Climate Break

As livestock farming is increasingly known as a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions, cellular agriculture has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional meat production. This week, we spoke with Dr. Natalie Rubio, co-founder and CEO of Deco Labs, about how advances in cellular agriculture could make cultured meat more affordable and accessible.

The Central Valley faces devastating water shortages exacerbated by climate change. At the same time, California requires massive solar energy deployment to meet its climate goals. The Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan is an ambitious plan to build out solar energy capacity across the Central Valley in what would be an economic lifeline for the region’s farmers and, if fully built out, the largest solar energy project in the world.

As climate change increases the frequency and strength of extreme weather events, disabled individuals are uniquely vulnerable. This week, we spoke with Germán Parodi, a leader at the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, about methods for adapting emergency planning and response to the needs of the disabled community.

The development of new solar farms demands a limited and precious resource - land - which is also critical to ranchers and graziers raising livestock. This week, we spoke to Stacie Peterson, Executive Director of the American Solar Grazing Association, about solar grazing, an approach to multi-purpose land use that supports clean energy, ecological health, economic growth, and happy sheep.

For decades, lithium-ion batteries have been on the cutting edge, but now, sodium-ion batteries could make renewable energy storage more abundant, cheaper, and less carbon-intensive. Dr. Shirely Meng explains how sodium could be used to complement lithium-ion batteries, especially for large scale grid storage, by relying on an abundant resource and existing manufacturing infrastructure.

Cheese is one of the least sustainable food products in the world. Matt Gibson, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Culture, has spearheaded a way to make cheese more eco-friendly—without sacrificing taste.

A more equitable, climate-ready workforce may be cultivated through green job training. This week, we spoke to Julia Hatton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, about how training people from underserved communities for careers in the building trades can create economic opportunity while advancing energy efficiency and climate solutions.

A sustainable, waste-free solar industry may be cultivated through solar panel recycling. This week, we spoke to Dr. Pablo Dias, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of SOLARCYCLE about how solar panel recycling can play a role in reducing environmental challenges of renewable energy.

Partnering with California’s longstanding native tribes and restoring stewardship can bolster solutions to today’s climate challenges. We spoke to Geneva EB Thompson, Deputy Secretary for Tribal Affairs, who explained how traditional ecological knowledge can reduce risks of natural disasters while promoting biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

At UC Berkeley, electricity and steam are generated by burning natural gas - but a renewable energy future is right around the corner. This week, we spoke to Sally McGarrahan, Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Services, about how the university is advancing towards a carbon free campus through clean energy innovation.

Small green tech startups often have the right ideas but lack the resources to get them to market. Howard Lee, associate director of Hong Kong's green technology hub at HKSTP, explains how a physical community of 230+ companies ranging from new energy, smart cities, green buildings, and green fintech are changing that equation. By co-locating companies of like minds, facilitating business matchmaking, and offering hands-on training for attracting investors, the hub helps startups punch above their weight. Howard talks about how the hubs accelerate the replacement of climate-harming technology by giving green innovators the network, visibility, and skills they need to go global. For a transcript, please visit [https://climatebreak.org/green-tech-hubs-scaling-climate-technology-startups/]

Regions across the world have begun to experience severe heat waves, which threaten millions of people, especially vulnerable communities. This week, we spoke to Dr. David Sklar, an emergency physician, about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from heat-related conditions. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/staying-safe-in-extreme-heat-with-dr-david-sklar/

Strong climate advocates are important at every level of government in the United States, including in state and local offices. We spoke to Caroline Spears, founder and Executive Director of Climate Cabinet, an organization that backs climate champions and policy initiatives below the federal level. For a transcript please visit, climatebreak.org/backing-climate-champions-in-local-elections-with-caroline-spears/

As science and technology continue to advance the response to climate change, lawyers in California are finding new ways to defend the environment and public health. We spoke with California Attorney General Rob Bonta about current legal action in the state. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/advancing-climate-solutions-through-legal-action-with-rob-bonta/

Air conditioning accounts for a significant and growing share of global electricity use. This week, we spoke with Martin Zhu about his clean energy startup i2cool, which uses passive cooling technology inspired by the Saharan silver ant to cool buildings, vehicles, and more. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/zero-energy-cooling-with-martin-zhu/

A new battery swapping technology that allows for electric two-wheelers like motorcycles to be more affordable. We sat down during Hong Kong Climate Week with Kevin To, CEO of One Energy (HK) Limited, to learn more. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/electric-two-wheelers-with-kevin-to/

