Looking at gas leaks through an environmental justice lens: The Climate Minute

A new peer reviewed study shows that methane leaks in environmental justice communities take longer to repair than in other communities. What can be done to lessen this inequity? Listen to the report’s authors discuss some pragmatic recommendations.

The reading list:

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 closer look reveals inequities in gas leaks: The Climate Minute

Gas leaks at the distribution level (that is, under your street) are related to overlapping issues. Activists recognize methane as a greenhouse gas leaking from long-lived infrastructure, but real people live with immediate impacts. By matching leak location data to a community’s population characteristics, a recent paper provides new facts. The observations are not surprising- environmental justice communities live with larger leaks that wait longer for repair. We speak to the authors of the paper to learn more.

The reading list:

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


Following the roadmap: The Climate Minute

Massachusetts released two revised climate policies recently. They are each meaningful even if somewhat imperfect steps forward. They should be viewed in light of the decade long process of making the 2030 climate roadmap a success. Climate activists need to pay attention to the proposals and provide good feedback to the state as it tries to follow the roadmap to a clean future.

The reading list:

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


Scare campaigns vs scary facts: The Climate Minute

Here in Massachusetts, the fossil fuel lobby is pursuing its annual scare campaign about methane supplies, conjuring up images of Texas style blackouts. If you look past the hyperbole, there is an industry desperate to maintain its profits at the expense of people and planet. On the other hand, a recent study confirmed a truly scary, if common sense, expectation: the gas stove in your kitchen is leaking, at least in the moment you turn on the burner if not continuously from loose piping connections. Pollution in your kitchen is more real and frightening than the freeze-in-the-dark scenarios painted by gas apologists.

The reading list:

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 climate in Kyiv: The Climate Minute

Putin’s saver rattling on the Ukrainian border is tied up with climate issues like the use of methane gas.

The reading list:

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


FERC admits error in Weymouth but does nothing about it: The Climate Minute

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently issued a statement saying that they “likely erred in siting the Weymouth Compressor Station” but that there was no “legal basis to prevent the Weymouth Compressor Station from entering service.” Wut? How did we get here? And what comes next? We talk to a longtime activist for the full story.

The reading list:

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


Day-lighting a river is good for the city and the soul: The Climate Minute

Natural water systems-like brooks, streams creeks or even rivers- exist in most urban areas. Over decades of city growth, these waterways have often been buried in culverts or underground pipes. This burial has been done in the service of flood control or the creation of more buildable land. In the age of climate change, there are several reasons to “day-light” these lost watercourses and let them return to something near their natural path. The benefits run to both the city and the soul. We speak with Miles Howard, a local journalist, author and urban hiker, about this new trend.

The reading list:

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


Big ideas for hydrogen: The Climate Minute

The use of hydrogen in the energy transition is both an opportunity for corporate greenwashing or for the implementation of positive, democratizing technology. Using hydrogen to store grid electricity is a concept that is still in the formative stages. Hear an expert lay out one vision that ought to be considered.

The reading list:

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


Dirty hydrogen is just a way to keep utilities in business: The Climate Minute

If you make hydrogen from natural gas, it is dirty because of all the CO2 emissions from the conversion process. At both the Federal and Massachusetts level, policies push to support use of dirty hydrogen for home heating. We talk to two experts, who say this is just a way to keep utilities in business and that it is is both dangerous and polluting. They propose a different path to achieve the goal of sustainable home heating for all.

The reading list:

 

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


Why mixing hydrogen and methane to heat your home is a bad idea: The Climate Minute

The utilities are touting a mixture of hydrogen and natural (methane) gas for home heating. Listen to experts explain why this is a bad idea.

The reading list:

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



Donate Volunteer MCAN in the Media

connect

get updates