The Climate Conversation

Home insurance is one of those things you need to have and hope to never need. But as risk from climate disasters increases, many homeowners are finding it more and more difficult to obtain an affordable policy. This is especially true in the American West, where wildfires are creating more uncertainty than insurance companies are willing to cover, forcing many homeowners to enroll in state-run insurance plans. Daniel and Alison sit down with Dr. Lisa Dale, director of the Climate and Society Masters program at the Columbia Climate School, for a conversation about how policymakers can help communities navigate the insurance crisis as it relates to wildfires. Show notes: Risky Business: Insurance in the Era of Climate Change (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/050625insurance  Missing the mark: Effectiveness and funding in community wildfire risk reduction (Headwaters Economics report): https://headwaterseconomics.org/natural-hazards/missing-the-mark-wildfire/  All Fired up for Innovation in Wildfire Risk Analysis (podcast): https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.6-all-fired-up-for-innovation-in-wildfire-risk-analysis  Living with Climate Change: Wildfires (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/061322climatechange  Rethinking Tourism in the Wake of West Maui’s Wildfires (article): https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/rethinking-tourism-in-the-wake-of-west-mauis-wildfires 

For residents of former and current mining communities (especially in Appalachia, the Midwest, and the Mountain West), abandoned mines are a familiar—and often dangerous—aspect of the local landscape. Unreclaimed abandoned mines and infrastructure can leak acid drainage, pollute groundwater, or collapse unexpectedly. Guests Kevin Zedack and Matt Hepler (both from Appalachian Voices) sit down with Daniel and EESI’s newest communications associate, Hannah Wilson-Black, to explain how cleaning up these sites can safeguard ecosystems and human health while providing new economic development opportunities in coal communities.   Show notes: Central Appalachian Mine Reforestation Assessment (Appalachian Voices resource): https://skytruth.org/mtr-data-files/  Plugging Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells Provides Climate and Jobs Benefits (article): https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/plugging-orphaned-oil-and-gas-wells-provides-climate-and-jobs-benefits  Unlocking Rural Economies: Farm Bill Investments in Rural America (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/052423farmbill 

With the United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, there is a lot of uncertainty about what U.S. climate diplomacy will look like under the current administration. But despite challenges at the national level, many state governments are poised to continue making progress on global climate action. This new dynamic is already playing out in response to ocean acidification. Daniel and Alison sat down with Jessie Turner, executive director of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance), to explore the landscape—or seascape—of subnational climate diplomacy.   Show notes: Exploring the Policy Landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/091224cdr  En-shoring a Better Future for Coastal Ecosystems and Communities (podcast): https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/8.1-en-shoring-a-better-future-for-coastal-ecosystems-and-communities  A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities (report): https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/a-resilient-future-for-coastal-communities  Making Waves: The Importance of Oceans at COP28 (article): https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/making-waves-the-importance-of-oceans-at-cop28 EESI Resources for the 2024 U.N. Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29 resources): https://www.eesi.org/cop29-resources

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Earthshots Initiative set technical and financial goals for key clean energy challenges, growing to a portfolio of eight “shots” for technologies like hydrogen, long duration storage, and more. Today’s episode features one of the leaders who helped catapult the Earthshots at DOE, Dr. Geraldine “Geri” Richmond, who served as the agency’s Under Secretary for Science and Innovation during the Biden-Harris Administration. Geri sat down with co-hosts Daniel and Alison to share her vision for public-private partnerships to continue advancing the Earthshots, and her insights on women in STEM and international scientific cooperation.   Show notes: Charting the Path: An Energy Earthshots Initiative Report (DOE report): https://www.energy.gov/eere/charting-path-energy-earthshots-initiative-report  Energy Earthshots: The Frontier of Climate Innovation (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/020124doe  Maximizing the Climate Benefits of Hydrogen (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/060123hydrogen  Inside DOE’s Newest Office on Artificial Intelligence (podcast): https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.8-inside-does-newest-office-on-artificial-intelligence How the Department of Energy is Catapulting Clean Energy Innovation to Commercial Liftoff (podcast): https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/6.4-how-the-department-of-energy-is-catapulting-clean-energy-innovation-to-commercial-liftoff

