Go Green Radio

It comes as news to no one that the energy industry is the most profitable on Earth. Based on their rise to prominence in the 20th Century, the annual earnings of the top five oil companies alone (ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Conoco Philips, and Chevron) are now measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars. In his new book, Following the Money, Craig Shields presents a set of interviews with subject matter experts who discuss the effects that economics and financial power have on the course of the world’s energy policy. If it is true that we need a radical change in our approach to transportation and energy so that we can forge a sustainable path to consumption of resources here on Earth, it will only happen with action by a large, informed electorate of people who understand and honestly care what’s going on around them. Tune in, and become part of the informed electorate!

Geoengineering is a generic term for a multitude of technologies and theories aimed at changing the Earth’s climate. There are two basic categories into which all geoengineering concepts fall: solar radiation management and CO2 removal. Numerous governments around the world are looking to scientists who study geoengineering for possible “quick fix” solutions to global warming, which include spraying chemicals into the clouds above us and changing the chemical composition of the ocean. While the official line is that geoengineering is under consideration, some believe it is already happening. Today we will examine what geoengineering is, the risks involved, and what each of can do to be part of the decision-making process to deploy or not to deploy geoengineering technology on the planet.

When a large environmental disaster occurs – like the BP oil spill in the Gulf – we take notice of the impact that energy extraction has on wildlife. But we tend to think of this impact only when a catastrophic event causes egregious pollution. The fact is that wildlife and wilderness areas are under constant pressure due to the expanding footprint of energy exploration, which is taking up more and more acreage every day. In this episode we’ll talk with Tom Butler, Editorial Projects Director for the Foundation for Deep Ecology, and board president of the Northeast Wilderness Trust. We’ll discuss the mounting conflict between those who seek to extract economic value from wild lands, and those who believe their value is greatest when they are left untouched.

“How much economic risk does the United States face from the impacts of climate change?” The Risky Business initiative will help us find out. Risky Business is a joint initiative of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Office of former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, and Next Generation. The Risky Business Initiative includes two core components: • An independent risk assessment to reveal the likely financial risk the United States faces from unmitigated climate change. • An engagement effort - led by top national and regional leaders from across the American economic and political spectrum – to help leaders from the economic sectors most at risk from a changing climate prepare a measured response to the risks they face. Tune in as we talk with Kate Gordon, Executive Director of the Risky Business Initiative!

In 2007, coal-fired power plants generated 50% of all the electricity in the U.S.; it’s now down to 37% thanks to cheap natural gas prices. About two-thirds of the coal used in America comes from surface mining, including mountaintop removal (MTR). But because the communities around these operations are small, rural, and less likely to receive media attention, most Americans have no idea about the human health problems caused by this form of mining, all in the name of cheap energy. Teri Blanton has been fighting mountaintop removal (MTR) mining and toxic pollution in her home state of Kentucky for 20 years. Some people call her the Erin Brockovich of the social justice movement within the Appalachian coalfields for her tireless efforts to protect our headwater streams, and to ultimately move eastern Kentucky towards a more sustainable future beyond coal. Tune in to hear her firsthand account of the truth about how MTR affects the people who live nearby.

The rapid spread of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) has temporarily boosted US natural gas and oil production . . . and sparked a massive environmental backlash in communities across the country. The fossil fuel industry is trying to sell fracking as the biggest energy development of the century, with slick promises of American energy independence and benefits to local economies. Richard Heinberg, one of the world’s foremost energy educators, casts a critical eye on the oil-industry hype that has hijacked America’s energy conversation. This is the first book to look at fracking from both economic and environmental perspectives, informed by the most thorough analysis of shale gas and oil drilling data ever undertaken. Is fracking the miracle cure-all to our energy ills, or a costly distraction from the necessary work of reducing our fossil fuel dependence?

Linda Marsa is an investigative journalist and contributing editor at Discover who has covered medicine, health and science for more than two decades. A former Los Angeles Times reporter and author, she has just released her new book, Fevered: Why a Hotter Planet Will Hurt Our Health, and How We Can Save Ourselves. The book includes interviews with the world’s leading climate scientists and healthcare experts. Tune in as we discuss the human health implications of climate change, and what we can do to create a more resilient public health system in advance of the crisis.

Part autobiography, part treatise, in Creating Climate Wealth, Jigar Shah demonstrates how all of us can participate in the largest wealth creation opportunity of our time. Shah explains that proven, scalable climate solutions, using an infrastructure-as-a-service model, will create the next economy. The book draws lessons from what Shah learned in the creation and success of SunEdison and as CEO of The Carbon War Room. The key message is that climate wealth is at our fingertips – accessible to entrepreneurs, investors, governments, NGO’s, and corporations, and will create thousands of jobs.

Climate change isn’t bad news for everyone. As Arctic ice melts at historically rapid rates, some people brace for rising sea levels, and some brace for new opportunities to drill for oil in waters that were once too icy for rigs. Recently, several Greenpeace activists were captured by Russian forces and charged with piracy after protesting one such drill site in the Arctic. Today, Phil Radford, Greenpeace USA’s executive director, joins Go Green Radio to discuss his organization’s concerns about oil exploration in the Arctic Circle, and the plight of the “Artic 30” activists imprisoned in Russia.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has just released its annual report on water quality at U.S. beaches, and found that the number of beach closing and advisory days exceeded 20,000 for the 8th time in the past 9 years. On today’s show, we’ll talk with Jon Devine, NRDC’s Senior Attorney for their water program, who will help us understand the sources of pollution that impact our beaches, and what can be done to mitigate or eliminate the pollution altogether. For anyone who loves a great day at the beach, this show will empower you to advocate for measures to keep our beach free from toxins that pose a serious threat to human health.

Women bear a heavy burden from the impacts of climate change, particularly in low-income and developing countries where drought, flooding and unpredictable temperatures present difficult challenges for women that are responsible for providing food, water and firewood for their families. Until now, their voices were under-represented in global discussions about climate change. From September 20th-23rd, 2013, a powerful cohort of women leaders from 35+ countries came together in New York to take bold action on climate change and craft a Women’s Climate Action Agenda at the first International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit. Tune in to hear from the Founder and Co-Director of the International Women’s Earth and Climate Initiative, Osprey Orielle Lake, as she discusses the outcome of this unprecedented gathering of women leaders.

In 2007, coal-fired power plants generated 50% of all the electricity in the U.S.; it’s now down to 37% thanks to cheap natural gas prices. About two-thirds of the coal used in America comes from surface mining, including mountaintop removal (MTR). But because the communities around these operations are small, rural, and less likely to receive media attention, most Americans have no idea about the human health problems caused by this form of mining, all in the name of cheap energy. Teri Blanton has been fighting mountaintop removal (MTR) mining and toxic pollution in her home state of Kentucky for 20 years. Some people call her the Erin Brockovich of the social justice movement within the Appalachian coalfields for her tireless efforts to protect our headwater streams, and to ultimately move eastern Kentucky towards a more sustainable future beyond coal. Tune in to hear her firsthand account of the truth about how MTR affects the people who live nearby.

Marion Nestle, one of the nation’s most prominent voices on the political forces that drive our food choices, has authored a new book, Eat Drink Vote – An Illustrated Guide to Food Politics. She teamed up with The Cartoonist Group (more than 50 leading cartoonist, including 9 Pultizer Prize winners) to illustrate and explain the most pressing issues of our food system today. In the book, she discusses Big Ag, GMO’s, food safety, labeling, obesity, school lunches, wasted food, and much more. Tune in as we discuss the role that government – and politics – plays in determining what ends up on your plate.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has just released its annual report on water quality at U.S. beaches, and found that the number of beach closing and advisory days exceeded 20,000 for the 8th time in the past 9 years. On today’s show, we’ll talk with Jon Devine, NRDC’s Senior Attorney for their water program, who will help us understand the sources of pollution that impact our beaches, and what can be done to mitigate or eliminate the pollution altogether. For anyone who loves a great day at the beach, this show will empower you to advocate for measures to keep our beach free from toxins that pose a serious threat to human health.

With over 30 yoga videos produced, and gushing endorsements from followers like Oprah Winfrey and Donna Karan, today’s guest has helped some of the busiest people on the planet learn how to bring their minds and bodies into alignment with their health goals. But much more than simply being a fitness instructor, Rodney Yee works in conjunction with Gaiam, Inc. to produce products and tools that respect natural resources, and help people tread more lightly on the Earth. Tune in to learn more about Rodney’s philosophy of sustainable living, and to participate in guided meditations you can do in the office, at home or in transit!

The rapid spread of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) has temporarily boosted US natural gas and oil production . . . and sparked a massive environmental backlash in communities across the country. The fossil fuel industry is trying to sell fracking as the biggest energy development of the century, with slick promises of American energy independence and benefits to local economies. Richard Heinberg, one of the world’s foremost energy educators, casts a critical eye on the oil-industry hype that has hijacked America’s energy conversation. This is the first book to look at fracking from both economic and environmental perspectives, informed by the most thorough analysis of shale gas and oil drilling data ever undertaken. Is fracking the miracle cure-all to our energy ills, or a costly distraction from the necessary work of reducing our fossil fuel dependence?

In our culture, pregnancy, birth, and childrearing are deeply connected to consumption and resource use. From the baby shower to the minivan and the larger apartment or first house, the baby-raising years are the most hyper-consumptive of our lives, and can set a family on an unsustainable track for years to come. The Zero Footprint Baby: How to Save the Planet While Raising a Healthy Baby shows how to raise a child with little to no carbon footprint. This timely book covers every issue new parents face, including pregnancy (what kind of birth has the lowest impact?); what to feed your baby (breastfeed, formula, or both?); childcare (who should take care of the baby, and how?); and of course, diapering. Using a mix of personal anecdotes, summarized research, and clear guidance on how to pursue the most sustainable baby-rearing options, environmental expert and new mom Keya Chatterjee has authored the ultimate resource for all new parents with green inclinations.

Linda Marsa is an investigative journalist and contributing editor at Discover who has covered medicine, health and science for more than two decades. A former Los Angeles Times reporter and author, she has just released her new book, Fevered: Why a Hotter Planet Will Hurt Our Health, and How We Can Save Ourselves. The book includes interviews with the world’s leading climate scientists and healthcare experts. Tune in as we discuss the human health implications of climate change, and what we can do to create a more resilient public health system in advance of the crisis.

The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. beekeepers lost 1 in 3 honeybees during the winter of 2012, and this is cause for alarm. Declining bee populations have been making news recently, and this is much more than an endangered species story. Certain crops we take for granted are dependent upon bee pollination to grow. Among these are: apples, almonds, blueberries, watermelon, cherries, peaches, avocados, cucumbers, cranberries, onions, blackberries, grapefruit, oranges, raspberries, cantaloupe, pumpkins, pears, and plums. If you want to help ensure these crops remain bountiful (and, hence, affordable), tune in today as Ted Dennard, CEO of Savannah Bee Company, joins us to discuss this crucial topic.

Concerned citizens of the UK are pressuring their supermarkets to revert to requiring use of non-GMO feed, not just for poultry and eggs, but for ALL their livestock products. In April 2013 Tesco, Co-Op, Marks & Spencer, and Sainsbury’s announced that they would switch their egg and poultry production to genetically modified (GMO) feed, reportedly to save consumers a few pennies on animal products. But many shoppers are concerned about the human health implications of consuming animal products that were nourished with genetically modified food, and also the health effects for people living near the GM crops. Tune in and learn more about the campaign to stop GM livestock feed from entering the supply chain of UK supermarkets.