Airplanes are a significant source of emissions and air pollution, but are increasingly critical to many of the functions of our everyday lives. This week, we spoke with Adam Cohen, a researcher from the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies, who studies Advanced Air Mobility - a set of policies and technologies that work to make air transport cleaner, more sustainable and more equitable. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/advanced-air-mobility-with-adam-cohen

Carbon dioxide, a main driver of climate change, is naturally drawn into oceans, trees, soil, and other carbon sinks. This week, we spoke with Dr. Sabbie Miller, a researcher at UC Davis, who’s working to sequester carbon in buildings with a material called biochar. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sequestering-carbon-in-building-materials-with-dr-sabbie-miller/

Trucks release a plethora of harmful greenhouse gasses and pollutants that not only endanger human communities, but also our environment. This week, we spoke to Mr. Ruben Aronin about various policies mandating zero-emission trucks throughout the United States. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/clean-trucks-with-ruben-aronin/.

Lowering heating and air conditioning energy use by improving air filtration efficiency through sonic vibration technology. We sat down during Hong Kong Climate Week with Philip Yuen, CEO of Aurabeat, to learn more. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/energy-efficient-building-air-filters-with-phil-yuen/

Forging Resilience offers tools for public libraries and museums to educate their communities on climate science and the effects that carbon pollution will have on their communities. This week, we spoke with the director Chandra Middleton about the project. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/forging-resilience-with-chandra-middleton/

Climate-friendly banks are financial institutions that employ public and private capital to support sustainable technologies and climate-forward initiatives, and commit to not investing in the fossil fuel industry. This week, we spoke with Charley Cummings, the CEO of a climate-forward bank called Walden Mutual, about how greener banks are pushing for a more sustainable future. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org. For a transcript please visit climatebreak.org/climate-friendly-banking-with-charley-cummings/

An innovative approach to addressing oil waste proposes using spent cooking oil as airline fuel. This week, we talked to Dr. Colin Murphy, co-director of the ITS-Davis Low Carbon Fuel Policy Research Initiative, about this solution. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/used-cooking-oil-for-aviation-fuel/

Green Silicon Valley is a student-led 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to bringing free environmental education to K-8 schools in order to improve climate education interest and outcomes, and provide training for future climate educators. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/green-silicon-valley/

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas emitted both by natural processes and by humans through industrial activities including farming, raising livestock, using landfills, and producing fossil fuels. This week, we spoke with UC Berkeley Law researcher Shivani Shukla, co-leader of a coalition driven to reduce methane emissions through the collaboration of subnational governments.

Native seed restoration is an ongoing project meant to scale up the collection, cultivation, and distribution of native plant seeds to meet California’s goal of conserving 30% of its land by 2030 and help ecosystems become more resilient to climate change. This week, we spoke with Mr. Pat Reynolds, Heritage Grower’s General Manager, about Heritage Growers, a non-profit that aims to reproduce native plants through farming. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/native-seed-restoration-with-patrick-reynolds/

Seaweed has many environmental benefits, including providing ecosystems for marine biodiversity and carbon sequestration. This week, we spoke with Kaira Wallace about the benefits of farming this valuable resource through the sustainable practice of aquaculture. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/aquaculture-and-the-seaweed-industry-with-kaira-wallace/

Carbon dioxide is both a potent greenhouse gas and a necessary input into the natural process of photosynthesis in plants. This week, we spoke with UC Berkeley researcher Dr. Peidong Yang, whose artificial leaves replicate photosynthesis to generate products currently dependent on fossil fuels. For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org/photosynthesis-through-artificial-leaves-with-dr-peidong-yang

Airplanes are a significant source of emissions and air pollution, but are increasingly critical to many of the functions of our everyday lives. This week, we spoke with Adam Cohen, a researcher from the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies, who studies Advanced Air Mobility - a set of policies and technologies that work to make air transport cleaner, more sustainable and more equitable. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/advanced-air-mobility-with-adam-cohen

This week, we spoke with Becca Boyd, a young evangelical leader and college student, who is helping to reframe climate action as creation care. Through faith-based language and community engagement, she is building bridges in conservative Christian spaces and growing an evangelical climate movement rooted in stewardship and shared values. By emphasizing environmental work as a faith-driven duty to protect God’s creation, Becca is fostering a hopeful, action-oriented approach to caring for our planet. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/creation-care-with-becca-boyd/.

India faces severe air pollution, much of it driven by the transportation sector. This week, we spoke with Dr. Rashi Gupta about how lithium-ion batteries can power the shift toward cleaner energy and a healthier future. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/lithium-ion-batteries-for-indias-clean-energy-future/.

