The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) speaks on behalf of its chapters to improve our town’s energy and climate policies and programs. Recently, Sarah Dooling joined the organization as it’s new Executive Director. Listen in as we learn more about her experiences and plans for the future.

The reading list

• https://www.massclimateaction.org/

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

A committee of the MA legislature is meeting to reconcile two versions of climate legislation. We review the issues and the stakes.

The reading list:

• Altemose in Commonwealth on the issues

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

Transportation in the post covid world will be different. While airlines offer “joy rides”, new insight about the impact of jet emissions comes to light. Here on the ground, Massachusetts struggles with it’s outmoded “auto-centric” transportation philosophy.

The reading list:

• A joy flight around Uluru
• Caron Brief on airline impacts
• InsideClimateNews on aviation emissions
• Aloisi on transportation old-think
• DiCara on bold transportation thinking
• Boston backs down on Melnea Cass trees

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

We review RBG’s environmental achievements, and consider the future of climate legislation in the SCOTUS.

The reading list

• Politico on RBG's legacy
• WaPo on implications of the new SCOTUS configuration
• Monbiot on digital democracy
• NYT on digital democracy in Taiwan

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

US government agencies like the National Science Foundation are the result of a tacit post-WWII scientific contract. The terms of the contract were that the NSF would fund science in the public good. Naomi Oreskes argues that contract is broken, because too many American politicians find accurate science inconvenient. What will replace it? Also, given smoke out west and floods in the south, what should we expect for climate migration inside the US?

The reading list:

• Oreskes: America's divorce from science
• NYT (paywall) version of Lustgarten article on migration in the US
• The Lustgarten article on climate migration, in ProPublica, no paywall

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

Is the media’s sudden new interest in climate change a sea change? How will we know when the coverage is authentic? Is Facebook’s new climate information center a bona fide effort or just evasion of the real truth?

The reading list

• NYTimes headlines
• LATimes headlines
• Guenther in Globe says people want climate coverage
• Gizmodo reviews Facebook's climate center
• Facebook slow to pull fire rumor posts

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

Despite continued opposition, and probably aided by political protection, the Weymouth Compressor Plant has begun the commissioning process that will allow full operation.

The reading list:

• "No Compressor" news feed
• Information on Gov Baker's relation to Enbridge
• Patriot Ledger on testing start
• Patriot Ledger on Weymouth Emergency Shutdown

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

News outlets are failing to report the context for huge, climate driven fires on the West Coast.

The reading list

• Atkins at HEATED on fires
• Media Matters reviews coverage

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

Exxon was dropped from the DJIA, indicating the decline of the industry. But Big Oil has plans to survive the renewable revolution by using all that fracked gas to make plastics.

The reading list:

• NYT on Oil's plastic dream
• Exxon out of DJIA
• https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/plastic-problem-recycling-myth-big-oil-950957/
• https://grist.org/climate/fossil-fuel-companies-are-counting-on-plastics-to-save-them/?utm_content=buffer9bf20&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
• https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/the-highlight/2019/4/9/18274131/plastic-waste-pollution-bacteria-digestion?__twitter_impression=true

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 behavior of hurricane Laura teaches us about how climate change is remaking the world. Ed Markey’s primary victory had a lot to do with climate politics. Is there a message for other candidates?

The reading list

• The Guardian on Laura
• NPR on releases prior to Laura's arrival
• Yale on hurricane intensification
• GRIST on the role of climate activists in Markey win

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