Afleveringen
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Introduction to the Solution
Keeping buildings cool is becoming one of our fastest growing and energy-intensive challenges. A startup based in Hong Kong pioneers for an answer already existing in natureâ the outer layer of a tiny ant that survives one of the hottest places on Earth. Dr. Martin Zhu and his co-founder mimicked the heat-repelling biology of the Saharan silver ant to develop cooling technology that remains electricity-free.
Background: From the Saharan Silver Ant to Zero-Energy CoolingCooling maintains around 10% of global electricity demand. In the hottest regions, cooling can account for over 70% of peak electricity demand.
The biological inspiration behind i2Coolâs technology, the Saharan silver ant, has evolved to be a solution in the transition to zero-energy cooling. The ant endures desert heat through its surface hairs with a distinctive structure that reflects solar energy and emits body heat as radiation in a specific wavelength range. This wavelength passes through the atmosphere into outer space, effectively cooling the ant without any energy input.
The team replicates this using engineered nanoparticles embedded in various materials, like paint coatings, window films, ceramics, and textiles. The i2Coolâs research team integrated this heat transfer principle to produce a multi-component and multi-scale solution, efficient in solar reflectivity and mid-infared emissivity of up to 95%.
AdvantagesThe most significant advantage of passive radiative cooling is that it requires no energy input, unlike traditional air conditioning. This technology can reduce surface temperature up to 42 â and save air conditioning energy consumption by up to 40%.
In addition, since this solution is passive, requiring no electricity to run, the technology can be used off-grid or in energy-poor areas. This means the technology has the potential to democratize access to cooling in the regions of the world that need it most, but currently have the least access.
Drawbacks and CritiquesA constraint of passive radiative cooling is that the material may need to be redesigned for different climates, as Dr. Zhu acknowledges. Temperature swings and humidity in different regions require different nanoparticle structures, which is costly to implement and adjust for. This may be fine in areas near the equator where cooling demand is relatively consistent, but in seasonal climates like Russia, Canada, or the U.S., radiative cooling solutions run the risk of overcooling.
Another drawback could be the varying and longer payback times from saved energy costs that has the potential to deter building owners from using the technology. For example, vehicle payback is under six months, while building applications take two to three years. This has the potential to deter building owners from using the technology.
The Guest's TakeDr. Martin Zhu sees zero-energy cooling as a powerful tool to reduce the global need for air conditioning, rather than an outright replacement. For him, this technology democratizes access to cooling while innovatively requiring no ongoing energy. This is a part of a broader vision for climate equity, sustainably leveraging technology as a means of supporting marginalized communities.
About the GuestDr. Martin Zhu is the Co-Founder and CEO of i2Cool, a company specializing in electricity-free cooling technology. He focuses on commercializing passive radiative cooling technology, reaching more than 30 countries.
Other Resources & Further Reading i2Cool Company Website: i2Cool IEA: The Future of Cooling IEA: Keeping cool in a hotter world is using more energy, making efficiency more important than ever ScienceDirect: Flexible passive radiative cooling inspired by Saharan silver ants National Library of Medicine: Biomimetic Cooling Dr. Martin Zhu Biography: Prof. ZHU MartinFor a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/zero-energy-cooling-with-martin-zhu/
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Introduction
Across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, two-wheeled vehicles are the backbone of everyday transportation. With roughly one billion two-wheelers on the road globally, their collective carbon footprint is enormous. Briz, a brand developed by Hong Kong-based One Energy (HK) Limited, is tackling this head-on with affordable electric two-wheelers paired with a rapid battery-swapping service that makes going electric cheaper than filling a tank.
BackgroundTwo-wheelers dominate personal mobility across the Global South for one simple reason: cost. Cars remain out of reach for hundreds of millions of people, making motorcycles and scooters the primary mode of getting to work, school, and the market. They also power much of the last-mile delivery economy such as food, parcels, and pharmaceuticals in dense urban environments across Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South America. Since most of these vehicles run on gasoline, they collectively represent a significant and often overlooked source of global COâ emissions.
Briz electric two-wheelers are designed to be price-competitive with their gas-powered equivalents from the outset. Rather than relying on home charging, which requires a stable power supply, time, and upfront infrastructure, Briz customers subscribe to a battery-swapping service. When the battery runs low, riders visit a nearby swap station, slide out the depleted battery, and click in a fully charged one. The company says the swap takes under a minute. Critically, the monthly cost of the swapping service is designed to be lower than what a rider would typically spend on gasoline, lowering the financial barrier to switching.
One of the most persistent obstacles to electric vehicle adoption in emerging markets is charging time. Early Briz models required up to five hours to recharge, a dealbreaker for riders who depend on their vehicles for daily income, but the battery-swap model sidesteps this entirely. It also removes battery degradation. Since customers are subscribing to a service rather than owning a battery outright, the often steep cost of battery replacement falls on the operator, not the individual rider.
AdvantagesBy targeting a vehicle category that has historically been overlooked in the electrification conversation, Briz has the potential to generate outsized climate impact. Electrifying even a fraction of the world's one billion two-wheelers, especially in regions where electricity grids are increasingly powered by renewables, could deliver meaningful reductions in transport emissions. The business model is also structured to work for people with lower and irregular incomes: the subscription pricing removes large upfront costs, and the swap infrastructure means riders aren't dependent on owning or accessing home charging equipment.
Drawbacks and CritiquesThe battery-swap model works well in cities and dense corridors with swap station coverage, however it creates real limitations for long-distance travel. Riders venturing beyond the swap network face the same range anxiety that affects all battery electric vehicles. Expanding station infrastructure into rural and peri-urban areas will be essential and expensive if the model is to reach its full potential.
Safety is another concern. Battery swap stations concentrate large numbers of lithium-ion cells in a single location, creating a fire risk. One Energy says its stations are equipped with automatic fire-extinguishing systems designed to respond to any battery fire before it can spread, but the risk is worth monitoring as the network scales.
Kevin To's PerspectiveKevin To, CEO of One Energy (HK) Limited, brings the operator's view to the challenge of electrifying the world's most common vehicle. His company's approach of supplying affordable hardware, subscription-based battery access, and a focus on markets where two-wheelers are a necessity rather than a lifestyle choice reflects a pragmatic bet that climate solutions need to make economic sense for the people adopting them, not just for investors or policymakers.
About Kevin ToKevin To is the CEO of One Energy (HK) Limited, the parent company behind the Briz brand of light electric vehicles. Based in Hong Kong, he leads the company's efforts to bring affordable, battery-swappable electric two-wheelers to mass markets across Asia and beyond.
Further Reading Briz LEV â Official website IEA: Global EV Outlook â Two- and Three-Wheelers Bloomberg NEF: Electric Vehicle OutlookFor a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/electric-two-wheelers-with-kevin-to/
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Impacts of Air Transportation on Climate Change
Air transportation is a major contributor to the fossil fuel economy: studies have shown that aviation is responsible for 3.5 percent of all drivers of climate change from human activities. Planes use immense amounts of keroseneâa flammable liquid used as fuelâin order to travel. When kerosene burns, it releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and black carbon. Also, planes create contrails: âline-shaped clouds produced by an airplaneâs hot engine exhaust interacting with cold humid air several miles above the Earthâs surface.â These are the lines of white you see behind a plane as it flies overhead: small water particles from the planeâs engine exhaust that have frozen to become visible ice crystals. Because these are essentially clouds, when they persist past a short period of time, they have the potential to trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to a warming effect with many negative climate change consequences.
Advanced Air Mobility as a Climate SolutionIn order to combat these negative effects of air travelâand to keep up with increasing demand for shorter distance air travelâresearchers have begun looking toward opportunities for low emission options that can be more widely applied. This concept has been coined Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), and seeks to develop transportation technologies which are: âhighly automated, electrically powered, and have vertical take-off and landing capability.â One main goal of the project is to develop Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in order to connect underserved communities within cities and rural regions.
Ideally, Advanced Air Mobility will be an environmental improvement because it will use cleaner forms of energy to fuel the transportation, from electricity to hydrogen. According to Adam Cohen of UC Berkeleyâs Transportation Sustainability Research Center, there are several different potential uses for the cleaner energy technology, including air taxi services, small package delivery, emergency services, or aeromedical use cases. Airports in particular are confronting a lot of demands for powerâboth in terms of aviation and ground vehiclesâwhich electric fueled AAM may be able to help fulfill. In terms of hydrogen power, Cohen says manufacturers are testing and have prototypes for a hydrogen aircraft in the hopes that hydrogen will be an entry point for more sustainable flight in the future.
