Best Earthjustice Podcasts (2025)

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Rerun: Public Utilities Commissions, with EarthJustice’s Jill Tauber 1:45

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6d ago1:45

1:45

What are public utility commissions (PUCs)? In the transition to clean energy, state public utility commissions (PUCs), which regulate electric, gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater utilities, play an increasingly important role in achieving energy efficiency, enabling renewable energy, and implementing policies for greenhouse gas emission…

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Rerun: Identifying and Fixing Natural Gas Leaks in Cities, with Dr. Rob Jackson 1:45

2h ago1:45

1:45

Methane in the Atmosphere: A Serious Risk Many of the solutions we often hear about when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions revolve around reducing carbon emissions, as carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities. Methane, however, is the second most common greenhouse gas, emitted through agricultural p…

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Rerun: How Native American Ecology Can Tackle Climate Anxiety, with Dr. Melinda Adams 1:45

14d ago1:45

1:45

Climate Change and Anxiety: Some Data Climate or “eco” anxiety refers to people feeling distressed about climate change and its impacts on our ecosystems, the environment, and human health and well-being. It is rooted in a deep existential dread concerning the future of the planet. Symptoms include feelings of grief, loss, anger, sadness, and guilt…

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Latino Climate Justice Framework, with Irene Burga 1:45

21d ago1:45

1:45

What is the LCFJ? The Latino Climate Justice Framework (LCJF) prioritizes environmental justice while helping to protect disproportionately affected individuals–commonly Latine people. Specifically, LCJF works with communities that “face numerous climate-related issues, from extreme heat affecting outdoor workers and poor air quality in neighborhoo…

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Rerun: Alleviating Urban Heat Traps, with Jeff Goodell 1:45

28d ago1:45

1:45

What Does Extreme Heat Do? Since the pre-industrialized era, the global temperature has increased by about one degree Celsius. Although one degree may not seem significant, the consequences are increases in the intensity of heatwaves and drier conditions. In addition, in dense urban settings buildings trap and absorb this heat and cause even a high…

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Rerun: Calculating Threats from Rising Temperatures Using Heat Indexing, with Professor David Romps 1:45

1M ago1:45

1:45

Extreme Heat: More Dangerous Than We Think? Extreme heat, one of the adverse consequences of climate change, exacerbates drought, damages agriculture, and profoundly impacts human health. Heat is the top weather-related killer in the United States, contributing to deaths that arise from heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. As …

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Rerun: Regenerating our Ecosystems with Good Fire, with Dr. Melinda Adams 1:45

1M ago1:45

1:45

Wildfires and climate change: a brief overview North America is no stranger to wildfires. As of August 15, 2024, 29,917 fires this year have burned more than 5.2 million acres, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. While this year’s number of wildfires is below the annual average of 35,691, the yearly acres burned is above the average …

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Rerun: Eliminating Contrails to Increase Aircraft Sustainability, with Matteo Mirolo 1:45

2M ago1:45

1:45

The aviation industry and climate change: what are contrails? A 2022 IPCC report found that direct GHG emissions from the transport sector accounted for 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019. Road vehicles accounted for 70% of direct transport emissions, while 1%, 11%, and 12% of emissions came from rail, shipping, and aviation, respec…

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Rerun: COF 999 Carbon Capture, with Dr. Omar Yaghi 1:45

2M ago1:45

1:45

What is COF 999? UC Berkeley chemistry professor Dr. Omar Yaghi recently led a study which has the potential to be revolutionary in reducing the quantity of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. “Covalent organic framework number 999,” or COF 999, is a yellow, powder-like material that has billions of tiny holes. Inside of these holes, research…

1
Rerun: Locating Methane Leaks with Satellites, with Dr. Timiebi Aganaba 1:45

2M ago1:45

1:45

What is methane? Methane (CH4) (the primary component of “natural gas”) is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Around 60% of global methane emissions come from human activities in three main sectors: energy production (oil, gas, and coal), agriculture (livestock and rice), and waste (landfill and waste water). Energy prod…

1
Recyclable Resin for Wind Turbines, with Ryan Clarke 1:45

2M ago1:45

1:45

The Benefits of Recycling Wind Turbines While wind energy is renewable and non-polluting, the wind turbines themselves can create pollution problems. Now, scientists are creating wind turbines that can be made with less energy, but also create less waste because they can be recycled. This, of course, reduces impacts on the waste stream and provides…

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Chaos Wheat, with Robin Morgan 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

What is Chaos Wheat? Wheat varieties that are resilient to climate change are sometimes referred to as "chaos wheat." An initiative of King Arthur Baking Company–an emerging leader in the creation of chaos wheat–and Washington State University's Breadlab is aiming to create wheat blends, such as King Arthur's Regeneratively-Grown Climate Blend Flou…