This week, we spoke with Amelia Joy and Maya Cohn from Nature is Nonpartisan, a bipartisan coalition working to unite Americans around conservation and land stewardship as a gateway to climate action. By centering shared values like clean air and water, wildfire prevention, and access to nature, they are reframing environmental protection as common sense, not partisan. Through careful language, cross-party policymaking, and a focus on protecting public lands and communities, Amelia and Maya are helping build durable, bipartisan support for climate-resilient conservation that can last beyond any single election or administration. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/unifying-a-partisan-nation-around-nature-with-amelia-joy-and-maya-cohn/

This week, we spoke with Rev. Dr. Jeremy Summers of the Evangelical Environmental Network, who highlights how “creation care” connects Christian faith with climate action. He emphasizes that protecting the environment means protecting people, especially the poor and vulnerable most affected by pollution and climate change. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/evangelical-christians-taking-environmental-action-with-rev-dr-jeremy-summers/.

As climate change reduces water flow and increases temperatures beyond what salmon can tolerate in California, certain populations of salmon have become endangered species. Removing dams, which exacerbate the problems of climate change, can allow salmon to move through unobstructed streams of water and help strengthen the ecosystem as a whole. We spoke to Regina Chichizola, the Executive Director of Save California Salmon, to learn more about the benefits of dam removal. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/removing-dams-on-rivers-to-ensure-climate-resilience-for-salmon-with-regina-chichizola

Typical wind turbines, critical as they are to the renewable energy transition, are wasteful to produce and almost impossible to reuse. We spoke to Ryan Clarke, a materials scientist at Hexion Inc, about new turbines made out of recyclable resin, which not only utilize less energy in production, but also create less waste as they can be recycled. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/recyclable-resin-for-wind-turbines-with-ryan-clarke/

How can we reimagine the construction industry to be more sustainable? Plantd, a company dedicated to developing sustainable construction materials, seeks to answer this question through developing a new form of wood materials. We spoke with Plantd CEO Nathan Silvernail about the company’s goals and achievements. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/plantd-with-nathan-silvernail/.

​The Latino Climate Justice Framework (LCJF) is a comprehensive plan developed by a coalition of Latine organizations to address the climate crisis while prioritizing the needs and perspectives of the Latino community, which is inordinately affected by the crisis. This week, we spoke with Irene Burga, a Program Director at GreenLatinos, about how this framework serves as a blueprint for advocating climate solutions which prioritize equity and inclusiveness. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/latino-climate-justice-framework-with-irene-burga/.

Chaos wheat, “climate blend,” is a new type of flour composed of a variety of extreme weather resistant varieties of wheat to be more resilient to climate change. Despite its deviation from traditional wheat, it is shown to uphold the same baking quality (in regards to taste, texture, and rise). It was developed because climate change has been endangering wheat crops and this is not only affecting the supply and demand of wheat, but also creating intense price fluctuations. We spoke to Robin Morgan, a researcher at Washington State University’s Breadlab, about why these climate resilient crops may be the future of bread. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/chaos-wheat-with-robin-morgan/

AquaFreezing is a proposed renewable energy method to slow Arctic ice loss by pumping seawater onto the surface, where it refreezes and thickens ice. This week, we spoke with Simon Woods, co-founder and executive chairman of Real Ice, about how this approach could delay a “Blue Ocean Event” and buy time for emissions cuts, despite high costs and scaling challenges. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/real-ice-with-simon-woods/.

Carbon dioxide, a main driver of climate change, is naturally drawn into oceans, trees, soil, and other carbon sinks. This week, we spoke with Dr. Sabbie Miller, a researcher at UC Davis, who’s working to sequester carbon in buildings with a material called biochar. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sequestering-carbon-in-building-materials-with-dr-sabbie-miller/

As cities and communities around the world grapple with the need for affordable housing while also addressing climate change, sustainable wood provides a promising solution. Able to replace carbon-intensive traditional building materials, sequester carbon, and lower emissions, sustainable wood has the potential to redefine the future of low-carbon building. On this week’s Climate Break, UC Berkeley Professor Dr. Paul Mayencourt, explains how sustainable wood from mass timber could help mitigate the impact of climate change and transform the construction industry. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sustainable-wood-from-mass-timber-with-dr-paul-mayencourt/

Potential adverse effects of climate change, known as climate risks, increasingly concern economists, city planners, ecologists, and many others. This week, we spoke with Dr. Ron Dembo, an expert in multi-factor scenario modeling, who is pioneering the use of AI to run climate risk assessments. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-ai-for-climate-risk-assessment-with-dr-ron-dembo/.