Challenges of ImplementationAAM is still in its early stages of development, and has yet to be implemented in a real way. In order for this to occur, its innovators need to place safety and integration at the forefront, ensuring passenger and cargo safety, as well as minimal disruption to current air traffic pathways. Further, it will be necessary to ensure some level of equitable access in terms of both convenience and cost across groups of people. Ultimately, AAM hopes to be a step in the direction toward clean energy in the aviation sector, encouraging policies and technologies in line with sustainable goals.
About our guestAdam Cohen is a transportation thought leader, consultant, and shared mobility researcher at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining the group in 2004, his research has focused on innovative urban mobility solutions, including shared mobility, smart cities technologies, smartphone apps, urban air mobility, and other emerging technologies.
Resources Federal Aviation Administration: Advanced Air Mobility National Business Aviation Association: Advanced Air Mobility NASA: Advanced Air MobilityFor a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/advanced-air-mobility-with-adam-cohen
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Introduction to the Solution
UC Davis researchers are examining a novel approach to combating climate change: turning our buildings into carbon sinks. The solution is based on incorporating biochar, a carbon-rich material obtained from plant material, into common construction materials like concrete, brick, and asphalt. By embedding carbon directly into long-lasting infrastructure, this approach reduces atmospheric COâ and also transforms one of the most carbon-intensive industries in the world into a tool for climate mitigation.
Background: How Carbon Storage in Building Materials Works
Biochar is created through pyrolysis, a process involving heating organic material, such as crop residues or wood waste, in a low-oxygen environment. This process locks in carbon that plants absorb during photosynthesis and prevents it from being re-released into the atmosphere through decay or burning.
The research team at UC Davis, headed by Professor Sabbie Miller and Dr. Elisabeth Van Roijen, proposes the use of biochar as a partial replacement for the materials in concrete and other construction compounds. Since more than 20 billion tons of concrete are produced every year by the construction sector, substituting 10% of that with biochar-based mixtures could store up to 1 gigaton of COâ annually, or the equivalent yearly emissions from Japan.
Unlike temporary carbon storage methods, like soil burial, embedding biochar in durable infrastructure ensures long-term sequestration, potentially spanning decades or even centuries. It also leverages the global scale of construction as a medium for climate action.
Advantages of This Solution
Apart from net carbon emissions reduction, the introduction of biochar-enriched building materials has tangible engineering benefits. It has been found that the addition of biochar can enhance thermal insulation, fire resistance, and durability in some uses. The process also fits well within the circular economy principles because of the organic waste used and reduced need for virgin materials.
Because construction is already a high-volume, resource-intensive industry, integrating biochar into existing supply chains could make climate-positive practices scalable and economically viable without requiring dramatic infrastructure overhauls. Equally important, this solution provides dual benefits: supporting both carbon sequestration and the development of sustainable materials.
Drawbacks and Critiques
The approach faces several scientific and logistical obstacles despite such a promising premise. Producing biochar requires energy in quite significant quantities, with sourcing biomass at large scales risking unforeseen ecological impacts such as nutrient depletion or habitat disruption. Some critics even ask whether its broad adoption might inadvertently encourage the removal of older buildings in favor of the construction of newer, carbon-storing ones, offsetting any climate gains.
Another factor is the life cycle of the biochar-infused materials themselves. While they can store carbon for decades, it remains undetermined how these materials at the end of a building's life are to be managed to avoid re-release of COâ. Future policy frameworks and recycling technologies will be required to address these challenges if there is to be long-term effectiveness.
About the Guest
Dr. Sabbie Miller is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis. Her research focuses on sustainable infrastructure materials, life-cycle assessment, and reducing the environmental footprint of the construction industry.
Further Reading
UC Davis News: Storing Carbon in Buildings Could Help Address Climate Change Nature Geoscience: Carbon Sequestration Using Biochar Science Magazine: Building Materials as Carbon Sinks ScienceDirect: Alternative Sequestration Options in Construction MaterialsFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sequestering-carbon-in-building-materials-with-dr-sabbie-miller/
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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 more familiar with zero-emission cars, but zero-emission trucks are also becoming an integral part of mitigating climate and other environmental impacts.
Transportation-based pollutionThe transportation industry as a whole has been the biggest source of greenhouse gasses over the time period since the Industrial Revolution. Impacts of emissions associated with transportation include harm to the environment as well as to human health. Trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles constitute six percent of the on-road fleet but produce up to 26 percent of transportation-based greenhouse gas emissions along with a plethora of pollutants that can cause various types of cancer, asthma, and other respiratory challenges. Diesel-fueled trucks and other large vehicles can also cause noise pollution and take an out-sized toll on road infrastructure.
Benefits of Zero-Emission TruckingZero-emission trucking can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and emissions of other pollutants into the environment. By one estimate, US regions could save $735 billion in public health benefits due to cleaner air and result in 1.75 million fewer asthma attacks. The Inflation Reduction Act provides incentives for the manufacturing and purchasing of zero-emission trucks. People who buy zero-emission vehicles, for example, can receive significant tax breaks, subsidies, and even discounts on road tolls. Moreover, it is common for zero-emission trucks to be exempt from vehicle dimensions and weight restrictions
Drawbacks of Clean TrucksAlthough zero-emission trucksâbattery electric trucks and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucksâas a whole have a lot of advantages, they still face significant challenges. For example, clean trucks may still be ill-suited for the range demanded of long-haul applications. Even with IRA incentives, clean trucks can be two and a half to three times more expensive than the diesel equivalent, although the cost of fuel and maintenance is likely less. Battery electric trucks can take up to four times longer than their diesel equivalent to charge. And even though hydrogen-operated trucks are more efficient than battery electric trucks, the US currently lacks the necessary hydrogen infrastructure to make them truly feasible.
In addition, hydrogen trucks, when fully charged, have a range that is about 500 miles and battery electric⊠[about] 180 to 250. By comparison, a diesel truck running a full load can have a range of roughly 1000 to 1200 miles. Because the sustainable alternatives are heavier, they actually would end up carrying less and more trucks would be needed to do the same amount of work as a single diesel-powered truck could, increasing operational costs and decreasing efficiency.
Aronin and Zero-Emission MobilityRuben Aronin is working to pave a path towards zero-emission mobility in the United States (especially California) with his team at Better World Group. They have worked to support multiple policies, including the Advanced Clean Truck Rule which is a significant part of Californiaâs zero-emission truck policy. That rule mandates that manufacturersâprovided with four years of lead timeâincrease electric truck vehicle sales every year from 2025. Additionally, it promotes a 100% sales requirement of zero-emission trucks by 2036.
Mr. Aronin believes that the Advanced Clean Truck Rule along with another policy, called the Advanced Clean Fleet Rule, will enable the quickest transitions to zero-emission trucks, particularly in the most pollution-burdened communities. His coalition includes the Teamsters and others to help ensure labor and environmental justice support. He also recognizes that it is often economically difficult or unfeasible for companies and individuals to purchase zero-emission trucks. To this end, tax credits and investments from the federal IRA and IAJ are essential. As the market grows, Mr. Aronin says that the price of the electric truck components and batteries are decreasing at a rapid pace.
Who is Ruben Aronin?Ruben Aronin, current principal of The Better World Group, acts to advance clean transportation policies. He joined the BWG in 2012 and currently helps to lead BWGâs advanced transportation project work. Aronin has previously created and implemented effective environmental policy initiatives to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in over a dozen states across the country (including California).
Resources American Lung Association, Delivering Clean Air: Health Benefits of Zero-Emission Trucks McKinsey, Preparing the world for zero-emission trucks FleetOwner, Future of zero-emission trucks: Challenges and promises aheadFurther Reading MotorBiscuit, Are Pickup Trucks Really That Bad for the Environment? Tachyon, Environmental impact of trucks and sustainability practices McKinsey, How batteries drive the zero-emission truck transitionFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/clean-trucks-with-ruben-aronin/.