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How Curbside Charging Increases EV Accessibility, with Tiya Gordon 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

The Rise in EV Adoption The US electric vehicle (EV) market is expected to reach a revenue of $95.9 billion this year, with a projected annual growth rate of 12.61% over the course of the next four years. By 2035, California and twelve other states are planning to achieve 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales, calling upon local governments to assis…

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Rerun: Making Electric Heating Accessible and Affordable for Low-Income Residents, with Sarah Moskowitz 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

Electric Heat: A Hot Topic in Chicago In cold winter months, many people have to rely on fossil gas to heat their homes and power cookstoves. Yet all-electric appliances, including heat pumps to heat homes, are quickly becoming a cheaper alternative over the long term, though they often entail higher upfront costs compared to gas appliances. In Chi…

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Water Batteries, with Erik Steimle 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

Pumped Storage Hydropower as a Climate Solution Pumped storage hydropower, also known as water batteries, are often used as a means to store excess renewable energy. For example, solar and wind may generate more energy than is needed during certain times of the day and less than what is needed at other times. As a result, water batteries are extrem…

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How Public Universities are Helping to Fight Climate Change, with Bruce Riordan 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

The Role of Public Universities in the Fight Against Climate Change Public universities like UC Berkeley have played a major role in developing climate solutions, from innovation in labs to policy initiatives. In order to create positive change in the climate space, science requires funding, which universities can provide. Further, universities, of…

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Rerun: Energy as a Service, with Bob Hinkle 1:45

4M ago1:45

1:45

What is Energy-as-a-Service? Most current energy technologies burn fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Adopting low and zero-carbon technologies is one way to reduce emissions, but barriers such as high upfront and maintenance costs have impeded the adoption of these technologies. Energy as a Service (EaaS) is…

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Rerun: Including Marginalized Communities in Policy Decisions, with Dr. Andrew Rumbach 1:45

4M ago1:45

1:45

Climate change and household financial well-being The increase in climate-related disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and heat waves, has created serious financial burdens on households across the country. Since 1980, the world has seen a fivefold increase in the number of billion-dollar natural disasters. 2018 to 2022 alone saw an estimated $617…

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Transforming Coffee Grounds into a Biodegradable Plastic Alternative, with Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy 1:45

4M ago1:45

1:45

Brewing a Greener Future Ever wonder where your used coffee grounds go after they’ve been completed? Probably not. But at South Dakota State University, researchers are turning them into something entirely unexpected: plastic. Not just any plastic, but a biodegradable alternative to oil and gas-based plastics that dominate the industry today. This …

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Climate Action through Community-Driven Philanthropy, with Jared Blumenfeld 1:45

4M ago1:45

1:45

What is the Waverley Street Foundation? The Waverley Street Foundation, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs in 2016, aims to attack climate related issues through funding community-led programs, leading to community action against climate change. The Waverley Street Foundation specifically funds programs related to renewable energy and regenerative agri…

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Rerun: Disability-Inclusive Climate Solutions, with Michael Stein 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

Introduction People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change; however, they have been traditionally excluded from conversations about national plans and responses to climate change. Including the disabled community in decision making is key to addressing potential harms and designing effective, inclusive solutions. Disabl…

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Out with Classic Refrigerants and In with Ionocaloric Refrigeration, with Dr. Drew Lilley 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

Modern HVAC Systems' Reliance on Refrigerant In 2020, nearly 90% of homes used air conditioning systems in the United States. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are used by both homeowners and businesses alike, with their usage only expected to rise as climate change increases global temperatures. Refrigerant, a chemical compo…

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Clean Trucks, with Ruben Aronin 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

What does a zero-emission vehicle really mean? Clean transportation policies promoting sustainability have progressed over the years and have become even more important, both because transportation represents the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions and because climate change has been accelerating at unprecedented rates. The public is likely…

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Breeding Heat Resilient Coral to Restore At-Risk Coral Reefs, with Dr. Saskia Jurriaans 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

How Can Coral IVF Fight Coral Bleaching? As ocean temperatures increase due to climate change, an emergent crisis known as coral bleaching is on the rise. Coral bleaching poses the largest threat to coral reefs, which are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral reef habitats occupy less than one percent of the ocean floor, but const…

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Removing Dams on Rivers to Ensure Climate Resilience for Salmon, with Regina Chichizola 1:45

6M ago1:45

1:45

The Benefits of Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems For over a century, native salmon populations in California have been adversely impacted by human activities such as mining, dam building, and overfishing practices, often leading to the loss of critical habitat and decreased genetic diversity. With additional environmental stress from climate change, su…

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Rerun: Increasing Efficiency Through Power Line Reconductoring, with Umed Paliwal 1:45

6M ago1:45

1:45

Reconductoring power grids to boost energy efficiency The expansion of renewable energy has resulted in a heightened need for greater transmission capacity of the electrical grid. Unfortunately, permitting and cost allocation have been large hurdles to the potential of rapid expansion to meet future demand. As an alternative, large-scale reconducto…

1
Public Utilities Commissions, with EarthJustice’s Jill Tauber 1:45

6M ago1:45

1:45

What are public utility commissions (PUCs)? In the transition to clean energy, state public utility commissions (PUCs), which regulate electric, gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater utilities, play an increasingly important role in achieving energy efficiency, enabling renewable energy, and implementing policies for greenhouse gas emission…

1
Sustainable Wood from Mass Timber, with Dr. Paul Mayencourt 1:45

6M ago1:45

1:45

How Sustainable Wood Helps Mitigate the Impact of Climate Change Sustainable wood refers to the use of mass timber, which involves smaller pieces of wood that are dried and glued together in a perpendicular, crosswise pattern to form large slabs. This process can incorporate a closed-loop system that repurposes wood, promoting a circular practice t…

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How Fungi is Enhancing Soil Carbon Sequestration Underground, with Tegan Nock 1:45

7M ago1:45

1:45

How Climate Change Puts the Agriculture Industry at Risk Since the Industrial Revolution, our soils have lost between twenty and sixty percent of their carbon levels as a result of agricultural practice exacerbated by more common and more extreme droughts and floods resulting from climate change. Farmers have witnessed their crops endure mass devas…

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COF 999 Carbon Capture, with Dr. Omar Yaghi 1:45

7M ago1:45

1:45

What is COF 999? UC Berkeley chemistry professor Dr. Omar Yaghi recently led a study which has the potential to be revolutionary in reducing the quantity of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. “Covalent organic framework number 999,” or COF 999, is a yellow, powder-like material that has billions of tiny holes. Inside of these holes, research…

1
Rerun: Local Textile Recycling with Material Return's Bobby Carswell 1:44

7M ago1:44

1:44

What is mechanical textile recycling? Mechanical textile recycling is a process by which used textiles, particularly those made with natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and linen, are broken down into their individual fibers and then spun into yarn or fabric for reuse in the production of new textiles. Textile recycling has the potential to reduce…

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Rerun: Municipal Investment in Clean Energy Tech through Community Choice Aggregation, with Rob Shaw 1:46

7M ago1:46

1:46

What is Community Choice Aggregation? Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a system that allows local governments to purchase power directly from an energy supplier other than the existing utility. This means that while the existing utility continues to deliver the power, the CCA buys and generates the power itself, potentially from renewable sour…

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Rerun: Adapting Ocean Governance for a World of Rising Seas with Dr. Nilufer Oral 1:45

7M ago1:45

1:45

Climate Change and the Law of the Sea Sea level rise due to climate change will directly impact at least 70 countries, many of them small, low-lying island nations. Though their contribution to climate change is very little, they face some of its worst consequences. This is not a new issue, and tension has been building since the late 1980s. In 198…

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Rerun: Optimizing Food Waste Recovery through Algorithms, with Maen Mahfoud 1:45

8M ago1:45

1:45

Food Waste is a Global Problem with a Big Carbon Footprint One-third of all food produced is wasted every year – approximately 1.3 billion tons. The UN Environment Program estimates that 3.3 billion tons of CO2 are emitted annually from the resources used to produce wasted food. In the United States alone, 133 billion pounds of edible food, valued …

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Rerun: Advancing Sustainable Steel Production, with Adam Rauwerdink 1:44

8M ago1:44

1:44

Steel Production Globally, 1.9 billion metric tons of crude steel were produced in 2022. Over the past 15 years, the global demand for steel production has nearly doubled, as this versatile product can be found in nearly all modern infrastructure such as buildings, ships, vehicles, machines, and appliances. Conventionally, steel is made from iron o…

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Rerun: Sustainable Investing for a Climate-Proof Economy, with Kirsten Spalding 1:45

8M ago1:45

1:45

Mobilizing Investors to Build a More Sustainable Global Economy As the effects of climate change rise in prevalence, all facets of the global economy will be affected. In order to address many of the global environmental crises of today, such as biodiversity loss and extreme drought, entrepreneurs are looking into sustainable investment initiatives…

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Carbon Capture Mineralization, with Dr. Rob Jackson 1:45

8M ago1:45

1:45

What is carbon mineralization? As defined by the U.S. Geological Survey, “carbon mineralization is the process by which carbon dioxide becomes a solid mineral, such as a carbonate…The biggest advantage of carbon mineralization is that the carbon cannot escape back to the atmosphere.” This generally occurs by injecting carbon dioxide underground int…

1
Identifying and Fixing Natural Gas Leaks in Cities, with Dr. Rob Jackson 1:45

9M ago1:45

1:45

Methane in the Atmosphere: A Serious Risk Many of the solutions we often hear about when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions revolve around reducing carbon emissions, as carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities. Methane, however, is the second most common greenhouse gas, emitted through agricultural p…