This week, we spoke with Amelia Joy and Maya Cohn from Nature is Nonpartisan, a bipartisan coalition working to unite Americans around conservation and land stewardship as a gateway to climate action. By centering shared values like clean air and water, wildfire prevention, and access to nature, they are reframing environmental protection as common sense, not partisan. Through careful language, cross-party policymaking, and a focus on protecting public lands and communities, Amelia and Maya are helping build durable, bipartisan support for climate-resilient conservation that can last beyond any single election or administration. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/unifying-a-partisan-nation-around-nature-with-amelia-joy-and-maya-cohn/

The Waverley Street Foundation seeks opportunities to create climate solutions through community engagement. By involving communities hit hard by climate change and the injustices that come with it, the Foundation seeks to show people around the world how cutting carbon emissions, implementing sustainable farming practices, and promoting clean energy can benefit people lives, rather than spreading the narrative, that people must sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of the planet. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/climate-action-through-community-driven-philanthropy-with-jared-blumenfeld/

Single-use plastic is detrimental to the environment, creating huge amounts of waste. This week, we spoke to Jesse Langley, CEO of Lotus Sustainables, about eliminating single-use plastic bags with reusable alternatives. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/eliminating-single-use-plastic-bags-with-jesse-langley

Water Batteries, or pumped storage hydropower, offer an innovative way to store and release energy during peak demand periods or when renewable sources are unavailable, ultimately reducing reliance on fossil fuels by enabling renewable energy to be used more efficiently. We spoke with Erik Steimle, the Chief Development Officer of Rye Development, about how pumped storage hydropower can help meet grid decarbonization goals. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/water-batteries-with-erik-steimle/.

Earth Species Project develops sophisticated AI technologies like Nature-LM audio, the world’s first and leading audio-language machine learning algorithm with various capabilities. It has the potential to help our environment by bolstering conservation efforts and research in countless ways. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/earth-species-with-aza-raskin

Dr. Omar Yaghi has recently led research in developing “Covalent organic framework number 999,” or COF 999, a yellow, powder-like material that has the potential to change make great steps forward in limiting carbon dioxide emissions. Just half a pound of the powder can absorb as much carbon dioxide in a year as a full grown tree. This week, we spoke with Dr. Yaghi about COF 999 and what it can do. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/cof-999-carbon-capture-with-dr-omar-yaghi/

Temperature increases from climate change can cause substantial damage to coral reefs. Coral are animals that form hard structures of calcium chloride, similar to the shell of a crab. These structures house coral colonies, as well as the algae that provides food for the coral. If local water temperature rises, the coral will expel the algae, losing a major source of energy. This event is called “bleaching”, and it has been recorded in the U.S., Southeast Asia, and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) near Australia. To combat this ecosystem-destroying event, scientists in Australia, like Dr. Saskia Jurriaans, have developed a method to restore reefs, known as coral IVF. This technique consists of growing baby corals in specialty pools, and returning them to the reef of interest. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/breeding-heat-resilient-coral-to-restore-at-risk-coral-reefs-with-dr-saskia-jurriaans/.

As the effects of climate change are increasingly felt around the world, the need to incentivize communities to make lifestyle choices that limit its impact is more necessary than ever. This week, we spoke to Klean Energy Kulture co-founders Michael Hawthorne Jr. and Corey Dennard about using pop culture to raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainable practices. For a transcript, please visit solutions https://climatebreak.org/promoting-clean-energy-through-pop-culture-with-klean-energy-kulture-co-founders-michael-hawthorne-jr-and-corey-dennard/.

India faces severe air pollution, much of it driven by the transportation sector. This week, we spoke with Dr. Rashi Gupta about how lithium-ion batteries can power the shift toward cleaner energy and a healthier future. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/lithium-ion-batteries-for-indias-clean-energy-future/.

This week, we spoke with Rev. Dr. Jeremy Summers of the Evangelical Environmental Network, who highlights how “creation care” connects Christian faith with climate action. He emphasizes that protecting the environment means protecting people, especially the poor and vulnerable most affected by pollution and climate change. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/evangelical-christians-taking-environmental-action-with-rev-dr-jeremy-summers/.

Potential adverse effects of climate change, known as climate risks, increasingly concern economists, city planners, ecologists, and many others. This week, we spoke with Dr. Ron Dembo, an expert in multi-factor scenario modeling, who is pioneering the use of AI to run climate risk assessments. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-ai-for-climate-risk-assessment-with-dr-ron-dembo/.

Climate change education is more than just science education; it is an interdisciplinary topic that involves understanding the relationship between climate change, history, economics, social studies, and more. We spoke with Suzie Hicks, the Climate Chick, about their work with using music to engage kids in climate storytelling. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/educating-kids-about-climate-change-through-musical-storytelling/

Over the past few centuries, the carbon levels in our soils have significantly decreased as a result of agricultural practices exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Despite this loss, stable carbon storage remains crucial for healthy soil and climate resilience. On this week’s Climate Break, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Loam Bio, Tegan Nock explains a new way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/how-fungi-is-enhancing-soil-carbon-sequestration-underground-with-tegan-nock/

AquaFreezing is a proposed renewable energy method to slow Arctic ice loss by pumping seawater onto the surface, where it refreezes and thickens ice. This week, we spoke with Simon Woods, co-founder and executive chairman of Real Ice, about how this approach could delay a “Blue Ocean Event” and buy time for emissions cuts, despite high costs and scaling challenges. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/real-ice-with-simon-woods/.

This week, we spoke with Becca Boyd, a young evangelical leader and college student, who is helping to reframe climate action as creation care. Through faith-based language and community engagement, she is building bridges in conservative Christian spaces and growing an evangelical climate movement rooted in stewardship and shared values. By emphasizing environmental work as a faith-driven duty to protect God’s creation, Becca is fostering a hopeful, action-oriented approach to caring for our planet. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/creation-care-with-becca-boyd/.

As greenhouse gasses threaten the stability of our atmosphere, it is becoming increasingly critical to limit carbon dioxide emissions. A promising way climate scientists have proposed emission reduction is through mineralization: the process of turning carbon dioxide into solid rock to prevent it from reaching the atmosphere. This week, we spoke with Dr. Rob Jackson about this method of carbon capture. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/carbon-capture-mineralization-with-dr-rob-jackson/

Methane is the second most common greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, and far more dangerously potent. Gas leaks are one of the most dangerous contributors to this, pouring tons of methane into the environment with every leak. This week, we spoke to Dr. Rob Jackson about his new book Into the Clear Blue Sky, which discusses the importance of targeting methane emissions as we take on the task of reversing the climate crisis. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/identifying-and-fixing-natural-gas-leaks-in-cities-with-dr-rob-jackson/

On this week’s Climate Break, EarthJustice’s Vice President of Litigation for Climate and Energy, Jill Tauber, discusses the role of public utilities commissions (PUCs) in shaping clean energy infrastructure, policy, and development. As states increasingly look to transition to clean energy, PUCs can help transform the energy grid to become more energy efficient, cost-effective, and renewable. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/public-utilities-commissions-with-earthjustices-jill-tauber/

Climate change has been increasingly affecting psychological health through the form of climate anxiety. As society grows more concerned about the safety of their livelihoods in the face of environmental disasters, Indigenous communities are spearheading a solution: wildfire as soliphilia. We spoke with Dr. Melinda Adams to learn more about the transformation of wildfire from a colonization weapon to a regenerative power. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/how-native-american-ecology-can-tackle-climate-anxiety-with-dr-melinda-adams/.

​The Latino Climate Justice Framework (LCJF) is a comprehensive plan developed by a coalition of Latine organizations to address the climate crisis while prioritizing the needs and perspectives of the Latino community, which is inordinately affected by the crisis. This week, we spoke with Irene Burga, a Program Director at GreenLatinos, about how this framework serves as a blueprint for advocating climate solutions which prioritize equity and inclusiveness. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/latino-climate-justice-framework-with-irene-burga/.

The dangers of extreme heat in an evolving climate is evident across many parts of the world, and the cities are the first to bear the most severe consequences. Rising temperatures and the inherent rigidity of concrete building structures trap heat waves within urban areas, directly threatening the health of residents and especially vulnerable populations like outdoor workers. Urban planners are seeking new solutions to help dissipate heat. We spoke with Jeff Goodell, the author of The Heat Will Kill You First, about building climate resilience in urban landscapes by creating shared Safe Hubs with air conditioning and establishing green spaces. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/alleviating-urban-heat-traps-with-jeff-goodell/

In addition to the environmental impacts of rising temperatures, climate change is detrimentally affecting public health. Heat indexing is a technique used to calculate and gauge the impacts of heat on the human body based on a multitude of weather conditions. We spoke to Professor David Romps from UC Berkeley to learn more about heat indexing and its significance in maintaining public health and safety in extreme heat. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/calculating-threats-from-rising-temperatures-using-heat-indexing-with-professor-david-romps/

Fears of wildfires grow as more intense and dangerous burnings occur. However, what if there was a need for more wildfires for our environment? We spoke with Dr. Melinda Adams to learn more about the significance of fires in our ecosystems and the practice of cultural burning through Indigenous efforts to restore ecosystems. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/regenerating-our-ecosystems-with-good-fire-with-dr-melinda-adams/.

As air travel and shipping have become a permanent fixture of modern international life, the world feels the environmental impacts of aircraft pollution. This week, we spoke with climate and aviation researcher Matteo Mirolo about eliminating contrails, the white cloud formations that stream behind airplanes, to increase sustainability. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/eliminating-contrails-to-increase-aircraft-sustainability-with-matteo-mirolo/.

Dr. Omar Yaghi has recently led research in developing “Covalent organic framework number 999,” or COF 999, a yellow, powder-like material that has the potential to change make great steps forward in limiting carbon dioxide emissions. Just half a pound of the powder can absorb as much carbon dioxide in a year as a full grown tree. This week, we spoke with Dr. Yaghi about COF 999 and what it can do. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/cof-999-carbon-capture-with-dr-omar-yaghi/

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, can be emitted through leaks in agricultural operations, waste disposal, and energy production. This week, we spoke to Dr. Timiebi Aganaba about using satellites to detect leaks and strategies for using that data for good. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/locating-methane-leaks-with-satellites-with-dr-timiebi-aganaba/.

Typical wind turbines, critical as they are to the renewable energy transition, are wasteful to produce and almost impossible to reuse. We spoke to Ryan Clarke, a materials scientist at Hexion Inc, about new turbines made out of recyclable resin, which not only utilize less energy in production, but also create less waste as they can be recycled. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/recyclable-resin-for-wind-turbines-with-ryan-clarke/

Chaos wheat, “climate blend,” is a new type of flour composed of a variety of extreme weather resistant varieties of wheat to be more resilient to climate change. Despite its deviation from traditional wheat, it is shown to uphold the same baking quality (in regards to taste, texture, and rise). It was developed because climate change has been endangering wheat crops and this is not only affecting the supply and demand of wheat, but also creating intense price fluctuations. We spoke to Robin Morgan, a researcher at Washington State University’s Breadlab, about why these climate resilient crops may be the future of bread. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/chaos-wheat-with-robin-morgan/

As EV adoption increases, so does the need to charge them. We spoke with Tiya Gordon, co-founder of It’s Electric, to learn more about curbside charging and how it is an equitable solution towards promoting sustainable transportation through EVs. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/curbside-charging-increases-ev-accessibility-with-tiya-gordon/

People in many parts of the US rely on fossil gas to heat their homes during winter. Clean, all-electric heat, such as from heat pumps, is otherwise unaffordable to many low-income people, due to the higher upfront costs compared to a fossil gas furnace. We spoke to Sarah Moskowitz, the Executive Director at the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Illinois, a ratepayer advocacy organization, about Chicago's pioneering effort to support lower-income residents with accessing cheap, accessible all-electric heating. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/making-electric-heating-accessible-and-affordable-for-low-income-residents-with-sarah-moskowitz/

Water Batteries, or pumped storage hydropower, offer an innovative way to store and release energy during peak demand periods or when renewable sources are unavailable, ultimately reducing reliance on fossil fuels by enabling renewable energy to be used more efficiently. We spoke with Erik Steimle, the Chief Development Officer of Rye Development, about how pumped storage hydropower can help meet grid decarbonization goals. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/water-batteries-with-erik-steimle/.

Public universities play a key role in combating the climate crisis, from innovation to policy. This week, we spoke to Bruce Riordan, Director of the Berkeley Climate Change Network, about how exactly public universities create and support changemakers in the climate space. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/how-public-universities-are-helping-to-fight-climate-change-with-bruce-riordan/.

Most current energy technologies burn fossil fuels and emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Adopting low and zero-carbon technologies is one way to reduce emissions, but barriers such as high upfront and maintenance costs have impeded the adoption of these technologies. Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) arrangements make it easier for consumers to adopt energy-efficient technology. Under these arrangements, the EaaS provider provides the customer with an energy service, such as lighting, cooling, or heating, in exchange for a recurring fee. More energy efficient technology results in a lower carbon footprint. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/energy-as-a-service-with-bob-hinkle/.

US legislating and policy-making often lacks input and consideration for marginalized and discriminated communities. This week, we spoke with Dr. Andrew Rumbach, a Fellow at the Urban Institute, about how involvement in climate policy can be more accessible and engaging, to these communities especially. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/including-marginalized-communities-in-policy-decisions/.

The vast majority of plastics are currently made using fossil fuels in a production process that emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Once produced, fossil fuel-based plastics take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose, and when they finally do, they release dangerous microplastics into the environment. We spoke to Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy, an associate professor at South Dakota State University, about transforming coffee grounds into a biodegradable and sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/transforming-coffee-grounds-into-a-biodegradable-plastic-alternative-with-dr-srinivas-janaswamy/.

The Waverley Street Foundation seeks opportunities to create climate solutions through community engagement. By involving communities hit hard by climate change and the injustices that come with it, the Foundation seeks to show people around the world how cutting carbon emissions, implementing sustainable farming practices, and promoting clean energy can benefit people lives, rather than spreading the narrative, that people must sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of the planet. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/climate-action-through-community-driven-philanthropy-with-jared-blumenfeld/

People with disabilities have been excluded from national plans and responses to climate change, leaving them more vulnerable to heat waves, natural disasters, and environmental hazards from public housing. We spoke with Michael Stein, co-founder of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, to learn more about how to create inclusive climate solutions for people with disabilities by including them into the conversation about climate challenges they face. For a transcript, please visit solutions https://climatebreak.org/disability-inclusive-climate-solutions-with-michael-stein/.

Current refrigerant technologies use gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) to function. These gases pose a threat to global stability, given their warming and ozone depletion potential. To solve this issue, scientists like Dr. Drew Lilley are developing ways to perform refrigeration and heating without the need for environmentally hazardous gases, like ionocaloric refrigeration. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/out-with-classic-refrigerants-and-in-with-ionocaloric-refrigeration-with-dr-drew-lilley/.

Trucks release a plethora of harmful greenhouse gasses and pollutants that not only endanger human communities, but also our environment. This week, we spoke to Mr. Ruben Aronin about various policies mandating zero-emission trucks throughout the United States. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/clean-trucks-with-ruben-aronin/.

Temperature increases from climate change can cause substantial damage to coral reefs. Coral are animals that form hard structures of calcium chloride, similar to the shell of a crab. These structures house coral colonies, as well as the algae that provides food for the coral. If local water temperature rises, the coral will expel the algae, losing a major source of energy. This event is called “bleaching”, and it has been recorded in the U.S., Southeast Asia, and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) near Australia. To combat this ecosystem-destroying event, scientists in Australia, like Dr. Saskia Jurriaans, have developed a method to restore reefs, known as coral IVF. This technique consists of growing baby corals in specialty pools, and returning them to the reef of interest. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/breeding-heat-resilient-coral-to-restore-at-risk-coral-reefs-with-dr-saskia-jurriaans/.

As climate change reduces water flow and increases temperatures beyond what salmon can tolerate in California, certain populations of salmon have become endangered species. Removing dams, which exacerbate the problems of climate change, can allow salmon to move through unobstructed streams of water and help strengthen the ecosystem as a whole. We spoke to Regina Chichizola, the Executive Director of Save California Salmon, to learn more about the benefits of dam removal. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/removing-dams-on-rivers-to-ensure-climate-resilience-for-salmon-with-regina-chichizola

The expansion of renewable energy is heightening the need for improved transmission capacity of our electrical grid. Unfortunately, rapid grid expansion to meet this demand faces funding and cost allocation obstacles. Large-scale reconductoring of advanced conductor systems has been proposed as an alternative. We spoke to Umed Paliwal, a researcher from UC Berkeley, to learn more about the process and benefits of reconductoring. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/increasing-efficiency-through-power-line-reconductoring-with-umed-paliwal/

On this week’s Climate Break, EarthJustice’s Vice President of Litigation for Climate and Energy, Jill Tauber, discusses the role of public utilities commissions (PUCs) in shaping clean energy infrastructure, policy, and development. As states increasingly look to transition to clean energy, PUCs can help transform the energy grid to become more energy efficient, cost-effective, and renewable. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/public-utilities-commissions-with-earthjustices-jill-tauber/

As cities and communities around the world grapple with the need for affordable housing while also addressing climate change, sustainable wood provides a promising solution. Able to replace carbon-intensive traditional building materials, sequester carbon, and lower emissions, sustainable wood has the potential to redefine the future of low-carbon building. On this week’s Climate Break, UC Berkeley Professor Dr. Paul Mayencourt, explains how sustainable wood from mass timber could help mitigate the impact of climate change and transform the construction industry. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sustainable-wood-from-mass-timber-with-dr-paul-mayencourt/

Over the past few centuries, the carbon levels in our soils have significantly decreased as a result of agricultural practices exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Despite this loss, stable carbon storage remains crucial for healthy soil and climate resilience. On this week’s Climate Break, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Loam Bio, Tegan Nock explains a new way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/how-fungi-is-enhancing-soil-carbon-sequestration-underground-with-tegan-nock/

Dr. Omar Yaghi has recently led research in developing “Covalent organic framework number 999,” or COF 999, a yellow, powder-like material that has the potential to change make great steps forward in limiting carbon dioxide emissions. Just half a pound of the powder can absorb as much carbon dioxide in a year as a full grown tree. This week, we spoke with Dr. Yaghi about COF 999 and what it can do. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/cof-999-carbon-capture-with-dr-omar-yaghi/

The textile industry produces up to 10% of global emissions and 20% of global wastewater, according to EU estimates. Mechanical recycling can reduce that impact by keeping textiles out of landfills -- and in the circular economy -- for longer. In this episode, Climate Break spoke to Bobby Carswell about Material Return about how locally based mechanical recycling can help make the US textile industry more circular and less polluting. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/bringing-local-textile-recyling-to-the-us-with-material-returns-bobby-carswell/

How can local governments can help advance clean energy technology? Investor-owned utilities dominate the electricity market in the United States, but community choice aggregators let municipalities control their own energy strategy. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/municipal-investment-in-clean-energy-tech-through-community-choice-aggregation-with-rob-shaw/

The law of the sea convention adopted by the UN in 1982 defines the economic and political sea boundaries critical to small island states, but the rights it guarantees are threatened by rising sea levels. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Nilufer Oral, Director of the Center for International Law at the National University of Singapore and Co-Chair of the UN's sea level rise study group, on how vulnerable states are advocating for updated protections. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/adapting-ocean-governance-for-a-world-of-rising-seas-with-dr-nilufar-oral/

Both food waste and hunger are big problems, but connecting extra food to the people who need it most is often a challenge. In today's episode, Climate Break talks to Replate, a platform making it easier for businesses to donate their food rather than throwing it out. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/optimizing-food-waste-recovery-through-algorithms-with-maen-mahfoud/

Throughout the past decade, many traditional industries have pushed forward their own revolutions in preparation for a sustainable future. Having fostered a new standard of climate awareness, policymakers and environmental advocates are now shifting their attention to conventional steel production and its air pollution. We spoke with Adam Rauwerdink, a leader in green steel development, to discuss exciting new technologies that use renewable energy and hydrogen to create a cleaner, more sustainable steel production, and the potential for this innovation to revitalize economies and create a healthier planet. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/advancing-sustainable-steel-production-with-adam-rauwerdink/

As climate change impacts the economy, businesses are turning towards sustainable investments to strengthen their climate-resilience. We spoke with Rev. Kirsten Spalding of Ceres Investor Network to learn more about the significance of mobilizing investors toward building a sustainable economy. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sustainable-investing-for-a-climate-proof-economy-with-kirsten-spalding/

As greenhouse gasses threaten the stability of our atmosphere, it is becoming increasingly critical to limit carbon dioxide emissions. A promising way climate scientists have proposed emission reduction is through mineralization: the process of turning carbon dioxide into solid rock to prevent it from reaching the atmosphere. This week, we spoke with Dr. Rob Jackson about this method of carbon capture. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/carbon-capture-mineralization-with-dr-rob-jackson/

Methane is the second most common greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, and far more dangerously potent. Gas leaks are one of the most dangerous contributors to this, pouring tons of methane into the environment with every leak. This week, we spoke to Dr. Rob Jackson about his new book Into the Clear Blue Sky, which discusses the importance of targeting methane emissions as we take on the task of reversing the climate crisis. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/identifying-and-fixing-natural-gas-leaks-in-cities-with-dr-rob-jackson/

Regions across the world have begun to experience severe heat waves, which threaten millions of people, especially vulnerable communities. This week, we spoke to Dr. David Sklar, an emergency physician, about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from heat-related conditions. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/staying-safe-in-extreme-heat-with-dr-david-sklar/

Energy is a fundamental resource. Society relies on energy in order to operate and maintain safe, healthy, and accessible lifestyles. However, in order to promote sustainability, society must invest in methods to curb excess energy consumption by increasing energy efficiency. We spoke with Mark Kresowik to learn more about the benefits of setting energy standards. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/standardizing-energy-efficiency-with-mark-kresowik/.

Climate coverage has grown in presence in modern media as climate change increasingly impacts the daily lives of citizens. Videos, reports, and journals directly from the front lines monitor environmental changes all around the world, keeping the public engaged, aware, and prepared. We spoke with CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti to learn more about the power of storytelling about climate change. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-climate-journalism-to-connect-weather-events-and-climate-with-jonathan-vigliotti/