Geoversiv - Earth Intelligence

Kathryn Kaiser and Clara Garner are high-achieving high school seniors with big college plans.  They are also inexhaustibly energetic in the youth movement designed to change adults' future-vision.  Organized under the ClimateGeneration mantle and the YEA program (Youth Environmental Activists), they meet, and often graciously confront, legislators, city council members and anyone who will listen to them.  Their message is simple:  We are here and you need to pay attention to us, because we will soon be voting.  The message, never spoken, is clear:  "Do the right thing when it comes to climate change laws, regulations and policy, or you won't be in office when we become adults.  You will be charmed by these two young women, and if you are like the hosts of this podcast, you will come away with a sense of peace and comfort knowing there are hundreds of thousands of young people like them who are willing to put it all on the line for what they know is their futures, currently in the hands of men and women who fail youth at their public peril. 

 Nancy Maclean is the decorated Duke University professor of history and award-winning author of Democracy in Chains: the Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America.  In this episode Professor Maclean traces the threads that connect the powerful influence of Charles and David Koch and their rise to power.  The story connects the Koch dynasty and its affiliated "think tanks," as well as its mouth-pieces in Congress, to a steady, but frightening effort to destroy our notion of democracy and majority rule.  The telling is ladened with deep research on what Koch enterprises are doing to the country with the ultimate goal of rewriting the US Constitution with the likely outcome, if successful, of creating an oligarchy of the rich.You will learn why the name Koch is first on the list of science deniers and purveyors of untruths in the fight against climate change.  If the Koch stealth plan succeeds, the voice of the people will be silenced and government will serve only the interests of the rich, according to Professor Maclean's acclaimed findings.

Susan Joy Hassol is one of the foremost climate communications specialist in the world.  She has been the writer behind three of the National Climate Assessments, using language that non-scientists can comprehend.    In this episode, the award winning mind behind the award winning HBO documentary "Too Hot Not to Handle," tracts in Scientific American, the Washington Post , ABC's 2020 and much more, will share with you real talk about how to make sense of climate science, and even, how to talk to your Uncle Frank who believes the science of climate change is a hoax.  She is fluent in science, having been honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a board member of the American Geophysical Union, she knows success lies in how science tells its story in plain talk.  After butting her head against closed door minds, she has learned how to enter the side and back doors.  She shares some tips and techniques on having "The Conversation."  Scientists trust her with their findings.  You will trust her, too.You can learn more about Susan Joy at climatecommunication.org

Dr. Jessica Hellmann is the Director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota.  A scholar and scientist, she was recently published along with her co-authors in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on the question of geoengineering which has found great favor in the tech world.  While Dr. Hellmann says there may come a time when we, on this planet, may need this tool - not enough research has gone into the "side effects" of this prescription.   An expert on every aspect of global change ecology, she provides the kind of critical thinking required to see down every avenue that climate change could take us.  She is a professor, leading the next group of young people into an uncertain world and she worries that the burden placed on this graduating generation is an unfair one-but one she believes they are prepared and eager to face.

Dr. Edward Maibach is one of the foremost communications scientists in the country.On climate change, it is a contest between fact and opinion, between science and those who, for monetary reasons or politics, deny that science - and therefore deny the existence of a warming planet and all the dangers that portends.Dr. Maibach has begun enlisting the help of meteorologists and journalists in the news media to educate themselves on the far reaching impacts of the science.  When he began, it was an uphill battle.  Though scientists themselves, half of all meteorologists in the country didn't believe the science of climate change.  How could the most trusted scientists that the average person is aware of be able to tell the true story.  It was Ed Maibach's goal in life.

A continuation of our discussion with Dr. Benjamin D. Santer, one of the foremost atmospheric and climate scientists on the planet.  As lead author of Chapter 8 of the 2nd IPCC assessment, he wrote the words that changed the world: science had detected a human influence of global climate.  The genie was out of the bottle.  Science could win the war of facts versus opinion.  But, what happened during the Trump years when science took an awful beating.  How demoralized were the brilliant men and women who had dedicated themselves to finding answers to questions, if not met with facts, would alter life on this planet forever.  In Part II of this conversation, it gets personal.