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About the Air Filters
Aurabeat is a medically patented air filter technology that has proven to reduce up to 99.9% of COVID-19 bacteria from the air. This was heavily deployed in some of the most infectious environments akin to COVID-19 hospitals and quarantine facilities, where more than 500 air purifier units were placed. It was also used in over a 100 schools, hospitals, retail outlets, and major shopping centers in places like Hong Kong to aid in the reopening of public facilities during pandemic times.
BackgroundAurabeat manages to sterilize air up to â3.4 times in one hourâ in an extremely efficient manner while remaining quite portable and accessible to everyone. Most air filtration technologies are employed through means of direct installation, which not only takes time to deploy, but also comes with other costs. For example, systems like HVAC consume large amounts of electricity which âcan lead to increased carbon emissions unless the energy comes from renewable sourcesâ (Mechanics Depot).
Advantages of this solutionAdditionally, the production of air filters requires heavy transportation along with the extraction of resources from the earth which can deplete the environment. Moreover, after air filters are installed, they âneed to be replaced regularlyâ and because they are usually not biodegradable or recyclable, this adds to landfill burden. Aurabeat deftly handles a lot of these challenges, making it an environmentally friendly alternative with medical grade benefits.
DrawbacksWhile it may be an extremely energy efficient alternative, the noise that the purifier makes can be disturbing to some users. Additionally, Aurabeat has some other air purifying competitors that may have larger coverage.
Guestâs take on the solutionMr. Philip Yuen emphasizes that although Aurabeat's energy efficient building air filters which utilize acoustic soundwaves to filter air may seem to be a costly investment, they save money in the long run due to improved efficiency. Additionally, they help the climate by providing a significant 15-30% reduction in energy consumption.
About our guestPhil Yuen has been the CEO of Aurabeat for over 5 years, leading the company through the pandemic to help building owners better protect their occupants from risk of COVID 19 infection. He achieved his M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from Cornell University.
For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/energy-efficient-building-air-filters-with-phil-yuen/
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What is Forging Resilience?
The Forging Resilience project from UC Berkeley School of Lawâs Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment seeks to âbridge the gap between climate solutions posed by experts and the on-the-ground obstacles that prevent individuals and communities from adopting those solutions.â Predicated on the idea that libraries and museums maintain a high level of trust from their communities, the project builds free toolkits for museums and libraries to encourage local, collaborative problem-solving for local environmental challenges, identifying local impacts and local solutions and resources.
How it Works
Forging Resilience provides the toolkit to a host institutionâeither a library or museumâand community members can come out to participate in the program. The toolkits consist of several different materials including posters and banners, exhibits, conversation guides, skills-building guides, and promotional templates. The materials focus on local climate impacts, including âdownscalingâ work from Climate Central. Current host partners of Forging Resilience include the Sutter County Library and Sutter County Museum, and the Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County Library System. Forging Resilience also contains a Solutions Hub, providing opportunities for individuals to reduce their contributions to carbon emissions and to understand how those emissions reductions can reduce impacts. Currently, the Solutions Hub offers guides for reducing food waste and improving insulation, with an incoming guide on installing rooftop solar.
What it Means
By providing accessible and feasible pathways for citizens to make small changes to improve their climate footprint, Forging Resilience promotes the idea that climate change can be solved through collective action and community. There are over 17,000 libraries in the US. Providing materials, including local impacts and solutions, is an on-going challenge for Forging Resilience, which has a small staff and budget. Moving forward, Forging Resilience hopes to expand their reach and grow their number of participants in order to maximize their impact.
About our GuestChandra L. Middleton is a Senior Research Fellow in Project Climate at the Center for Law, Energy, and Environment. Chandraâs work focuses on social and cultural dimensions of climate change and environmental policy. Her current projects include Forging Resilience and renewable energy installation permitting processes. She was previously executive producer of the Climate Break podcast.
Resources Forging Resilience, forgingresilience.org Project Drawdown (climate solution guide), https://drawdown.org/ One Earth (global climate solutions), https://www.oneearth.org/ More about CLEE, https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/clee/For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/forging-resilience-with-chandra-middleton/
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Introduction to solution
Green banks âprovide financing and technical assistance for clean energy and climate solutionsâ while driving âeconomic, health, and environmental benefits for communities across the countryâ (US Green Bank 50). They attempt to spend, save, and invest peopleâs money conscientiously so they âcan grow [their] money while making the world a better placeâ (GreenFi).
BackgroundThe fossil fuel industry is the primary driver of our climate crisis, creating an imperative to implement reductions of greenhouse gas as soon as possible to minimize the potential for catastrophic impacts. Unfortunately, traditional banks have exacerbated this problem; specifically, they have âfinanced fossil fuels by $7.9 trillion dollars since the Paris Agreement,â enabling the building of new oil and gas pipelines, large-scale equipment purchases, and more oil and gas explorations to expand their businesses (Rainforest Action Network).
Advantages of Climate-Friendly BanksGreen banks pledge to never fund projects involving fossil fuels. Many also donate a percentage of the monthly amount that customers pay to ânon-profits that support climate actionâ while providing transparency about the carbon footprints of their funded businesses (GreenFi). Some âoptimistic studies even estimate that [this] divestment [of resources]⊠can lead to an effective reduction in carbon footprint of up to 7%â (Mieux Donner).
Drawbacks of this SolutionHowever, critics argue that the impact of divestment is not equal to the carbon impact of the investment: âunder the current system, divested funds can be quickly replaced by other investors, which limits the direct effect on the behaviour of companies and their CO2 emissionsâ (Mieux Donner). Companies can also adjust their financial strategies to offset the impact of divestment, which limits its effect on their emissions. Specifically, while green banking is well-intentioned, staying with a conventional bank may allow customers to save more money, which they could then donate to high-impact environmental nonprofits.
Guestâs takeCharley Cummings, the CEO of a climate-friendly bank known as Walden Mutual, emphasizes how the largest funders of fossil fuel companies are banks in the United States. He encourages listeners to switch to greener banks that divest their funds towards sustainability while remaining as reliable as traditional banks.
About our guestCharley Cummings is the CEO of Walden Mutual Bank, which solely invests their holdings in local sustainable companies.
Resources BusinessGreen, âHistoric bid for greener banking': 21 universities threaten to switch billions of pounds to 'green' banks Greenfi, Greenfi Mieux Donner, A critical analysis of green neo-banks: greenwashing or effective leverage? Rainforest Action Network, Banks fossil fuel finance totals $869 billion in 2024, a dramatic increase in financing Ran, Banks Fossil Fuel Financing U.S. Green Bank 50, The U.S. Green Bank 50Further Reading Edie, Timeline: Whatâs Included in the IEAâs new Net-Zero Roadmap for energy? Financial Times, Cambridge-led coalition of universities threatens banks over fossil-fuel financing US EPA, Green BanksFor a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org. For a transcript please visit climatebreak.org/climate-friendly-banking-with-charley-cummings/
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Introduction to Solution
Traditional drilling for crude oil contributes an immense amount of pollution to the Earthâs atmosphere. A study conducted by Stanford University in 2018 found that âon average, oil production emitted 10.3 grams of emissions for every megajoule of crude.â In 2022, 11.89 thousand barrels of crude oil were produced in 2022âor around 69 million megajoules. This oil is used, in part, to fuel aviation, which overall, as of 2018, contributed to 2.5 percent of all carbon emissions. Further, aviation has broader climate change implications due to the release of âcontrails, NOx, water vapor, sulfate aerosol gases, soot, and other aerosols.â While this is a relatively small amount compared to other contributorsâsuch as ground vehiclesâairlines have attempted to combat their contributions to the climate crisis through integrating more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into their oil supply. SAF is fuel made from sources including corn grain, algae, agricultural and forestry residues, solid waste and dedicated energy crops. It has been found to have âfewer aromatic components than keroseneââthe typical jet fuelâwhich allows them to reduce emissions of contributors other than CO2.
Recently, the used cooking oil from restaurants has become another valuable source for airlines to find SAF. In May 2022, Dallas-Fort Worth airport partnered with Neste, an oil refining company, to collect the oil used in onsite restaurantsâincluding 5 McDonaldâs locationsâto convert used fry oil to airline fuel. Nesteâs subsidiary, Mahoney Environmental, takes the used up oil from restaurants to convert the oil. It currently collects from 90,000 businesses in the United States, and is one of hundreds of companies that collect oil from various restaurants around the globe. In 2023, the first transatlantic commercial flight fueled 100 percent by SAF traveled from Londonâs Heathrow airport to New Yorkâs JFK airport.
According to the Washington Post, the cooking oil moves through an intense process to convert it into aviation fuel; first, the grease is maintained at 140Âș during transit to keep its liquid consistency. Then, Neste uses a clay substance to strip out unwanted chemicals, including âsodium left over from salty foods, phosphorus and various metals.â A catalyst removes the oxygen molecules, and the âstraight hydrocarbon chains are bent into spiky, irregular branches that wonât stack up and lump themselves into a solid, even at very low temperatures.â
While SAF and used cooking oil help with minimizing emissions of certain fossil fuels and particles, they do not minimize emissions of CO2. Also, critics have accused SAF in airline emissions as being a greenwashing scheme, arguing that the crops used to create SAF would be better put to use by growing food. Finally, according to the World Economic Forum, âsustainable aviation fuel currently costs around four times as much as conventional jet fuel,â resulting in low incentive to replace traditional fuel production pathways with SAF.
According to Dr. Colin Murphy, our guest for this week, policy pathways and airline incentives can encourage SAF usage.
About our guestDr. Colin Murphy is the Deputy Director of the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy, and co-director of the ITS-Davis Low Carbon Fuel Policy Research Initiative. He helps guide research and outreach on issues relating to transportation, energy, air quality, and carbon markets, with a primary focus on sustainable fuel policies like Californiaâs Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
Resources Stanford study finds stark differences in the carbon-intensity of global oil fields, StanfordReport Itâs the wealthy frequent fliers who have the biggest carbon stamp from air travelâespecially those jet-setting around on private craft, Sierra Club Aviation is responsible for 3.5 percent of climate change, study finds, NOAA Research An Airbus powered by cooking oil: Is sustainable aviation fuel the future of aviation?, Weforum These Airport McDonaldâs Recycle Fry Oil into Jet Fuel â Hereâs How, MacDonalds Corporate From restaurant kitchens to commercial jets: The greasy trail of used cooking oil, Washington Post How much oil is produced in the US?, USAFacts Barrels of Oil to Megajoules, UnitJugglerFor a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/used-cooking-oil-for-aviation-fuel/
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About Green Silicon Valley
Green Silicon (GSV) Valley is a nonprofit organization founded and led by Wilcox High School students Ayush Garg, Dev Shah and Abhi Tenneti that aims to make environmental education more accessible and personal, while also training future climate leaders on climate education. GSV seeks to realize its mission by creating hands-on kits for elementary and middle schoolers to learn about climate phenomena and solutions, and sending high school students to present classes and sessions. Through this process, they are able to spread climate education to younger generations, while also helping high school students learn how to communicate about climate issues. This helps prepare future generations of climate leaders, as well as instilling an early understanding of the importance of climate work.
According to co-founder Ayush Garg, the project arose from the business club when Garg, Shah, and Tenneti were awarded a $5,000 grant from Silicon Valley Power which allowed them to conduct six presentations at Peterson Middle School (Green Energy Futures). Each presentation includes hands-on activities such as building wind turbine models, creating water filtration systems, and running erosion experiments to help depict different climate topics. According to GSV, they have managed to reach 680 students so far across 12 partner schools in 4 different countries (Green Silicon Valley). Shah says that GSV is seeking to expand its reach to more high school chapters and partner elementary schools across the Bay Area.
As GSV grows, it will likely run into issues with obtaining sufficient funding to carry out its goals. According to Shah, âIt's gonna be a lot harder to fund international and national presentations. That's definitely the hardest part right now, where we have the volunteers, we have the teachers, we have the students, but we just need the funding for the kids.â Further, the project has run into some issues making its way into classrooms, with conflicting schedules and curriculum. GSV is accepting donations, volunteer and intern applicants, and presentation requests in order to continue expanding.
About our guestDev Shah is a co-founder of Green Silicon Valley, alongside Ayush Garg and Abhi Tenneti. He is a student at Adrian Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, California.
Resources Three Students Launch Green Silicon Valley to take Climate Education to 100 Countries, Green Energy Futures Impact, Green Silicon ValleyFor a transcript of this episode, please visit climatebreak.org/green-silicon-valley/
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Introduction to the Solution
Methane is one of the most powerful drivers of near-term global warming, and also one of the fastest opportunities to slow it down. In this episode of Climate Break, we explore how a global network of states and provinces is working together to reduce methane emissions through shared knowledge, technical assistance, and peer learning. Ethan Elkind speaks with Shivani Shukla, a methane research fellow at UC Berkeley, about the Subnational Methane Action Coalition (SMAC) and how subnational governments can play an outsized role in addressing this urgent climate pollutant.
Why Methane MattersMethane is a colorless, odorless gas responsible for nearly one-third of current global warming. Over a 20-year period, methane traps roughly 80 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide. Its climate impact is further amplified by the way it contributes to the formation of tropospheric ozone and adds water vapor to the stratosphere, increasing its overall warming effect.
Unlike carbon dioxide, methane comes from a relatively limited set of sources. Major contributors include landfills and wastewater facilities, agriculture (particularly livestock digestion and rice cultivation), and fossil fuel systems such as oil, gas, and coal operations. Because these sources are concentrated and well understood, methane reductions are often technically feasible and cost-effective, especially when captured methane can be repurposed as fuel.
The Subnational Methane Action Coalition (SMAC)Launched at COP28 in 2023, the Subnational Methane Action Coalition is a global network of state and provincial governments working to reduce methane emissions. SMAC began with 15 founding members, spearheaded by California, and has since expanded to include dozens of subnational governments and observers worldwide.
SMAC is supported by researchers at UC Berkeleyâs Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, which provides participating governments with technical assistance on methane inventories, policy design, and action planning. The coalition also connects members with experts, data partners, and peer jurisdictions that have implemented successful methane reduction strategies.
Climate policy is often designed and implemented at the national level, but states and provinces frequently have direct jurisdiction over major methane sources, including waste management, agriculture, and energy infrastructure. Subnational governments are therefore uniquely positioned to pilot solutions that can later be scaled nationally or replicated elsewhere.
Through SMACâs peer network, members can share lessons learned, adapt policies to their regional contexts, and avoid duplicating efforts. A state that has developed an effective approach to reducing agricultural methane, for example, can share that model with other regions facing similar challenges.
Upsides to SMACOne of SMACâs key strengths is its emphasis on capacity-building. Many subnational governments (particularly those with limited resources) lack the technical expertise or staffing needed to design and implement methane mitigation programs. SMAC addresses this gap by offering tailored technical support, expert-led webinars, and communities of practice focused on specific methane sources.
Methane mitigation also offers strong near-term climate benefits. Because methane dissipates from the atmosphere more quickly than carbon dioxide, reducing emissions can slow warming almost immediately. In many cases, methane solutions are relatively low-cost and non-repetitive, involving infrastructure upgrades or operational changes rather than ongoing behavioral shifts by individuals.
Challenges in SMACDespite its promise, SMAC faces several challenges. Political turnover can disrupt momentum, as changes in leadership may shift climate priorities or reduce ambition. Sustained funding is another barrier, particularly for jurisdictions that need upfront investment to implement methane reduction technologies.
There is also an important broader critique: focusing heavily on methane should not come at the expense of long-term carbon dioxide reductions. While methane mitigation is a powerful short-term strategy, COâ remains in the atmosphere far longer and continues to drive warming over centuries. SMAC does not frame methane reduction as a replacement for COâ action, but rather as a complementary strategy within a broader climate portfolio.
Shuklaâs TakeShivani Shukla emphasizes that SMAC is fundamentally about collaboration and shared learning. By connecting subnational governments across regions and sectors, the coalition helps members overcome technical and capacity constraints while fostering leadership on methane mitigation. She also highlights the global nature of methane pollution and the importance of cross-border cooperation to address it effectively.
About Our GuestShivani Shukla is a Research Fellow in the Project Climate program at UC Berkeley Law's Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE). Shivani co-leads the Subnational Methane Action Coalition, where she focuses on climate and environmental policies, particularly on methane and natural resources at the subnational level. Prior to joining CLEE, Shivani was a two-time EDF Climate Corps Fellow and conducted interdisciplinary climate policy research across academia, private and public sectors in the U.S.A., Ireland and India. Shivani graduated from the MPP program at the University of Chicago and a Masters in Applied Economics from University College Dublin. She is currently based in New York.
