's vision
• About Andy Posner
• Find the current CO2 ppm
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Don’t despair over our stalemated politics. Our guest asks “What if, instead of fighting over politics, diverse groups of citizens could create an inspiring vision of the kind of system we want – and then come together and create it?” Listen for her new ideas in her book “Igniting a Bold New Democracy” on how to bring clashing views into synthesis and progress.

The reading list:

• Go here to learn about the book or contact Dr. Backstrom
• Dynamic Facilitation
• History of Rome podcast
• Citizen Assemblies as imagined by Extinction Rebellion
• Find the current global CO2 ppm here
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

A landmark MA government report called for significant changes to help reduce CO₂ emissions from the use of home heating fuels. For example, the report details the need to plan for a transition away from gas utilities in the coming years. We caught up to the Conservation Law Foundation’s Vice President for Massachusetts to learn more.

The reading list:

• CLF's press release on the report
• Background on the Commission
• A PDF of the Final Report of the Commission (including the easy-to-read Executive Summary.)
• The Conservation Law Foundation
• Find the current global CO2 ppm here
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

We talk about how a heat pump works, and how you probably have a better understanding than you think you do!

The reading list:

• Back to Basics: Heat Pumps
• Heat pump systems
• What is a mini-split?
• Boston Globe: Heat pumps have major test
• MA CEC on Air Source heat pumps
• Some info on Federal (IRA) rebates
• Green Energy Consumers Alliance can help figure out what you need
• HEET on Networked Geothermal systems
• For Physics Nerds: The Joule-Thomson cooling effect
• find the current CO2 ppm
• How many days ‘til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Decarbonization is the process of getting fossil fuel out of your life. This is a starting point to discuss how we learn about climate and what actions we can take.

The reading list:

• The MA roadmap
• https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-clean-energy-and-climate-plan-for-2025-and-2030
• Commission on Clean Heat issued report on Nov 30, 2022
• https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-commission-on-clean-heat-final-report-november-30-2022/download
• The Boston Foundation Climate Report Card
• https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/videos/2022/november/boston-climate-progress-report-forum-20221103
• Sherry Turkle
• https://sts-program.mit.edu/book/reclaiming-conversation-power-talk-digital-age/
• Myths about appliances...
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/01/24/home-appliance-myths-energy-saving-tips/
• WTO chief at Davos call for global carbon pricing
• https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/3821368-wto-chief-calls-for-global-carbon-pricing/
• find the current CO2 ppm
• How many days til 2030?

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 that protects environmental justice communities.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre