Climate One

As the cost of living climbs, can clean energy technology help ease the burden? That seems to be the case in West Texas, where revenue from a wind farm is helping fund a rural county’s senior center, Meals on Wheels, and even a Valentine’s Day dance!

But the benefits of clean energy aren’t always spread evenly, largely because of how policies shape incentives and cost distribution. In some cases, utility scale solar lowers electricity prices while rooftop solar can shift costs onto households without it. Meanwhile, new balcony solar panels are helping renters cut their bills, and Every Electric and Con Edison are giving New Yorkers plug-in batteries to keep their AC running even during heat waves. And the fact that these solutions also cut climate pollution? That’s the cherry on top.

Guests:

Bekah Stolhandske McNeel, Freelance Journalist

Christopher Knittel,Professor of Applied Economics, Sloan School, MIT; Director, MIT Climate Policy Center

Andrew Wang, Co-Founder, CEO, Every Electric

For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page here.

00:03:34 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel describes Ozona

00:05:32 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel on country response to wind project

00:06:54 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel on where wind project proceeds went

00:09:56 Bekah Stolhandske McNeel on the Senior Center Valentine's Day Dance

00:20:29 Christopher Knittel on the “green premium”

00:25:05 Christopher Knittel on rooftop solar and your energy bill

00:28:42 Christopher Knittel on important policy choices

00:33:36 Christopher Knittel on equitable distribution of costs

00:37:18 Andrew Wang on how the power bank program works

00:41:54 Andrew Wang on connecting the power bank program to air conditioning

00:48:50 Andrew Wang on scaling the program

On November 5 at 5:30 p.m., join Climate One and the Children & Nature Network for an evening with Richard Louv, author of the internationally bestselling Last Child in the Woods. Tickets are available at climateone.org/events

Climate One will present the 2026 Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication to Daniel Swain, Ph.D., a climate scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR).

Join us for a lecture and celebration of this fantastic climate communicator on Dec. 8, in San Francisco. Tickets are available at http://climateone.org/events.

Support Climate One by going ad-free! Subscribe to Climate One on Patreon for exclusive access to all future episodes, free of ads. Sign up today.

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After PG&E pled guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2018 Camp Fire, Patti Poppe was brought on as the utility’s new CEO. Her stated mission: to fix it.

Now, rising electricity prices, repeated power outages, and the growing impact of climate change have put PG&E in the crosshairs of the public and legislators. Again.

This summer, California lawmakers rejected a bill that would have capped the utility’s liability if their equipment sparks another fire. In response. PG&E announced it would defer roughly $2 billion in capital investments planned for 2027 as it works to strengthen its finances and, in Poppe’s words, “reinvent” the company. That means plans to connect new housing projects, clean energy initiatives, and some technology upgrades may be put on hold.

In a climate-changed world, is the investor-owned utility model still sustainable? Are utilities putting too much emphasis on profits at the expense of maintenance? And how do utilities across the country balance the needs for affordability, reliability, and climate resilience?

Guests:

Patti Poppe, CEO, Pacific Gas & Electric

Ryan Reed, Co-Founder, FireGeneration Collaborative

Kyle Trefny, Seasonal wildland firefighter; Co-Founder, FireGeneration Collaborative

For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit our episode page.

00:00 – Introduction

03:30 – PG&E CEO on rising costs of electricity

06:50 – Is PG&E beholden to Wall Street instead of Main Street?

10:00 – Why the utility hasn’t put more power lines underground

12:00 – Poppe on how data centers could help normal ratepayers with lower costs

19:00 – Can the grid handle all this new demand from data centers and electrification?

20:45 – Wildfire risk and liability

27:30 – Customer outrage about power outages, more calls to break up PG&E

30:00 – How much would it cost for San Francisco to buy out PG&E

32:00 – Lightning round

40:00 – Ryan Reed and Kyle Trefny on history of wildfire and fire suppression

45:00 – Reed and Trefny on the work of FireGen Collaborative

49:00 – “Good fire” versus catastrophic, climate-fueled wildfires

57:00 – Climate One More Thing

On November 5 at 5:30 p.m., join Climate One and the Children & Nature Network for an evening with Richard Louv, author of the internationally bestselling Last Child in the Woods. Tickets are available at http://climateone.org/events

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Climate scientist Kate Marvel made headlines this year when she publicly resigned from NASA, drawing coverage from Bloomberg to The New York Times. Marvel says her resignation wasn’t newsworthy on its own. What made it notable is that she was one of more than 10,000 Ph.D. scientists to leave the federal government during President Trump’s second term, part of what she calls a “mass nerd exodus.”

She is now senior climate scientist at Project Drawdown and author of “Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet.” Marvel argues that scientists need to stop hiding their feelings behind the data.

“When we pretend we don’t have emotions, that’s not making us more credible, because that’s lying,” she says. “You can feel a whole range of human emotions and still get the numbers right.”

Guests:

Kate Marvel, Senior climate scientist, Project Drawdown; author, “Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet”

Michael McPhaden, Senior oceanographer, University of Washington

For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.

Highlights:

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:24 Kate Marvel on if leaving NASA was newsworthy

00:08:05 Kate Marvel on why science should be publicly funded

00:12:18 Kate Marvel on “emergency break” solution

00:15:01 Kate Marvel on why feelings are a major topic in her book

00:18:11 Kate Marvel on which emotion was hardest to write about

00:23:06 Kate Marvel on which emotion isn’t discussed enough

00:26:27 Kate Marvel on when she felt wonder

00:30:36 Kate Marvel on how to talk about climate change

00:33:28 Kate Marvel on why it’s not too late

00:37:18 Michael McPhaden on this year’s El Niño

00:39:40 Michael McPhaden on the hurricane season

00:41:06 Michael McPhaden on the Climate change and El Niño connection

00:46:12 Michael McPhaden on what people should look out for

******

On October 20 at 6 p.m. join us, in partnership with The Redford Center, for a screening of the short film In Earth We Trust, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, the film’s central figure, and other faith leaders. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

On November 5 at 5:30 p.m., join Climate One and the Children & Nature Network for an evening with Richard Louv, the internationally bestselling author of Last Child in the Woods. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

Support Climate One by going ad-free! Subscribe to Climate One on Patreon for exclusive access to all future episodes, free of ads. Sign up today.

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The war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz created a global energy supply crisis. And while gasoline prices didn’t reach the extreme highs some predicted a few months ago, the global markets are still in flux.

“What has been disrupted most is the confidence in the old energy system where you could reliably and affordably dig up a source of energy thousands of kilometers away from where you expected to ignite it and expect that process to be smooth,” says Gerald Butts, chairman of political risk consultancy the Eurasia Group.

What has the war in Iran meant for energy markets? How much have shortages and price spikes pushed more companies and countries toward renewable energy? As China reaps the benefits of decades of investment in clean tech and renewable energy, will the U.S. be left behind?

Guests:

Gerald Butts, Chairman and Senior Advisor, The Eurasia Group

Scott Marlow, Founder and CEO, Long Rows Consulting; Agricultural policy expert

Alex Wang, Law Professor, UCLA; Faculty Co-Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

02:00 – Last decade of geopolitical turmoil on energy markets

07:00 – Responses of countries like Canada, China

13:30 – Risks of the U.S. being “Overpowered” according to The Eurasia Group

17:30 – Decarbonization is happening but it’s going to be slower than science demands

21:00 – How high diesel prices impact farmers

27:00 – How farmers cope with all the pressures of their business plus climate impacts

33:00 – We’re on the cusp in major change in how we farm in U.S. – Scott Marlow

42:00 – Alex Wang on China’s pivot towards pollution reduction and investments in clean tech

49:45 – How China flexed its oil demand during recent global energy crisis

54:00 – Last few months showcase two different paths towards energy supplies between China and U.S.

For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit ⁠⁠our episode page.

***

Join us on October 14 at 6 p.m. for a conversation with PG&E CEO Patti Poppe on energy affordability, outages, and public outrage. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

On October 20 at 6 p.m. join us, in partnership with The Redford Center, for a screening of the short film In Earth We Trust, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, the film’s central figure, and other faith leaders. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

On November 5 at 5:30 p.m., join Climate One and the Children & Nature Network for an evening with Richard Louv, the internationally bestselling author of Last Child in the Woods. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

Support Climate One by going ad-free! Subscribe to Climate One on Patreon for exclusive access to all future episodes, free of ads. Sign up today.

***

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New York set some of the country's most ambitious climate goals, from slashing emissions to bracing for rising seas. But living in the city is freaking expensive. So what does it take for NYC to be affordable and climate-conscious?

In collaboration with Grist, we put that question to the city’s chief climate officer, a Grist reporter, and a grassroots leader during New York Climate Week. Listen as we discuss the places where climate, decarbonization, and affordability collide – and the ways people are working to make life better for New Yorkers while keeping both costs and carbon down.

Guests:

Daphany Rose Sanchez, Executive Director, Kinetic Communities Consulting

Jake Bittle, Staff Writer, Grist

Louise Yeung, NYC Chief Climate Officer

Jonathan Gilmour, Co-Executive Director, The Impact Project

Highlights:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:10 Jake Bittle on New York delaying climate goals

00:03:53 Daphany Rose Sanchez on the impact of delaying climate goals

00:05:31 Daphany Rose Sanchez on what’s missing in the affordability conversation

00:08:12 Jake Bittle on the affordability and climate connection

00:11:13 Daphany Rose Sanchez on the projects she’s excited about

00:14:37 Louise Yeung on the ability to address climate and affordability

00:18:25 Louise Yeung on the role of a public utility advocate

00:21:57 Louise Yeung on the battery powered food card pilot program

00:29:50 Louise Yeung on the challenge of implementing policy citywide

00:34:32 Louise Yeung on the headwinds facing climate work

00:37:23 Jonathan Gilmour on what motivated him to host community climate gatherings

00:40:34 Jonathan Gilmour on what people talked about at the community gatherings

00:43:21 Jonathan Gilmour on preserving climate data

00:48:38 Jonathan Gilmour improving the climate data that was preserved

For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit ⁠ClimateOne.org.

***

Join us, on October 14 at 6 p.m. for a conversation with PG&E CEO Patti Poppe on energy affordability, outages, and public outrage. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

On October 20 at 6 p.m. join us, in partnership with The Redford Center, for a screening of the short film In Earth We Trust, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, the film’s central figure, and other faith leaders. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.

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How should Democrats campaign on climate? Some are quietly shelving climate-specific language ahead of the midterms in favor of terms like “energy crisis” and “affordability.” But Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island has been talking about climate change on the Senate floor for more than a decade, and he has no plans to stop now.

“The most important thing that can be accomplished on the climate front is to end the pollute-for-free business model of the fossil fuel industry. It is morally wrong, it is economically wrong, it is an environmental sin, and there's literally no merit to it, which is why the fossil fuel industry has to prop it up with all this dark money and lies,” he says.

Plus, geothermal energy is having a moment – getting interest from data center developers and support from the Trump administration at a time when other renewable energy sources are getting the ax. What should we expect from the industry in the next five years?

Guests:

Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator (D-RI)

Jamie Beard, Founder and Executive Director, Project Innerspace

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

02:00 – Sen. Whitehouse on his “Time to Wake Up” speeches

05:40 – Influence of the Citizens United decision on bipartisan climate action

07:45 – Progress on permitting reform bill

12:50 – Climate hushing and its impact on the midtems

14:00 – People want to hear more about climate change

18:00 – Off-shore wind projects getting on the grid in Rhode Island

23:00 – Sen. Whitehouse on data centers and their impacts

27:30 – What’s possible if Democrats win big at midterms

34:40 – Jamie Beard gives update on the state of the geothermal energy industry

43:30 – The odd and complicated politics of Trump administration supporting geothermal

46:00 – Potential impact of Geothermal Energy Advancement Act

51:00 – Geothermal’s bigger price is heat, not electricity

58:00 – Climate One More Thing

For transcripts, show notes, and related links, visit our episode page.

***

Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor-owned utility model. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

On October 20th at 6 p.m. join us, in partnership with The Redford Center, for a screening of the short film In Earth We Trust, followed by a conversation with the filmmaker, the film’s central figure, and other faith leaders. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.

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As the 2026 midterms approach, voters are contending with concerns around affordability, the AI boom, and climate disruption in their daily lives. AI data centers have become the wild card in energy politics, driving up energy demand and utility bills, and playing a large role in a battleground House primary. A year after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act rolled back key parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, many climate advocates assumed the energy transition was stalled out, but new research suggests otherwise.

How will climate and energy shape the ballot box this year? And what's it like to campaign on those issues in a swing state?

William Lawrence, Candidate, US Congress MI-07; Co-founder, Sunrise Movement

Leah Stokes, Associate Professor, UC Santa Barbara; Author, “The Carbon Wave”

Lily Bermel, Visiting Fellow, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy.

For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠episode page⁠ at ClimateOne.org

Highlights:

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:25 William Lawrence on campaign messaging

00:05:48 William Lawrence on climate and data centers

00:08:05 William Lawrence on giving people more agency

00:13:21 William Lawrence on addressing decarbonization and affordability

00:16:41 Leah Stokes on rewriting narratives about having children in a climate crisis

00:18:55 Leah Stokes on what's driving climate hushing

00:26:36 Leah Stokes on working on climate policy and a high risk pregnancy

00:31:30 Leah Stokes on the trials and joys of working with others

00:36:17 Leah Stokes on what the future could hold after the midterms

00:39:42 Lily Bermel on the methodology of “Glass Half Full”

00:46:01 Lily Bermel on the other factors affecting solar and wind deployment

00:48:55 Lily Bermel on how energy could play into the midterm elections

***

Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠

***

Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor-owned utility model. Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠

***

Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠Patreon⁠, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. ⁠Sign up today⁠.

***

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Growing power demands – coupled with increasingly frequent climate-driven disasters – have led even staunch environmentalists like NRDC head Manish Bapna to rethink their past opposition to nuclear power.

Three Mile Island didn't kill anyone or cause major public harm, but it fundamentally changed U.S. nuclear policy for 40 years. Why did an accident with a relatively contained consequence have such a chilling effect – and what’s really different today? With dozens of new, purportedly safer designs at various stages of development and construction around the world, is it time for all of us to give nuclear energy a fresh look?

Guests:

Manish Bapna, President and CEO, NRDC

Denia Djokić, Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan

Josh Freed, Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy, Third Way

Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

02:30 – Manish Bapna explains shift in posture on nuclear power

07:45 – Why permitting and transmission reforms are necessary

12:00 – Ed Lyman and Josh Freed share concerns about climate change but differ on the role of nuclear energy

16:15 – Ongoing risks of nuclear energy

20:30 – Supply chain concerns

25:00 – Discussion of radioactive waste handling

31:30 – Role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its independence under the current administration

40:00 – Where nuclear fits into carbon-free future

43:00 – Denia Djokić on how new advanced designs differ from older reactor designs

49:30 – SMRs are not plug-and-play

53:30 – New nuclear can’t meet the speed demands of AI

55:30 – Additional considerations around nuclear energy

57:30 – Climate One More Thing

For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org

***

Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

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While most Americans think of a truck or a sedan when they hear “electric vehicle,” a quiet revolution is happening in other countries on two and three wheels. In China and India, the electric vehicles doing the most to push out oil aren't cars – they're scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and the three-wheeled rickshaws and tuk-tuks that move people and packages through some of the world's busiest cities.

According to BloombergNEF’s EV Outlook report, 46% of global sales of two- and three-wheelers were electric last year. Collectively, they’re displacing more oil than cars. Electric delivery vehicles are also starting to show up in bigger U.S. cities. How might even greater adoption of “other” EV types benefit decarbonization?

Guests:

Aleksandra O'Donovan, Head of Electrified Transport, BloombergNEF

Samhita Shiledar, Principal, RMI

David Zipper, Contributing Writer, Bloomberg; Co-host, Look Both Ways

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction

02:37 Aleksandra O'Donovan on the BNEF 2026 EV Outlook

03:54 Aleksandra O'Donovan on adoption of electric two and three wheelers

08:40 Aleksandra O'Donovan on oil displacement from two and three wheelers

13:23 Aleksandra O'Donovan on what electric vehicle adoption means for emissions

18:36 Samhita Shiledar on the difference between US and Indian transportation

20:47 Samhita Shiledar on the reality of switching to electric vehicles for drivers

26:25 Samhita Shiledar on how the transition to EVs affects riders and consumers

33:04 Samhita Shiledar on the future of electric two and three wheelers

35:50 David Zipper on “car bloat”

41:37 David Zipper on what e-bike adoption rates in the US say about demand

47:47 David Zipper on golf cart adoption

For show notes, transcripts and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org

Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

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Protest is the ultimate in equal-opportunity political action. As Annie Leonard, former executive director of Greenpeace USA says, “Making change is like laying a stone path across the garden. Peaceful protest may be every 4th or 8th or 200th stone; it helps us get where we want to go but also we need a lot of other stones too.” Leonard explores the history of protests in her book “Protest: Respect It. Defend It. Use It.”

And while protest is the loudest and most visible tool, it’s only one of many ways to take action. Through community building, civic engagement, elected office, corporate boardrooms, churches and nonprofit agencies, there are countless paths to exercising power and promoting positive change. In this episode we hear from three leaders working in three different arenas, all toward the same goal.

Guests:

Annie Leonard, Environmental Activist, Author of “Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It”

Danielle Lee, Founder, Climate Action Club

James Coleman, City Councilor, South San Francisco

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

03:55 – Annie Leonard shares the story of the Section 504 sit-ins protest in San Francisco

06:30 – Different ways protest can be effective

08:30 – Leonard on why she puts her body on the line (gets arrested) during protests

16:00 – Leonard on the lawsuit Energy Transfer brought against Greenpeace USA over Standing Rock protests

22:00 – Protecting, defending, and using the right to protest

26:00 – Danielle Lee on organizing younger people around climate and environment

30:30 – Systemic versus personal action

37:00 – James Coleman on the decision to run for office as a tool for effective change

41:00 – Impact of local government

46:30 – How change actually happens

For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org

Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

Also: We’ll be having an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

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We all complain about the heat, yet it's a climate threat we routinely underestimate. In the U.S., extreme heat kills more people each year than floods, fires and hurricanes combined. About 16,000 excess deaths were recorded during Europe's June heatwave – a striking and tragic number. What does extreme heat do to our bodies, our wallets and our cities, and what can we actually do about it?

From creating insurance programs that pay out before the disaster to protecting workers who labor in the heat, many people are working on solutions. Cities are finding ways to prepare for temperatures they historically have never experienced. Plus, we hear about one woman’s “Grammy Ride” for the climate: a 3,000 mile bike journey raising climate awareness and funds for climate action.

Guests:

Donna Minter, Former forensic and neuropsychologist

Kathy Baughman McLeod, Founder and CEO of HERA

Juanita Constible, Senior Advocate, NRDC

00:00 - Introduction

03:14 - Donna Minter on coming up with the idea for the “Grammy Ride”

05:21 - Donna Minter on how friends and family reacted

11:54 - Donna Minter on reflecting on her faith

15:15 - Donna Minter on her Texas stay

21:50 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on what extreme heat does to the body

28:34 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on the effect of naming heatwaves

30:57 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on the first heat related insurance for pregnancies

38:16 - Kathy Baughman McLeod on a heat policy success story

43:21 - Juanita Constible on what it takes to keep workers safe

46:34 - Juanita Constible on where worker heat deaths happen

52:49 - Juanita Constible on OSHA heat protections

57:47 - Juanita Constible on state adoption of heat protections

For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit ⁠our episode page⁠ at ClimateOne.org

***

Join Climate One for a town hall event on September 28 at 6 p.m. on navigating AI, climate, and the future of democracy. How do we ensure that AI and data centers serve the public good? How does a democracy function when AI is distorting our sense of shared truths? Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠Patreon⁠, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. ⁠Sign up today⁠.

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At a time when nearly everything feels polarized, Benji Backer is trying to carve out a different path, one where caring about the natural world isn’t a partisan issue. As the founder of Nature Is Nonpartisan, he’s bringing together voices from across the political spectrum who might disagree on climate policy, but still share a desire to preserve public lands, wildlife, and the outdoors.

Similarly, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe firmly believes conversation – even with people you disagree with – can be one of the most powerful tools for climate action. And it starts from a place of respect.

“If we begin a conversation by esteeming the other person rather than implicitly judging them, that conversation starts off with so much potential and can end in an incredibly surprising place,” Hayhoe says.

Can conservation still serve as common ground in a divided country? What does it take to make environmentalism resonate beyond traditional audiences? Is a bipartisan movement possible in today’s political climate?

Guests:

Benji Backer, Founder and CEO, Nature is Nonpartisan

Katharine Hayhoe, Climate scientist; Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy; Distinguished Professor, Texas Tech University

For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

05:50 – Benji Backer on the origin of Nature is Nonpartisan

09:30 – Making an organization that’s culturally relevant

13:24 – Backer’s work on the Make America Beautiful Again Conservation Commission

21:00 – Working to undo polarization in conversations around climate and environment

24:50 – Backer on avoiding the word “climate” in certain conversations

32:00 – How Katharine Hayhoe deals with hateful messages online

33:30 – How Hayhoe talked about climate change to a Rotary Club in Texas

40:00 – Should scientists be more emotionally open when discussing climate?

45:00 – Hayhoe on what Bible teachings say about caring for the environment

48:15 – Hayhoe on how her Christian faith intersects with her climate research

54:45 – The power of taking action and starting conversations about climate change

For show notes, transcripts, and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org

Join Climate One for an electric conversation on October 14 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

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Atmospheric scientist Ben Santer pioneered the research that connects human activity to specific climate events. Now, pursuing treatment for a rare type of lymphoma, he sees his own diagnosis and his climate science as the same kind of detective work: using essential and basic science to conduct tests, read complex markers, and rule out every other cause. Even while ill, he's calling out efforts by the Trump administration to reject, defund and ignore the science we all depend on.

“If we leave basic science behind because the administration doesn't like the results of the science, then as Americans, we're not gonna thrive, and the planet isn't gonna thrive either,” Santer says.

Guests:

Ben Santer, Atmospheric Scientist, University of East Anglia

Rachel Rothschild, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Law School

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

2:24 – Ben Santer on how he’s doing amidst his health issues

6:43 – Ben Santer on having the motivation to keep going

11:21 – Ben Santer on what it means to find human fingerprints on climate disruption

16:52 – Ben Santer on the importance of climate measuring

20:23 – Ben Santer on persevering through personal attacks and credible death threats

31:01 – Ben Santer on the effect of Trump administration funding cuts

33:43 – Ben Santer dealing with grief

38:54 – Rachel Rothschild on how state superfund laws work

42:26 – Rachel Rothschild on having her personal communication targeted

47:40 – Rachel Rothschild on the personal tax of doing her work

51:45 – Rachel Rothschild on what surprised her

For show notes and related links, visit ⁠our episode page⁠ at ClimateOne.org

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When it comes to climate, we have the facts, but we aren’t moving fast enough. So we need to get climate education and solutions into the places where people already spend their time. Pop culture offers endless opportunities to influence audiences – your favorite movie or TV character can feel like a friend whose views on climate might affect your own.

In this episode, we connect moments like this to the broader media environment shaping how we understand the world. Can you be masculine and care about the climate? Can watching a character take charge of the future onscreen actually change what people believe they can do in real life? And can the stories we consume ultimately shape public attitudes and even policy outcomes?

Guests:

Allison Begalman, Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Context Collaborative; Co-founder, Hollywood Climate Summit

Michael P. Haselhuhn, Associate Professor of Management, University of California, Riverside

Brent Suter, Baseball player, Los Angeles Angels; EcoAthletes Climate Champion

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

5:00 – Allison Begalman on why it’s important for climate to show up in popular culture

8:45 – Unpacking a climate-themed scene from the show “Hacks”

13:00 – Unpacking a climate-themed scene from “The Morning Show”

16:30 – Bringing new people in at the Hollywood Climate Summit

23:15 – Michael P. Haselhuhn on how men’s views on masculinity and climate change are linked

33:25 – Masculinity is multifaceted

34:30 – Kousha goes to an MMA cage fight to ask guys about their views on masculinity

40:15 – Brent Suter on where he got his nickname, “The Raptor”

42:00 – His reaction to seeing “An Inconvenient Truth” as a young person

44:00 – Speaking out against fossil fuel endorsements for pro sports

49:20 – Suter on how his faith drives his climate activism

54:30 – How Suter talks to his teammates about climate and the environment

57:40 – Climate One More Thing
For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at ClimateOne.org

***

Join Climate One for an electric conversation on September 1 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

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It’s becoming increasingly clear that how we talk about climate change matters as much as the science or policy itself. The words we use carry weight, and climate communicator Susan Joy Hassol says specific word choices, like “heat-trapping pollution” rather than “greenhouse gases,” can cut through polarization and help messages resonate with a wider range of people. Equally important is listening to what people and communities need to better handle the impacts from climate disruption.

And different audiences need different approaches. For example: adults can help children process climate fear and grief without overwhelming them by offering age-appropriate honesty paired with validation of their emotions. Good communication can be one of the most effective forms of climate action.

Guests:

Robin Cooper, Co-Founder and President, Climate Psychiatry Alliance

Elizabeth Yeampierre, Attorney; Executive Director, UPROSE

Susan Joy Hassol, Director, Climate Communication

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction

2:14 Robin Cooper on climate related mental health issues young people have

5:16 Robin Cooper on how adults can help young people in their lives

12:22 Robin Cooper on having multiple conversations with young people about climate

15:57 Robin Cooper on next steps after identifying climate anxieties in young people

19:46 Elizabeth Yeampierre on what it took to get Sunset Park Solar going

29:33 Elizabeth Yeampierre on building community trust and listening

31:40 Elizabeth Yeampierre on working with other communities

36:11 Susan Joy Hassol on not using the phrase “climate change”

39:52 Susan Joy Hassol on the phrase “natural disasters”

46:11 Susan Joy Hassol on dealing with hostility when discussing climate

For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠⁠⁠episode page⁠⁠⁠ at climateone.org

***

Join Climate One for an electric conversation on September 1 at 6 p.m. between PG&E CEO Patti Poppe and California State Senator Scott Wiener about energy affordability, outages, and whether cities like San Francisco are ready to break up with the investor owned utility model. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

***

Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. ⁠⁠⁠Sign up today⁠⁠⁠.

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Making steel accounts for around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But the industry could reduce that number by removing coal from the steel-making process entirely. Three of the U.S.’s last seven coal-based steel mills are situated along Lake Michigan. Together, these facilities produce nearly half of the steel made in the U.S., supplying skyscraper beams, car doors, and appliances across the country. And right now, in Northwest Indiana, a once-in-a-generation decision is on the table.

Nippon Steel, the owners of the Gary Works steel mill, can either extend the life of their aging blast furnaces for another 20 years and continuing coal-based production, or invest in cleaner, next-generation steelmaking. Other steelmakers have already moved towards decarbonization. Will Nippon switch to cleaner steelmaking for the next generation, or double-down on coal?

Guests:

Terry Steagall, Retired Steelworker, United Steelworker Union activist

Hilary Lewis, Steel Director, Industrious Labs

Roger Smith, Asia Lead, SteelWatch

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

1:55 Terry Steagall on the importance of the steel industry in northwest Indiana

4:31 Terry Steagall on relining blast furnaces

11:16 Terry Steagall on cleaner steel for the next generation

14:27 Hilary Lewis on steel industry emissions

19:36 Hilary Lewis on the realistic path to decarbonizing the steel industry

23:03 Hilary Lewis on the pressure facing the industry to make cleaner steel

27:57 Hilary Lewis on the industry’s move to southern states

34:01 Roger Smith on the scale of US Steel’s acquisition by Nippon Steel

36:58 Roger Smith on the “golden share” the Trump administration received

46:33 Roger Smith on the viable technology for cleaner steel

For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠⁠episode page⁠⁠ at climateone.org

***

Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at ⁠⁠climateone.org/events⁠⁠

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The “rights of nature” is the idea that if a corporation can have legal standing as a person, why can’t a river or a mountain? Thomas Linzey, one of the early architects of a legal framework for granting rights to nature, now believes that structure doesn’t go far enough: Even when ecosystems are granted rights, the land is still owned by someone or some entity, even if that is a land trust or conservancy.

Through Linzey’s work in collaboration with the Sacred Contract Coalition, a 30-acre mountain in Colorado was recognized in June 2025 as the first mountain to own itself. What could this mean for protecting other places?

Guests:

Thomas Linzey, Senior Legal Counsel, Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights

Crystal Wolfchild, Guardian of The Mountain

Kumu Ramsay Taum, Cultural Advisor

Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

02:30 – Thomas Linzey on his career fighting projects on behalf of communities

05:40 – Linzey on why federal environmental laws don’t protect air, water, or communities

11:00 – Linzey explains rights of nature legal framework

16:30 – Successful rights of nature cases in other parts of the world

19:15 – Rights of nature is Western law catching up with Indigenous cosmovisions

21:45 – Going beyond the rights of nature to land that owns itself

35:00 – Crystal Wolfchild on what it means to be a guardian of the Mountain

40:30 – Wolfchild on what this case could mean for other places

44:00 – Ramsay Taum on incorporating Hawaiian sense of environmental responsibility with Western worldviews

50:45 – Taum on the connection between restoring sovereignty and the rights of nature

56:00 – How to respond to climate changes like rising sea levels

58:00 – Climate One More Thing

For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our ⁠episode page⁠ at climateone.org

***

Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at ⁠climateone.org/events⁠

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Summer is here, temperatures are rising — and so are electric bills. That also means many people are facing a severely overlooked issue: power shutoffs. According to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2024 utility companies disconnected U.S. households from electricity more than 13.4 million times due to a customer’s inability to pay. When that happens, people can’t turn on their lights, keep food refrigerated, or cool down the home. And regulations preventing shutoffs during extreme heat events are woefully inadequate.

But when utilities help pay the upfront costs of efficiency upgrades, the customers and utilities can both save energy — and money. How do we protect the most vulnerable people from the dangers of home power shutoffs?

Guests:

Jean Su, Energy Justice Director, Center for Biological Diversity

Sanya Carley, Co-Director, Energy Justice Lab, University of Pennsylvania

Tamara Jones, Co-Executive Director, Clean Energy Works

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction

4:15 Jean Su on topline takeaways from nationwide data

10:04 Jean Su on why utilities don’t cover the cost of non-payment

12:55 Jean Su on polices to prevent shutoffs

16:16 Jean Su on the reality of underreported shutoffs

22:17 Sanya Carley on what happens to a household when a shutoff occurs

25:15 Sanya Carley on seeking help after a shutoff

27:44 Sanya Carley on federal impact on shutoffs

29:56 Sanya Carley on what state legislatures can do

35:25 Tamara Jones on working for justice

38:09 Tamara Jones on who is impacted by energy injustice

46:14 Tamara Jones on examples of where policy gets it right

50:56 Tamara Jones on what work needs to be done in policy and regulation

For show notes, related links, and episode transcript, visit our episode page at climateone.org

Join Climate One for an induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

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Across the country, developers are racing to build huge new buildings to house computers to fuel the AI boom, creating an explosive demand for new energy. While some hyperscalers seek renewable energy, others are turning to fossil fuels. But concerns around high electric bills, air and noise pollution and water depletion have generated widespread community pushback against these giant facilities, and it seems opposing data centers is a bipartisan issue. Many cities and states are working to rapidly update zoning and other local regulations to respond to the dual pressures of developer interest and constituent backlash.

Since data center development isn’t slowing down, what policies or creative strategies can lessen the impacts for local communities and ratepayers?

Guests:

KeShaun Pearson, Executive Director, Memphis Community Against Pollution

Rebecca Egan McCarthy, Freelance Journalist

Jason Plautz, Reporter, E&E News and Politico

Astrid Atkinson, CEO, Camus

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction

3:15 KeShaun Pearson on updates to the Colossus data center pollution

6:18 KeShaun Pearson on state regulators allowing an expansion of gas turbines

8:08 KeShaun Pearson on the effect of the pollution on the community

16:24 KeShaun Pearson on what he hopes the lawsuits can achieve

19:38 Rebecca Egan McCarthy on Archbald and data center development

22:26 Rebecca Egan McCarthy on who has the power to regulate data center projects

28:16 Rebecca Egan McCarthy on data center development outside of Archbald

30:21 Jason Plautz on changing attitudes toward data centers

34:32 Jason Plautz on where there is meaningful regulation happening

39:27 Jason Plautz on state level regulatory changes

41:26 Jason Plautz on the pace of data center development

44:45 Astrid Atkinson on the effects of data center energy load on the grid

46:19 Astrid Atkinson on what flexibility means in the energy world

50:39 Astrid Atkinson on hyperscalers paying for their energy

55:22 Astrid Atkinson on how some policy changes can help communities

For show notes and related links, visit ⁠our episode page⁠ at climateone.org

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More and more, conservative voices are making the case that the U.S. can’t achieve energy dominance without solar power. Even the leading industry trade group is changing its strategy.

Earlier this year, Politico reported that the American Clean Power Association launched the “American Energy First” campaign to engage Kellyanne Conway and conservative influencers like Katie Miller “to amplify the benefits of solar energy” and “note the harm that could result from reckless trade policy.” Meanwhile, conservative groups at the state and federal level are advocating for building out solar power in service of private property rights, economic development and national security.

Episode Guests:

Kelsey Brugger, Congressional policy reporter, Politico

Skyler Zunk, Executive Director, Energy Right; Executive Director, America First Energy

Lillian Floutsis, Indiana Senior Field Representative, Indiana Land and Liberty, Conservative Energy Network

This episode also features a reported piece from David Condos of KUER.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Intro

03:00 – Kelsey Brugger explains American Clean Power memo about reaching out to conservative influencers

06:30 – Does this indicate an ideological shift on the right?

09:40 – How much can this effort shift views within the administration

14:00 – Kelsey Brugger on what this story says about how the clean energy industry is positioning itself

19:00 – Skylar Zunk shares rationale behind his “Make Solar Great Again” hats

23:40 – How America First Energy frames solar energy

32:00 – How approach to solar energy conversation differ in D.C. and Louisiana

36:50 – KUER’s David Condos reports on Utah communities moving toward renewable energy

43:00 – Lillian Floutsis shares story from Allen County, Indiana, about local debate around setbacks for solar energy development

48:00 – Floutsis on framing solar conversations in Indiana around property rights, economic development and national security

53:00 – Climate is usually not a part of these conversations

54:20 – Floutsis share solar success stories

57:50 – Climate One More Thing

For show notes and related links, visit our episode page at climateone.org

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Join us for our induction cooking demonstration night on July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Come enjoy delicious food and wine, and learn about why cooking with magnets beats cooking with gas. Tickets available at http://climateone.org/events

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