1
Staying Safe in Extreme Heat, with Dr. David Sklar 1:45

9M ago1:45

1:45

Impacts of Heat Waves on Human Health Across the United States, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves. A heat wave is defined as a persistent period of high temperature days. Although unusually hot days are a natural part of day-to-day variations in weather, heat waves are becoming more common alongside the rapidly …

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Standardizing Energy Efficiency, with Mark Kresowik 1:45

9M ago1:45

1:45

The Current State of US Energy Consumption The United States consumes vast amounts of energy and spends enormous amounts of money every year to fuel our economy, business, and lifestyle. The US accounts for 4% of the world’s population, yet uses 16% of the world’s total energy. The production and consumption of energy are major drivers of global cl…

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Rerun: Using Climate Journalism to Connect Weather Events and Climate, with Jonathan Vigliotti 1:45

9M ago1:45

1:45

Staying Educated About Climate Change As climate change intensifies, the heightened frequency of natural disaster weather-related events is quickly becoming the new reality. Whether it be prolonged wildfire seasons in Northern California or destructive hurricanes off the Florida coast, citizens across the country are beginning to bear the burden of…

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Rerun: Resilience Hotspots: Nature's Role in Urban Climate Adaptation 1:44

10M ago1:44

1:44

What are “Resilience Hotspots”? Technology and high-tech solutions are not the only responses to climate change. Nature can also be a powerful form of climate resilience. Resilience hotspots are small pockets of nature that, when restored and maintained, act as barriers to climate impacts. For instance, wetlands can insulate shores from storm surge…

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Rerun: Induction Ranges, No Rewiring Required, with Sam Calisch 1:42

10M ago1:42

1:42

Induction-Range Stoves: Gas stoves have recently been in the news as a source of harmful pollutants in the home and generators of greenhouse gas. The adoption of energy-efficient induction-range stovetops could offer a solution. Induction cooktops use electromagnetism to generate heat from directly within cookware, preventing the levels of energy l…

1
How Native American Ecology Can Tackle Climate Anxiety, with Dr. Melinda Adams 1:45

10M ago1:45

1:45

Climate Change and Anxiety: Some Data Climate or “eco” anxiety refers to people feeling distressed about climate change and its impacts on our ecosystems, the environment, and human health and well-being. It is rooted in a deep existential dread concerning the future of the planet. Symptoms include feelings of grief, loss, anger, sadness, and guilt…

1
Regenerating our Ecosystems with Good Fire, with Dr. Melinda Adams 1:45

10M ago1:45

1:45

Wildfires and climate change: a brief overview North America is no stranger to wildfires. As of August 15, 2024, 29,917 fires this year have burned more than 5.2 million acres, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. While this year’s number of wildfires is below the annual average of 35,691, the yearly acres burned is above the average …

1
Including Marginalized Communities in Policy Decisions 1:45

10M ago1:45

1:45

Climate change and household financial well-being The increase in climate-related disasters, such as floods, wildfires, and heat waves, has created serious financial burdens on households across the country. Since 1980, the world has seen a fivefold increase in the number of billion-dollar natural disasters. 2018 to 2022 alone saw an estimated $617…

1
Promoting Clean Energy through Pop Culture, with Klean Energy Kulture Co-Founders Michael Hawthorne Jr. and Corey Dennard 1:45

11M ago1:45

1:45

A New Sustainable Culture Through the rise in pop culture, climate change awareness has increasingly been integrated into the entertainment industry. Particularly in the Black community, multimedia cultural campaigns are used to increase interest in environmental movements with the use of light-hearted, fun content. Artists, musicians, and influenc…

1
Eliminating Contrails to Increase Aircraft Sustainability, with Matteo Mirolo 1:45

11M ago1:45

1:45

The aviation industry and climate change: what are contrails? A 2022 IPCC report found that direct GHG emissions from the transport sector accounted for 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019. Road vehicles accounted for 70% of direct transport emissions, while 1%, 11%, and 12% of emissions came from rail, shipping, and aviation, respec…

1
Locating Methane Leaks with Satellites, with Dr. Timiebi Aganaba 1:45

11M ago1:45

1:45

What is methane? Methane (CH4) (the primary component of “natural gas”) is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Around 60% of global methane emissions come from human activities in three main sectors: energy production (oil, gas, and coal), agriculture (livestock and rice), and waste (landfill and waste water). Energy prod…

1
Energy as a Service, with Bob Hinkle 1:45

11M ago1:45

1:45

What is Energy-as-a-Service? Most current energy technologies burn fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Adopting low and zero-carbon technologies is one way to reduce emissions, but barriers such as high upfront and maintenance costs have impeded the adoption of these technologies. Energy as a Service (EaaS) is…