Welcome to Season 9 of The Climate Conversation podcast! How many issues can you think of that 94% of U.S. voters agree on? Probably not very many. But a poll commissioned by U.S. Nature4Climate in 2024 revealed that 94% of voters across the United States support the expansion of natural climate solutions—actions that reduce emissions and increase carbon storage in forests, farms, grasslands, and wetlands—in public policy. To kick off the new season of EESI’s podcast, co-hosts Daniel Bresette and Alison Davis sit down with the bipartisan pollsters who led the survey, Lori Weigel of New Bridge Strategy and Dave Metz of FM3 Research.   Show notes: Growth in Support for Natural Climate Solutions (article): https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/growth-in-support-for-natural-climate-solutions  Maximizing the Impact of Natural Climate Solutions (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/061124nature  Cities Leading the Way on Nature-Based Solutions (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/052324cities  New Guide Helps Decision-Makers Adopt Natural Climate Solutions (article): https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/new-guide-helps-decision-makers-adopt-natural-climate-solutions  Public Polling on Climate Change (briefing): https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/020923camp 

As 2024 draws to a close, many people are wondering what to expect from the next Congress and presidential administration on climate change. But sometimes, the best way to look forward is to look back. Co-hosts Daniel Bresette and Alison Davis sit down with Jay Hakes, author of The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science and Politics from Eisenhower to Bush, for a discussion about the intersection of climate science and political processes in the White House.   Show notes: EESI at 40: Claudine Schneider Reflects on the Necessity of Communication in Climate Politics: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-at-40-claudine-schneider-reflects-on-the-necessity-of-communication-in-climate-politics EESI Welcomes Two Energy Leaders to Its Board of Directors: https://www.eesi.org/press-releases/view/eesi-welcomes-two-energy-leaders-to-its-board-of-directors

Atmospheric satellite data can provide key information about climate change, including measurements related to the ozone layer, air quality, methane, and more. In today's episode, Dr. Pieternel Levelt, a scientist and associate director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, joins Daniel and Alison to talk about satellite instruments like OMI (the Ozone Monitoring Instrument) and TROPOMI (the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument). These instruments provide essential data to scientists and policymakers all over the globe.

There are many tools and solutions available to help offset the global rise in temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions. One such method that has been gaining traction in recent years is the use of solar reflective materials in the built environment. The degree of solar reflectance (or “albedo”) of our roofs, walls, and pavements, can impact local temperatures as well as the Earth’s energy balance. High albedo surfaces help to reduce the urban heat island effect, and a new report shines light on their effectiveness as a climate change mitigation measure. In this episode, EESI Board Member Kurt Shickman joins co-hosts Dan and Alison for a conversation with Seth Jacobson, Climate Solutions Officer at the nonprofit Climate Resolve. Seth leads the Shine On initiative, which was launched in 2023 to study the impact of albedo management of the built environment on climate change.   Show notes: Shine On: Increasing Local Solar Reflectance as a Means to Reduce the Greenhouse Gas Effect: https://www.climateresolve.org/shine-on-white-paper/ Hot Today, Hotter Tomorrow: Policy Solutions to the Dangers of Extreme Heat: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/6.5-hot-today-hotter-tomorrow-policy-solutions-to-the-dangers-of-extreme-heat

EESI recently held a reception at the Library of Congress to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and we were honored to welcome two members of Congress: Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.). This week on the podcast, we are resurfacing Rep. McClellan’s interview from earlier this year, when she joined us to discuss climate resilience and environmental justice in the Commonwealth and across the country.

The Gila River, which flows through New Mexico and Arizona, is the site of the first operational solar covered-canal in the United States, and will provide renewable energy to the people of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. This pilot project, also called the Casa Blanca Canal solar project, received nearly $6 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. For this week’s episode, EESI Policy Associate Molly Brind'Amour joins President Daniel Bresette to speak with George Cairo, the head engineer for the Casa Blanca Canal solar project, about the benefits and challenges of canal-based energy systems.   Show notes: The Promise and Potential of Solar Canals: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/the-promise-and-potential-of-solar-canals Keeping the Gila River Wild for People and the Planet: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/keeping-the-gila-river-wild-for-people-and-the-planet

Welcome to Season 8 of The Climate Conversation podcast! Many of us are returning from trips to the coast, where breezy beaches provided a respite from the brutal summer heat. But these coastal areas are important for more than just the occasional vacation. Wetlands and estuaries, which connect inland rivers to the open ocean, are critical ecosystems for climate adaptation and carbon sequestration. In this episode, co-hosts Dan and Alison—alongside EESI Policy Director Anna McGinn—talk about coastal restoration with Daniel Hayden, president and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries.   Show notes: 2024 Coastal and Estuarine Summit: https://web.cvent.com/event/110611bc-78c6-43ad-b053-a9afd2a4263a/summary  The Mississippi River: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/101024rivers  Building a Stronger Chesapeake Bay with EPA: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.7-building-a-stronger-chesapeake-bay-with-epa  A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/a-resilient-future-for-coastal-communities  Celebrating Two Years of Coastal Resilience Solutions at EESI: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/4.4-celebrating-two-years-of-coastal-resilience-solutions-at-eesi  What Is the Future for New Jersey’s Coastal Marshes? https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/qa-what-is-the-future-for-new-jerseys-coastal-marshes 