Resources U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Overview of Methane Emissions International Energy Agency, Methane Tracker Climate TRACE, Global Methane Emissions Data Platform Carbon Mapper, Satellite-Based Methane Detection and Analysis -
Encouraging Growth
Native seed restoration aims to restore degraded ecosystems that sequester carbon, such as wetlands and riverbanks. Restoration increases climate resilience by re-establishing native plants adapted to local conditions, making landscapes more resistant to drought or fire, and strengthening overall ecosystem stability by increasing biodiversity. Heritage Growers is a California-based non-profit that has taken on this challenge, helping restore more than 20,000 acres of natural habitat statewide since its founding.
Diving DeeperHeritage Growers was born from another habitat restoration project, River Partners. As River Partners grew, employees realized that the company was not always able to obtain âregionally appropriateâ seeds for restoration projects, and, thus, Heritage Growers was created to fill this gap and help River Partners obtain seeds. Heritage Growers operates out of a 160-acre farm in Colusa, where plants are cultivated to âamplifyâ their genetic suitability to local conditions. Additionally, all seeds are of âknown genetic origin,â meaning that Heritage Growers know where the seeds came from, and can ensure that they are locally-adapted and grown in California.
Heritage Growersâ process is labor and time intensive. The seeds often cannot be grown immediately or in bulk, so âseed specialists travel to scout the land for native seeds,â collecting part of what they find in the wild (Haas). The seeds are cleaned by hand, and tested in labs to determine quality. Finally, they can be grown under precise conditions, and harvested at the perfect time. Some seeds must be hand-picked, while others, like milkweed favored by monarch butterflies, can be over $1,000 per pound to produce.
One of Heritage Growersâ most significant achievements includes the âcultivation of 40,000 plants and 1,500 pounds of locally-adapted seeds for the historic Klamath River restoration.â For this specific restoration strategy, Heritage Growers planted the Klamath River banks with milkweed and other pollinator plants to promote biodiversity after âthe largest dam removal project in US history.â
BenefitsNative plants are vital to ecosystems because among many things, âthey provide nectar for pollinators including hummingbirds, native bees, butterflies, moths, and batsâ (Audubon). Additionally, the flora is a shelter for many types of fauna, while also acting as an important food source for them (Audubon). On top of this, native plants require much less water to plant and maintain than their exotic successors, which are often unsuited to the climate conditions in a given area.
Heritage Growers also collaborates with Native Californian communities, who have centuries-long histories of tending the land. The company works to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into their land cultivation efforts. Recently, it has worked with the Yurok tribe in Northern California to ensure the primary plant growth on a restored riverbank was native plants, not weeds. Heritage Growers also says that, unlike other companies that heavily guard genetic information, the non-profit is part of an effort to expand access to native plant information to encourage an increase in native seed restoration.
Potential IssuesOne issue with the process that Heritage Growers employs is that the recultivation of plants is extremely time intensive, sometimes taking years to obtain the correct quality and quantity. Additionally, native seeds are expensive to obtain even before cultivation works to increase the supply. and it is likely that climate-related variables like droughts, heat waves, and invasive species can affect the growth of the seeds. On top of this, there is limited infrastructure to produce enough native seeds at scale. Specifically, âthe rising demand for seeds far outpaces the available supplyâ and there is simply not âenough wildland seed available to restore the land at the rate that the state has set out toâ (The Guardian).
Reynoldâs Take on the Future of Native Seed RestorationReynolds emphasizes the importance of native plants in helping landscapes become more resilient to extreme weather conditions, benefit our food systems, and sequester carbon. He suggests that individuals support this initiative by planting native species in their own backyards as opposed to exotic plants.
About our guestMr. Pat Reynolds, Heritage Growerâs General Manager, is a restoration ecologist who has more than 30 years of experience leading efforts that promote habitat restoration. Mr. Reynolds is also the Director of River Partnersâ Native Seed and Plant Program. He sits on the board of the California Native Grasslands Association, the Yolo County Planning Commission, and is the Restoration Ecologist on the Science and Technical Advisory Committee for the Yolo County Habitat Agency.
Resources/Citation Audubon, Why Native Plants Matter Heritage Growers, Our Experts Northern California Water, Heritage Growers And The Revival Of California's Native Habitats Dani Anguiano (The Guardian), Meet the seed collector restoring Californiaâs landscapes - one tiny plant at a time Michaela Haas (Reasons to Be Cheerful), The Native Seed Farm Safeguarding Californiaâs FutureFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/native-seed-restoration-with-patrick-reynolds/
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The Seaweed Story
Seaweed is a crucial part of ecosystems in several parts of the world, including our local California coasts. However, seaweed does more than just offer a home to local marine life. It also has immense carbon sequestration potential, and contains helpful compounds for a variety of different products. Because of these potential benefits, a new industry has arisen: aquaculture. This term refers to farming in the ocean, specifically of seaweed, in order to harness the valuable resources that can be derived from the plant.
Seaweed can be a more environmentally friendly way of growing food as it does not require the use of fertilizer, pesticides, freshwater, or land. According to The Nature Conservancy, global food production accounts for 80% of land degradation, 70% of freshwater use, and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions. Because of its lessened need for land resources, seaweed farming reduces these negative impacts on the environment. It also grows rapidly, and can be harvested in as little as six weeks. It also works as an underwater carbon sink, and can take in huge amounts of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, helping to clean the oceans and reduce the risk of dead zonesâareas where nutrients from fertilizer cause low oxygen levels in water due to runoff and prevent life.
While farmed seaweed is not a new conceptâit has roots in coastal economies, cultures, and diets, particularly in Asiaâthe industry has grown to become a $16.7 billion market. Two of the companies that have stepped in to harness the power of seaweed include Ocean Rainforest and Altasea. According to Ocean Rainforest, their mission is to âuse science, innovation and expertise to apply sustainable methods to grow and harvest seaweed and process it into premium quality products for our target customer segments.â The company cultivates seaweed in the North Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, and creates products including biostimulants, pet feed, skincare serums, and ingredients for restaurants.
AltaSea operates their farms at the Port of Los Angeles, and âis dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging Blue Economy through business innovation, and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.â On top of selling seaweed related products and services, AltaSea also focuses on conducting research and creating programs that immerse children and adults in ocean education.
One potential challenge the seaweed industry is facing is the fight for space on the coastline, between commercial shipping companies, military vessels, oil platforms, and wildlife protected areas. Also, there is always a risk to altering an ecosystem, even in the case of aquaculture. Space and ecosystems still must be cleared for seaweed farms, which might have consequences for the surrounding areas. In order for seaweed farming to make an impact, it will be crucial for California policies to align with the needs of aquaculture, including space for farms along the coast. Further, Ocean Rainforest and AltaSea are both engaging in outreach projects to promote sustainable aquaculture and seaweed products to hopefully spread the popularity of their eco-friendly products and processes.
About our guestKaira Wallace is the Regulatory and Community Engagement Associate at OceanRainforest. She focuses on advancing offshore seaweed aquaculture in California by navigating complex permitting processes, building strong relationships with state and federal agencies, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
Jade Clemons is the Director of Economic and Workforce Development at AltaSea. Her work centers around California coastal and marine development policy, entrepreneurial ecosystem engagement and collaboration, and implementation of accessible blue economy career pathways.
Resources World Wildlife Fund, Farmed Seaweed Natural History Museum, Seaweed farming for sustainable food California Sea Grant, Seaweed Aquaculture The Nature Conservancy, With the Right Tools, Seaweed Can Be an Important Piece of the Climate Puzzle AltaSea Ocean RainforestFor a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/aquaculture-and-the-seaweed-industry-with-kaira-wallace/
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Replicating Nature
As the effects of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions become increasingly well understood, researchers like Dr. Peidong Yang at UC Berkeley are developing technologies that address human-caused climate change with a nature-based approach. Dr. Yangâs artificial leaves capture sunlight and carbon dioxide and produce C2, a key precursory ingredient in the production of many everyday items.
Diving DeeperThough synthetic fuels have been manufactured for over a century - by combining carbon monoxide and hydrogen - these new structures may be able to generate fuel in a more sustainable way by harnessing solar energy. The artificial leaves produce ethylene and ethane, showing that artificial leaves can create hydrocarbons; previously, similar structures have only been able to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen.
A few innovations make this process possible. One is the catalyst, a microscopic copper structure, flower-like in appearance. According to another scientist working on the project, Virgil Andrei, the copper nanoflowers can be adjusted, based on the desired outcome: âDepending on the nanostructure of the copper catalyst you can get wildly different products.â Another innovation occurs on the side of the device opposite the nanoflowers -
BenefitsThe benefits for climate change are two fold. First, these artificial leaves can remove CO2 thatâs already been released into the atmosphere by mimicking what natural leaves do through photosynthesis. These artificial leaves uptake CO2 from the air, and use it to make all sorts of different chemicals that can be utilized to create fuel.
The second major benefit is this technology is an opportunity to revolutionize the current chemical industry. Right now, the chemical industry is powered by fossil fuels converted into the liquid fuel that powers our society. Instead, this artificial photosynthesis allows scientists to create those same very useful chemicals from the CO2 being uptaken by the artificial leaves without any added emissions in the process. Though the carbon will be reemitted once this fuel is used, it works out to be a net carbon-neutral system because the cycle continuesâthe artificial leaves will reuptake this CO2 as well. So, this net carbon-neutral system is drastically better than the current fossil fuel based system driving our climate crisis.
Issues of ScaleThough this artificial leaf technology is promising for a number of future applications, itâs not ready to be scaled yet. Though the trial system worked, itâs just one step towards developing a commercially viable product. Another scientist, Yanwei Lum, emphasizes that, âThe performance is still not sufficient for practical applications.â Once the leavesâ durability and efficiency is improved, they will be adoptable for fuel production. Andrei is optimistic that this step forward could come in the next five to ten years.
Yangâs take on the future of Artificial LeavesCurrently, the costs and energy needed for the technology are relatively high just because of how new it is. But Yang is confident that they will be able to bring the costs done, as well as the energy needed for the actual chemistry to happen. He also notes that for this to actually revolutionize our fuel production, this technology needs to be implemented at a massive scale. He hopes to see policies mandating new carbon capture technology in the conversion industry down the road.
About our GuestPeidong Yang is a chemist, material scientist, and businessman. He is the S.K. and Angela Chan Distinguished Professor of Energy, as well as a Professor of Chemistry and a Professor of Materials Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Yang researches materials chemistry, solid state chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physical chemistry, focusing on low-dimensional nanoscopic building blocks that are used to assemble complex architectures with novel chemical and physical properties.
Further Reading Andrei et al., Perovskite-driven solar C2 hydrocarbon synthesis from CO2 Ashleigh Papp (Berkeley Lab), Scientists develop artificial leaf that uses sunlight Department of Energy, Perovskite solar cells Carly Kay (MIT), This artificial leaf makes hydrocarbons out of carbon dioxideFor a transcript of this episode, please visit climatebreak.org/photosynthesis-through-artificial-leaves-with-dr-peidong-yang
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Impacts of Air Transportation on Climate Change
Air transportation is a major contributor to the fossil fuel economy: studies have shown that aviation is responsible for 3.5 percent of all drivers of climate change from human activities. Planes use immense amounts of keroseneâa flammable liquid used as fuelâin order to travel. When kerosene burns, it releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and black carbon. Also, planes create contrails: âline-shaped clouds produced by an airplaneâs hot engine exhaust interacting with cold humid air several miles above the Earthâs surface.â These are the lines of white you see behind a plane as it flies overhead: small water particles from the planeâs engine exhaust that have frozen to become visible ice crystals. Because these are essentially clouds, when they persist past a short period of time, they have the potential to trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to a warming effect with many negative climate change consequences.
Advanced Air Mobility as a Climate SolutionIn order to combat these negative effects of air travelâand to keep up with increasing demand for shorter distance air travelâresearchers have begun looking toward opportunities for low emission options that can be more widely applied. This concept has been coined Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), and seeks to develop transportation technologies which are: âhighly automated, electrically powered, and have vertical take-off and landing capability.â One main goal of the project is to develop Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in order to connect underserved communities within cities and rural regions.
Ideally, Advanced Air Mobility will be an environmental improvement because it will use cleaner forms of energy to fuel the transportation, from electricity to hydrogen. According to Adam Cohen of UC Berkeleyâs Transportation Sustainability Research Center, there are several different potential uses for the cleaner energy technology, including air taxi services, small package delivery, emergency services, or aeromedical use cases. Airports in particular are confronting a lot of demands for powerâboth in terms of aviation and ground vehiclesâwhich electric fueled AAM may be able to help fulfill. In terms of hydrogen power, Cohen says manufacturers are testing and have prototypes for a hydrogen aircraft in the hopes that hydrogen will be an entry point for more sustainable flight in the future.
Challenges of ImplementationAAM is still in its early stages of development, and has yet to be implemented in a real way. In order for this to occur, its innovators need to place safety and integration at the forefront, ensuring passenger and cargo safety, as well as minimal disruption to current air traffic pathways. Further, it will be necessary to ensure some level of equitable access in terms of both convenience and cost across groups of people. Ultimately, AAM hopes to be a step in the direction toward clean energy in the aviation sector, encouraging policies and technologies in line with sustainable goals.
About our guestAdam Cohen is a transportation thought leader, consultant, and shared mobility researcher at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining the group in 2004, his research has focused on innovative urban mobility solutions, including shared mobility, smart cities technologies, smartphone apps, urban air mobility, and other emerging technologies.
Resources Federal Aviation Administration: Advanced Air Mobility National Business Aviation Association: Advanced Air Mobility NASA: Advanced Air MobilityFor a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/advanced-air-mobility-with-adam-cohen
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Caring for Godâs Creation: How Evangelical Christians Are Embracing Climate Action
Across the United States, evangelical Christians are increasingly forging a connection between faith and climate action by redefining environmental work as a sacred duty to care for Godâs creation. By understanding sustainability through the lens of biblically mandated stewardship, more and more Christians are discovering renewed hope and purpose in addressing climate change.
What Is Creation Care?To many evangelical environmentalists, caring for the Earth is not a political act. Rather, it is a spiritual duty. They believe that how we treat the planet should reflect how God treats us: with compassion, responsibility, and reverence. That means resisting the exploitation of natural resources and instead treating the Earth as a divine gift entrusted to humanity.
Historically, however, environmentalism and climate science have been viewed as controversial in conservative Christian circles, seen as secular or partisan issues. But that perception is beginning to shift, thanks in part to young leaders and faith-based environmental advocates who are reframing climate action as a moral and theological imperative.
Faith in ActionOne of those young leaders is Becca Boyd, a student at Indiana Wesleyan University studying Environmental Science. Raised in a Christian home, Becca often felt her environmental concerns were dismissed and even challenged. Feeling unhead, she began to experience a crisis of faith, questioning both her faith and her place in the church.
Everything changed when she was introduced to the concept of creation care in college by her professors. For the first time, she saw how her love for the environment and desire to protect it could be an act of faith rather than in conflict with it.
A Theology of HopeLike many young people in the climate action space, Becca has felt overwhelmed by the constant sense of âdoom and gloom.â The narrative that itâs too late to fix the damage can leave people in despair and feeling helpless. But creation care offers her a more hopeful, spiritually grounded mindset. Rather than dwelling on whatâs broken, Becca focuses her energy on healing whatâs still possible.
For Becca, environmental stewardship is now a form of worship: small acts like conserving energy, recycling, or planting a pollinator garden at her school are ways of honoring God. And by inviting others to do the same, sheâs helping grow a climate movement rooted not in fear but in faith and hope for the future.
Choosing Words That Open DoorsThrough her advocacy, Becca has learned that the language you use to talk about climate issues matters, especially in Christian spaces. The word âclimateâ itself can be politically charged and can trigger defensiveness, while terms like âcreation careâ and âeco-theologyâ feel more rooted in faith and shared values.
She is also intentional about her tone, making a point to avoid âyouâ statements. Rather than telling people what they should do, Becca shares what she does and why. This approach opens the door to conversation rather than closing it. According to Becca, itâs about meeting people where they are and establishing a common ground â inviting them in, not calling them out.
The Challenges AheadCreation care is still a growing movement, and while itâs gained traction in places like Indiana, thereâs still a long way to go. Climate science skepticism and misinformation continue to circulate in many conservative communities. But Becca and other young Christians are starting vital conversations in churches and on campuses, emphasizing climate change as a humanitarian issue: one that affects food security, public health, and the lives of future generations.
She also shares resources like Cowboy & Preacher, a documentary tracing the history of Christian environmentalism, to show that this movement isnât new, and that faith and climate action have long been intertwined.
About Our GuestBecca Boyd is a rising senior at Indiana Wesleyan University studying Environmental Science. She is a Climate Advocate for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) and previously served as a College Fellow. On campus, she launched a student sustainability club and helped lead campus-wide conversations about the intersection of faith and environmental responsibility. She was recently featured in The New York Times for her work advancing Indianaâs growing creation care movement.
ResourcesYECA, Young Evangelicals for Climate ActionCowboy & Preacher, Cowboy & PreacherFurther ReadingThe New York Times, In Indiana, Putting Up Solar Panels Is Doing Godâs WorkNBC News, Evangelical environmentalists push for climate votes as election nears: 'Care for God's creation'American Conservation Coalition, An Environmental Education: What a Christian Environmental Ethic Looks LikeFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/creation-care-with-becca-boyd/.
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India's Battle Against Air Pollution
Historically, India has faced challenges with persistent air pollution as a result of industrial development. One key approach to combat this has been to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Indian policymakers have been pushing for the commercialization of electric vehicles which has unlocked various incentives for companies like Vision Mechatronics to develop electric vehicles run by lithium-ion batteries.
How Lithium-Ion Batteries Power EVsIndia âseeks to attain a 30% share of electric vehicles, in the total vehicles sold, by 2030â and accelerating the market for it by âmoving from incentives to mandatesâ like a Zero Emission Vehicle policy (NITI Aayog). Taking advantage of this political support, Vision Mechatronics âaims to develop a complete domestic ecosystem around EVsâ which have âzero tailpipe emissionsâ (Vision Mechatronics).
Many electric vehicles are driven by lithium ion batteries which âcan contain hundreds of individual cylindrical battery cells that are the same shape as common AA and AAA batteriesâ (Edmunds). They are extremely energy efficient and can store a multitude of energy; on full battery, electric cars powered by lithium-ion batteries can drive over 200 milesâalthough it may depend on the specific car model. Compared to their precursor, lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries have higher energy density which increases the mileage of a car. They are also extremely lightweight and this ensures that EVs arenât too heavy. Moreover, the electricity used to refuel the EVs come from renewable energy sources like solar power.
The Environmental Cost of Battery ProductionThere are various concerns that lithium-ion battery powered cars take a long time to charge. Although this may be true for some models, recent developments have led to an increase in charging efficiency and overall energy storage. For instance, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can be charged âfrom 10% to 80% in just 18 minutesâ (Edmunds).
Moreover, the environmental impact that the creation of lithium-ion batteries has is detrimental as âthe mining process for lithium and other materials used in these batteries can⊠lead to water pollution and habitat destructionâ (Tara Electronics). Although this is the undeniable truth, it is promising to know that due to advancements in technology it has been shown that electric car batteries can âlast 12 to 15 years in moderate climatesâ, meaning that they donât have short lifespans (Edmunds). Moreover, âinstead of ending up in a scrapyard like most internal combustion engines do, electric vehicle batteries can be repurposed, refurbished, or recycled when they failâ (Edmunds).
Building India's EV EcosystemGupta believes that local battery production in India can help India progress towards an economy that is powered by clean energy. She mentions that it has been difficult to employ skilled labor in this field due to geopolitical tensions and a lack of awareness regarding the importance of this field. However, she is trying to bridge this gap by making opportunities in her company as accessible to the next generation as possible. About Our GuestRashi Gupta, an advocate for clean energy, is the Founder & Managing Director of Vision Mechatronics Private Limited which is a battery company in India.
ResourcesEdmunds, What You Need to Know About Electric Vehicle BatteriesVision Mechatronics, Renewable Energy Solutions for Electric VehiclesNITI Aayog, âUnlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in IndiaâTara Electronics, Why Do Electric Cars Use Lithium Batteries Exploring the Advantages and ChallengesFurther ReadingEV Mechanica, Understanding Lithium-Ion Battery Technology in Electric VehiclesIBEF, Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicle Industry in India and its GrowthFor a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/lithium-ion-batteries-for-indias-clean-energy-future/.
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Unifying a Partisan Nation Around Nature
Nature is Nonpartisan is a bipartisan, solutions-focused coalition working to unite Americans around shared environmental goals. By fostering cross-party support for conservation and land stewardship, the organization hopes to reframe climate action as a unifying national priority rather than a partisan fight.
Establishing Nature as Middle Ground
In recent years, environmental politics in the U.S. have been paralyzed by partisan gridlock, stalling climate progress. Nature is Nonpartisan aims to break this deadlock by reframing environmentalism around common-sense values, such as safety, access to the outdoors, and community well-being. By engaging Americans across the political spectrum, the coalition seeks to depoliticize climate solutions and ground them in conservation principles that resonate more universally: protecting public lands, supporting disaster-affected communities, and ensuring access to clean air and water.
This approach gained national attention in early 2025 when founder and CFO Benji Backer, alongside coalition members, briefed White House staff on nonpartisan conservation strategies. A meeting scheduled for fifteen minutes extended well over an hour, ultimately influencing President Trumpâs unexpected June 2025 signing of the âMake America Beautiful Againâ executive order. The order focuses on conserving public lands, safeguarding wildlife, and securing clean drinking water. Backer underscored that wildfires, drought, and ecosystem collapse donât just affect the environment; they threaten billions in outdoor-recreation revenue and undermine the hunting, fishing, and farming traditions valued across political lines.
Nature is Nonpartisanâs narrative emphasizes that environmental protection is not only about climate, but also the American landscape, economic security, and the natural heritage millions rely on and cherish.
Conservation as Climate Action
Nature is Nonpartisanâs work centers on four key conservation areas: managing forests to reduce wildfire risk, enhancing water quality and improving water infrastructure, enhancing natural disaster resilience, and promoting responsible land stewardship. Together, these priorities offer a practical, bipartisan path to protect ecosystems and communities most vulnerable to climate change.
Overall, emphasizing conservation provides a widely palatable, bipartisan entry point into climate action. By restoring ecosystems, sequestering carbon, and protecting biodiversity, these efforts simultaneously strengthen local economies â particularly in rural regions dependent on recreation and natural-resource industries â while building long-term climate resilience.
The Tension Beneath the Surface
Despite its promise, Nature is Nonpartisanâs work exists within a fraught political landscape. Environmentalism and conservatism are still often framed as ideologically incompatible, a perception the organization works actively to undo. While the âMake America Beautiful Againâ executive order signals progress, critics argue it may be more symbolic than substantive, especially given President Trumpâs longstanding dismissal of climate science. Some fear the order could serve more as a political performance than a genuine environmental advancement.
These tensions point to the broader challenge: decades of conservative skepticism toward climate science have made it difficult to ensure follow-through on policy. Nature is Nonpartisan hopes to continue confronting this distrust by reframing environmental protection around nationally shared values â family, future generations, clean water, clean air, and access to the outdoors â whether one is a Midwestern farmworker or a city resident.
The Power of Words and Bipartisan Policy
Communications Director Amelia Joy emphasizes that language is crucial to keeping these efforts genuinely nonpartisan. Because the word âclimateâ has become politically charged, Nature is Nonpartisan often avoids leading with it. Instead, Joy notes that many of the organizationâs core priorities, from wildfire prevention to natural disaster resilience, are climate issues, but by centering them in everyday terms, the coalition can build durable, cross-party support that can outlast any single administration.
Policy Director Maya Cohn adds that progress doesnât have to depend on who is in office. She emphasizes that policy advances can happen under any president or Congress if people are willing to work across political lines. For her, bridging divides and having honest conversations, even with those you disagree with, is the only way to create long-lasting environmental solutions.
About the Guests
Amelia Joy is the Communications Director at Nature is Nonpartisan and identifies as Conservative. Maya Cohn is the Policy Director at Nature is Nonpartisan and identifies as Progressive.