Dr.  Benjamin D. Santer is an esteemed and highly decorated atmospheric scientist.He was the lead author of Chapter 8 of the 2nd Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  He wrote the words never written before by any scientist that the balance of scientific evidence showed "a discernible human influence" on global climate.  The words were accurate and based in science, but it led to organized attacks against him from fossil fuel interests.  He had ripped off the bandaid behind which fossil fuel corporations had been hiding for decades.  He tells us his story, and the scientific work behind the finding, which led to the ultimate conclusion of the research in 2019 when highly sensitive data would show a Five Sigma gold standard.  In other words, there was one chance in 3.5 million that the climate change we are experiencing could be due to any other cause but humans burning fossil fuels and altering lands.This is part one of a two part interview.  Despite his high scientific credentials,  you'll discover Ben Santer's humanity.

Todd Churchill is a rancher who uses regenerative agricultural practices, and partners with Nature to raise protein in an ever food insecure planet.  Grass-fed beef, using natural grasses and no corn or soybeans, are all pesticide-free, hormone free, medicine free and fertilizer free.The only inputs Todd uses is what Nature provides.  He likens the practice to the massive herds of American bison that sustained indigenous people for centuries, while building soil carbon and encouraging the growth or new plant life.  He answers the hard questions on whether beef contribute methane to the greenhouse gas load of the planet.  His answer will surprise you.  The only obstacle facing this sustainable practice is scalability.  Todd believes as more farmers understand regenerative practices, the markets will grow and more farmers and ranchers will see the environment not as a problem, but a partner.  One of his goals: every drop of rainwater that falls on his ranch will stay on his ranch, thus keeping topsoil, soil carbon and pollutants out of streams and rivers.

In this episode, a tough discussion of the realities of the systemic injustices baked into our system.  How bias affects not only climate change policies, but creates unnecessary and terrible burdens on minorities in the United States.  Our guest is Tina Johnson Director of the National Black Environmental Network and Principal of Johnson Strategy and Development Consultants.  Working with top US NGOs, the UN and international governments, she uses diplomacy, strategic development and advocacy on issues ranging from sustainability, food security and climate justice to pave a way forward for a more equitable existence - against entrenched forces and our own biases.  Tough words we all need to hear.  

Dr. Sandra Guzman is a specialist in low carbon development and climate finance.  She is the founder of International Alliances at the Climate Finance Group for Latin America and the Caribbean.  Her PhD is in politics, her Masters in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics and a diploma in Sustainable Finance from Oxford.  The question is whether the powerful finance sector and fossil fuel dependent countries and carbon intensive industry will embrace the change in the financial world that is already happening as a result of climate change.  Whether the planet can hold the line at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels will depend on how economies adapt and adopt a low carbon development future.  She is a trusted voice in any room and we are honored to have her join us for this discussion.

Governor Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin said, on the very first Earth Day, that "The US economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of nature."  Yet, Corporations have never placed a value on nature, it will not be found in account books or K1s.  Dr. Stephen Polasky, and economist and conservationist, is one of the world's foremost authorities on placing a value on "ecosystem services" - from providing carbon dioxide drawdown to purifying water and creating oxygen for the planet and its inhabitants.  Polasky is optimistic that businesses. financial institutions and underwriters are beginning to see Nature and ecosystem services as data that belong in the account books.  Then, as a value, it is likely to be sustained - not simply for the beauty and regard for Nature, but for the services it provides all of us on Earth. 

We continue with our conversation with Dr. Michael Mann.   In this episode, we concentrate on the value of carbon pricing and the various mechanisms for implementing a price.  We also delve into the probabilities of uniting divided political forces to bring that change.  Dr. Mann is optimistic.  He sees vast changes in conservatives' thinking, some of whom have embraced the science of climate change and see the need for policy action.  Much of the business world is already there, he says.One of the enemies of progress on this issue is "Doomism," as he calls it.  It is the petrifying notion that there is nothing we can do to avert the worst effects of climate change.  It is especially disturbing that this is not only a message from the right, but many progressives have also adopted the thesis that we are doomed. - which inevitably leads to inaction.  Dr. Mann says there is much evidence for hope and optimism.