It seems like almost every day there is another story about new advancements in Artificial Intelligence, or AI. By now, many of us are familiar with ChatGPT, but there is a wide variety of different models and applications for the rapidly-evolving AI technology. To wrap up Season 7 of The Climate Conversation podcast, Dan and Alison are joined by Helena Fu, director of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Critical and Emerging Technologies. Helena discusses how AI can help modernize the power grid for a clean energy future and shares some of what DOE’s newest office has accomplished since it opened in December 2023.   Show notes: AI for Energy: Opportunities for a Modern Grid and Clean Energy Economy: https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/AI%20EO%20Report%20Section%205.2g%28i%29_043024.pdf  AI: Powering the New Energy Era: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtsVXbsO1zI&t=1090s  Innovations in Weather Forecasting for a Changing Climate: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/021524weather  All Fired up for Innovation in Wildfire Risk Analysis: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.6-all-fired-up-for-innovation-in-wildfire-risk-analysis  Funding the Future: The Impact of Federal Clean Energy Investments: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/041224doe  How the Department of Energy is Catapulting Clean Energy Innovation to Commercial Liftoff: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/6.4-how-the-department-of-energy-is-catapulting-clean-energy-innovation-to-commercial-liftoff 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ten regional offices across the country that carry out the agency’s programs. In this episode, co-hosts Dan and Alison sit down with EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz, whose office serves Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, DC, and seven federally recognized tribes. Adam shares his insights on Chesapeake Bay restoration and other EPA priorities in the region, as well as the importance of environmental justice and local partnerships.   Show notes: EPA Mid-Atlantic Summit: https://web.cvent.com/event/a40840fe-b2dc-4848-81d6-dd2afdbe6c70/summary  Washington D.C. RiverSmart Homes Program Helps Protect the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/washington-d.c-riversmart-homes-program-helps-protect-the-chesapeake-bay-watershed Improving Coastal Resilience in the Northeast: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/102319northeast

Wildfires have already made national headlines this year, as Texans recover from the largest fire in their state's history. The impacts of climate change—rising temperatures and drought, in particular—have driven the increase in wildfire frequency and severity, which then contributes to air pollution, including carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, changes in weather patterns have made wildfires less predictable and more difficult to contain. Co-hosts Dan and Alison are joined today by Joe Scott, founder and principal wildfire analyst at Pyrologix, for a conversation about how fire modeling and hazard assessment can help shape data-driven approaches to wildfire mitigation.   Show notes: Living with Climate Change: Wildfires: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/061322climatechange  Rethinking Tourism in the Wake of West Maui’s Wildfires: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/rethinking-tourism-in-the-wake-of-west-mauis-wildfires  Hawaii Prioritizes Energy Equity So No One Gets Left Behind or Forgotten: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.5-hawaii-prioritizes-energy-equity-so-no-one-gets-left-behind-or-forgotten  Q&A: Learning from the Past to Chart the Future of Fire in Western Forests: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/qa-learning-from-the-past-to-chart-the-future-of-fire-in-western-forests The Future of Forestry in the Farm Bill: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/060723farmbill

Did you know that Hawaii has the highest household electricity costs in the United States? To combat energy inequity in the state, Hawaii’s green bank, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA), created its on-bill financing program known as the Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) to make clean energy more affordable for low- and moderate-income households. In this episode, co-hosts Dan and Aaron speak with HGIA Executive Director Gwen Yamamoto Lau about some unique energy challenges and solutions from the island state’s perspective.   Show notes: Hawaii: Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) On-Bill Program: https://www.eesi.org/obf/case-study/hawaii  Increasing Clean Energy Justice and Resilience for Faith Communities Through Solar Energy: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/increasing-clean-energy-justice-and-resilience-for-faith-communities-through-solar-energy  Financing Climate Mitigation and Resilience: Lessons from Hawaii: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/032020hawaii Rethinking Tourism in the Wake of West Maui’s Wildfires: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/rethinking-tourism-in-the-wake-of-west-mauis-wildfires