Resources
About â Nature Is NonpartisanEstablishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission â The White HouseMake America Beautiful Again â Nature Is NonpartisanFurther Reading
Q&A: Meet the conservative working to make environmentalism nonpartisanFraming Climate Action as Patriotic and Status Quo-Friendly Increases Liberalsâ and Conservativesâ Belief in Climate ChangeHow this group got Trump to sign a pro-environment executive order - The Washington PostFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/unifying-a-partisan-nation-around-nature-with-amelia-joy-and-maya-cohn/
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How Evangelical Communities in Indiana Are Leading Christian Climate Action
In Indiana, evangelical churches are finding new ways to live out their faith through environmental action. With support from the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN), congregations are installing solar panels, planting native gardens, creating nature play areas for preschoolers, and even adding electric vehicle charging stations. This initiative, often referred to by Christians as âcreation care,â positions environmental stewardship and climate action as a biblical responsibility.
What is the Evangelical Environmental Network?EEN is a biblically-based ministry and the environmental arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, dedicated to mobilizing Christians around climate action. By collaborating with churches, universities, and seminaries, the organization offers education on how creation care is a collective mission among evangelicals. In Central Indiana, this has meant congregations and Christian universities working together on eco-friendly infrastructure and community events such as Indy Creation Fest, an Earth Day-like celebration that joyfully highlights humanityâs duty to conserve and steward the beauty God bestowed on us.
Creation Care as Protecting the PoorA central theme of EENâs work is showing Christians that defending the poor and vulnerable also means addressing pollution â including from plastic, methane, and mercury â and climate change. Low-income communities often face the harshest impacts of extreme climate disasters, poor air quality, and contaminated water. By making this connection clear, EEN reframes environmentalism as an act of justice and compassion for humanity, aligning climate action with evangelical priorities. Their programs highlight not only environmental threats but also human health risks, from asthma linked to air pollution to the dangers of unsafe drinking water.
The Building of a MovementCreation care is still a growing movement and remains a minority position within American evangelicalism. Some believers continue to prioritize human welfare over environmental stewardship without recognizing that the two are inseparable. Historically, evangelicals have been among the groups least likely to regard climate change as urgent and express wariness about climate science. While the visible progress in Indiana is promising, it remains only a small step in the broader effort to normalize creation care across the evangelical community.
Nonetheless, by centering their approach on shared religious values, EEN helps evangelical Christians see climate action not as a burden, but as a natural extension of their mission to honor God and all of creation.
About Our GuestRev. Dr. Jeremy Summers, the Director of Church and Community Engagement at EEN, emphasizes that caring for the environment and caring for people are one in the same. He works with churches, universities, and local communities to connect biblical principles with climate action, advancing the creation care movement within evangelical circles. Within these spaces, he urges Christians to understand that protecting ecosystems is necessary to protect the people who live in them, especially those from marginalized groups who suffer most from pollution, climate change, and environmental injustice.
ResourcesEEN, The Evangelical Environmental NetworkNAE, National Association of EvangelicalsFurther ReadingThe New York Times, In Indiana, Putting Up Solar Panels Is Doing Godâs WorkAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences, Evangelical Environmental Network: Mobilizing Religious Groups for Climate ActionThe Chronicle of Philanthropy, The âEco-Rightâ Is Growing. Will Bipartisanship Follow?University of Arizona News, Researchers explore how to protect the environment while helping those living in povertyFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/evangelical-christians-taking-environmental-action-with-rev-dr-jeremy-summers/.
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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, such as rising surface temperatures and changes in freshwater temperature and flow, salmon populations have been quickly declining. In addition, dams trap salmon into the warmest parts of the watershed, where they are more vulnerable to predators and have decreased breeding area necessary for their survival. Salmon are an incredibly important marine species, often referred to as a keystone species, as they play an essential role in the health and function of an ecosystem. Not only are salmon ecologically beneficial through their ability to disperse nutrients throughout streams and rivers, but they are also culturally significant to Indigenous people. Indigenous culture has historic ties to salmon, including reliance on the species for sustenance and livelihood. As a result, indigenous tribes have a particular attachment to and concern for salmon, and issues such as diminished water quality and the burdens brought about by climate change have a deep resonance. In order to restore salmon populations, Indigenous groups and environmental activists have advocated for increased restoration of watersheds, the reopening and improving of ecologically important areas, and the removal of dams that block natural salmon spawning habitats.
Dam Removal as Solution to Climate Change
As climate change reduces water flows in California and increases temperatures beyond which salmon can tolerate, certain populations of salmon have become endangered species. Drastically reduced population levels have brought about a wave of concern, as their absence can disrupt nutrient cycling, reduce food availability, and negatively impact the livelihoods of people who depend on salmon for sustenance, income and cultural value. The âCalifornia Salmon Strategyâ outlines actions for state agencies to stabilize and promote recovery of salmon populations. The plan envisions coordination among multiple state agencies, Tribal Nations, and federal agencies for implementation.
In the late 19th century, treaties between Pacific Northwest tribes and federal agencies gave tribes the right to hunt, gather, and fish in âaccustomed groundsâ in exchange for land. However, by the mid-20th century, these agreements had largely been abandoned by the federal government, with states outlawing traditional methods of subsistence fishing. Coupled with increased development and resultant large-scale habitat loss, salmon populations have been on a steady decline. Tribal governments have long opposed the construction of dams in California, raising concerns of the devastating effects such construction has had on their way of life and the biodiversity of river ecosystems.
Therefore, one solution has been the removal of dams to allow for continual, unobstructed streams of water for salmon to move freely through. Large dams built in the early 1900s block salmonâs access to over 90% of historical spawning and rearing habitat in mountainous streams. The largest river restoration project is currently taking place on the Klamath River, located in Southern Oregon and Northern California, where dam removal is predicted to improve water quality and restore access to more than 420 miles of habitat. The lack of access to these cold waters for spawning was one of the primary reasons for the steady decline of Californiaâs salmon population. Studies project that the removal of the Klamath Dam will reduce the riverâs temperature by 2-4 degrees, which salmon prefer as cold water holds more oxygen, allowing for improved metabolism and the preservation of salmon quality, spurring new population growth.
In addition to dam removal, the California Salmon Strategy proposes expanding habitat for spawning and protecting water flow and quality in key rivers. By fostering collaborative efforts, the State of California and Tribal Nations hope to successfully restore salmon spawning habitats and reintroduce salmon through traditional ecological knowledge.
Benefits of Salmon Restoration
Salmon restoration will help restore genetic diversity, improve habitat, and foster resilience. Beyond ecological benefits, restoring salmon habitats will benefit local communities and restore their cultural significance. The removal of dams like that on the Klamath River has already been a huge success in reopening former habitat that historically supported diverse salmon populations, with significant salmon spawning showing signs of a rejuvenation of this endangered species.
Challenges of Restoring Salmon
Unfortunately, salmon will continue to face the threat of climate change, particularly due to the lack of cold, readily available water. Salmonâs migratory lifestyle patterns are also under threat from climate change, as a lack of cold water prevents survival at different stages of the life cycle in order to reach their spawning habitats in time. One major concern of the dam removal process is the short-term increase in turbidity and water quality problems during the removal process. There also could be the potential for disrupted habitats and short-term fish mortality due to the changing water quality dynamics. However, water quality problems usually pass after the initial slug of sediment moves downstream, allowing for long-term benefits to take hold.
About our guest
Regina Chichizola, Executive Director of Save California Salmon is a long-term advocate for tribal water rights, clean water, wild salmon, and environmental justice. Chichizola is an advocate for the restoration of salmon populations through strategies like dam removal and wetland restoration.
ResourcesCalifornia Trout: Klamath Dams RemovalUS Fish and Wildlife Service: Why are dams getting removed and how will this change our rivers?USGS: Simulating Water Temperature of the Klamath River under Dam Removal and Climate Change ScenariosFurther ReadingAmerican Rivers: The Ecology of Dam Removal: A Summary of Benefits and ImpactsCalifornia Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems in the Age of Climate ChangeKatherine Abbott et al: Incorporating climate change into restoration decisions: perspectives from dam removal practitionersNOAA Fisheries: River Temperatures and Survival of Endangered California Winter-Run Chinook Salmon in the 2021 DroughtScientific American: Climate Change Complicates the Whole Dam DebateUSGS: Shifting Practices of Dam Management and Dam Removal in a Changing WorldFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/removing-dams-on-rivers-to-ensure-climate-resilience-for-salmon-with-regina-chichizola
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