Dr. Michael Mann is considered the most visible and effective climate scientist alive.  He is an active communicator.  He frequently authors op-ed pieces in national publications, carries a full teaching and research schedule and is a climate optimist as he sees not only the climate change, but attitudes change.  In his book, The New Climate War-The Fight to Take Back Our Planet, he names names and tells the world where the enemy of science dwells, what weapons they are using on often unsuspecting Americans.  He tells you why they are fighting, and how science is fighting back, with some interesting and unexpected allies.  He pulls no punches.  If this is a war, he is the commanding general, often wounded in battle, he dresses his wounds and rejoins the fight.  

Dean Rachel Kyte is the 14th Dean and the only woman to lead the prestigious Tufts University Fletcher Graduate School.  It is the only graduate-only school of international affairs in the country. Prior to Tufts she was a special representative of the UN Secretary General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All.  Previously, she held positions as Group Vice President of the World Bank and her diplomatic work drew world leaders to the table, the result of which was the Paris Agreement.  She was appointed by the British throne a "Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George" for her work on climate change.  A wide ranging discussion with one of most influential and learned people in the world on the subject of climate change policy.

Dr. Jonathan Foley is our guest.  He is the Executive Director of Project Drawndown.There are off-the-shelf solutions to the climate crisis.  Nothing new has to be discovered or technology invented.  The solution will rely on knowledge, will and policy.  There are coming changes in the financial sector that recognize and will react to the pressures of risk management in investing further dollars and time into those operations that could destroy us.  At the same time, more capital is flowing into solutions, but not fast enough. Dr. Foley quotes the late Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day, saying, "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nature."  New agricultural practices, new investments, money flowing to solutions .  A wide-ranging discussion on how to keep the planet from warming, using common sense and available methods.

This is a news brief - a look at the headline story of the 4 million people in Texas who have lost power as a result of a sudden, extreme cold snap.  It was a failure of the power grid, controlled and operated by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), once hailed as the Texas Miracle, it has failed repeated demands to harden the grid to withstand extreme weather events.  ERCOT is largely independent of any other power sharing agreements, so when power goes down in Texas, it cannot get capacity from other sources, as other states often do in power sharing agreements.  The conclusion we draw is that unusual weather events have become "usual" and grids must be made resilient to climate disruption.

There are a billion people in the world who use less electricity in a year than an average American refrigerator.  There is another billion who have no electricity at all.  Robert Bryce is a journalist, film-maker, energy analyst.  He is the author of six books and the host of the podcast Power Hungry.  His latest book, A Question of Power: Electricity and he Wealth of Nations has become the documentary Juice: How Electricity Explains the World.  He has documented, first-hand, how the lack of electricity creates poverty, and how women and girls suffer the most from this global inequality.

The US Senate has reached a power-sharing agreement which puts Democrats as the chairs of the Senate committees.  Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D), New York, took to the floor of the Senate and said that all relevant committees will focus on climate change in all of its dimensions.  What does this mean for the future of climate change legislation.  Joseph Robertson analyzes the developments.

Dr. Hayhoe is the principal author of the Nation's Fourth Climate Assessment.  She stood her ground against the anti-science forces of the past Trump Administration.She was named one of Time Magazine's 100 "Most Influential People."   She is an expert on science and climate change communication.  Much of how she thinks about climate change is based in her Christian faith.  Her care and concern for the planet is not only science based, but informed by scripture: to care for God's creation as a steward and to car for "the least of them," who will suffer more from climate change than wealthier people and places.  We hope you find Dr. Hayhoe as illuminating as we did hosting her.

President Joseph Biden spent his first day following his inauguration writing 17 Executive Orders overturning many of Former President Donald Trump's anit-environment, anti-science dictates for the country.  In this News Brief #2 we deal with only one, the rejoining of the Paris Agreement and role of the US on the world stage combating climate change.  Analysis provided by Joseph Robertson.