The National Climate Assessment (aka the NCA) was released on Black Friday. Ironically this allowed more media coverage of the dire message. Why do we have this report? What does the report say? How should we think about it? Listen in as we put this report in context and try to understand the implications.

The reading list:

• Background on the NCA history
• Katherine Hayhoe explains it to you
• Max Boot gets it
• The full NCA link
• Is GDP the right metric?
• Shared Socioeconomic pathways
• Dave Roberts on Pod Save America
• Chuck Todd fails
• Genevieve Guenther on how media can improve coverage

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The infrastructure of natural gas pipelines showed it’s danger recently when multiple explosions in three Merrimack Valley communities occurred simultaneously. How should a climate hawk think about this? Is it a chance to ‘electrify everything?’ If you want to help, check out Nathan Phillips gofundme page.  

The reading list:

• Globe on post explosion scrutiny
• Roberts "Electrify Everything"
• Gofundme for cook-plates
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

As Massachusetts advances down the path of a clean energy future, the question of carbon emissions from transportation becomes more and more important. How can we reduce carbon pollution from the everyday process of getting from here to there? Listen in as we discuss ideas from the mundane to electrified roadways.

The reading list:

• Tragedy in Italy
• Heavy rain disrupts transportation in Eastern Massachusetts
• Low cost power from Vineyard Wind
• GWSA and transportation
• An e-road in Sweden
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

The California fires serve as an illuminating backdrop for absurd comments from Ryan Zinke and legal positioning by corporate CEOs. Listen in.

The reading list:

• Facing Billions in Fire Damage, CEO Blames Climate Change
• Wildfires are enviro's fault, says Zinke
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

California is literally burning up – is this the new normal? We hope not. The good news is that the mainstream media seems, finally, to give credit to climate change as a force to be reckoned with. The Trump Administration’s collusion, delusion, and confusion may interfere with California’s auto standards, but if states can stand strong, there is still hope for our competitiveness in the global landscape. Looking for a simple everyday action that you can do? Connect with Shave The Peak campaign to learn when your actions will keep the state of MA from using dirty fossil fuel energy. Tune in for details.

https://soundcloud.com/massclimateaction/trump-fiddles-while-california-burns-the-climate-minute-podcast

Further reading:

• Shave the Peak Campaign https://www.massenergy.org/shavethepeak
• EPA cannot deny CA http://policyintegrity.org/files/publications/No_Turning_Back.pdf
• Net Zero Webinar: https://www.massclimateaction.org/8_15_net_zero_roundtable_webinar
• org WeRise event on September 8^th: https://peoplesclimate.org/

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes was at the center of a twitter debate over media coverage of climate change. Listen in as we discuss.

The reading list:

• Washington Free Beacon on the controversy
• Grist wonders about profit motivated media
• The New Republic on connecting the dots
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

So the MA Legislature took a swing and missed. No, they fumbled a great chance. No, they dropped the ball. No, they struck out. No, they choked. No, they “could’a been contenders.”

OK, sports metaphors don’t work for everyone.

The MA Legislature, like Frodo at the Crack of Doom, looked into the abyss of demands from the fossil industry and lost heart. Unfortunately, Gollum was not there to bite the ring off.

OK, LOTR references are too opaque.

The MA Legislature had the chance to make our state the nation’s leader in clean energy policy, and they failed. It is as simple as that. Constrained by a rigid hierarchy of power in the House and beholden to powerful corporate energy interests, our elected officials ignored visionary policies passed by the Senate and produced a milquetoast, uninspired energy bill that only a utility could love.  

As climate hawks, we will take the 2% RPS in this bill but focus on electing true clean energy advocates. And, by the way, we will return to the next legislative session with renewed commitment.

As they used to say about the Red Sox, “Wait ‘til next year!”

The reading list:

• Sierra Club statement
• MassLive reports on the bill
• Commonwealth Mag's coverage
• PV Mag's coverage
• CleanTechnica's coverage
• UCS blog
• Pacheco gets ready for next time!
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

From the Arctic heat wave to political hypocrisy, we discuss the climate news of the week.

The reading list:

• Arctic heat wave
• Airline temperature limits changed?
• State's rights Hypocrisy
• GOP carbon tax?
• electric buses
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

What is the RPS? Why should you care? Listen in as we talk with Eugenia Gibbons (of the Mass Energy Consumers Alliance) about changes to the renewable portfolio standards being considered by the Massachusetts Legislature.

The reading list:

• Eugenia Gibbons on the RPS
• Jeff Sanchez on the House version
• UCS USA blog on what MA needs
• HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.

Thanks for listening.

…Ted McIntyre

Russia is known for its chess grandmasters, but in Helsinki on July 16^th, Trump and Putin, possibly motivated by oil interests, may have handed a checkmate to the rest of the world. This week, follow us through a chain of news analysis that illustrates America’s obsession with fossil fuels and why it promises to lead only to stranded and ---literally---sunken assets.

Further reading:

• Globe deceptively headlines “Massachusetts residents pay the highest average retail price for power in the continental US”
• https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2018/07/14/massachusetts-residents-pay-highest-average-retail-price-for-power-continental/wz7NoIcHyjRWAgFpvrvq4M/story.html
• Trump and Putin are clearly in cahoots---over propping up fossil fuels
• https://grist.org/article/trump-and-putin-are-clearly-in-cahoots-over-propping-up-fossil-fuels/
• Turning Trump’s trade war into a tool to fight climate change https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16072018/trade-war-trump-tariffs-border-tax-carbon-footprint-fossil-fuels-climate-change-analysis
• We need to accept that oil is a dying industry https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/z438j8/we-need-to-accept-that-oil-is-a-dying-industry
• Clean energy is catching up to natural gas https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/7/13/17551878/natural-gas-markets-renewable-energy
• Rising sea levels will soon destroy underground US internet cables, scientists warn
• https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sea-levels-rise-internet-cables-climate-change-underground-new-york-miami-a8449716.html

Because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the United States put a price on carbon.