Lithium-ion batteries are an integral part of life in our modern electrified world. However, they may not be the best choice as demand increases. We spoke to Jason Croy from the Argonne National Laboratory, who is working on solutions like nickel-manganese-cobalt cathodes. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/improving-lithium-ion-batteries-the-magnesium-solution/

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...

Corporate lobbying, sometimes viewed skeptically, is increasingly being considered as a useful tool for advancing science-based climate policies. The effectiveness of this strategy hinges on overcoming several challenges, including workforce mobilization and the powerful corporate interests that lobby against environmental action. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/corporate-lobbying-as-an-ally/

Methane—the greenhouse gas most associated with cows—poses a significant threat to increasing the rate of global warming. We spoke to Brett Reinford of Reinford Farms in Pennsylvania about his personal experience navigating the costs and benefits of utilizing an anaerobic digester. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/converting-food-waste-into-energy-through-anaerobic-digestion-with-brett-reinford/

As the value and efficiency of renewable energy generation improves, nations across the world seek to expand their grids sustainably. We spoke to Daniel Ngumy at the UN Climate Conference about Kenya’s leadership in clean electrification and its influence on e-mobility. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/e-mobilization-and-renewable-energy-in-kenya-with-daniel-ngumy/

Redesigning streets and ensuring road safety is key to promoting no-emission methods of transport and creating a paradigm shift towards sustainable transportation, making public transit safer for women. We spoke with Lina Lopez, Technical Director at Despacio, to learn more about building humane, safe urban environments. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/designing-road-infrastructure-to-promote-active-mobility-with-lina-lopez/

Can cool surfaces—roofs, walls, or pavements that are generally light-colored and highly reflective—help combat climate change? We spoke with Ronnen Levinson, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, about how such surfaces combat climate change by reducing heat and lowering energy consumption in buildings. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/cool-surfaces-reflecting-heat-and-reducing-emissions-with-ronnen-levinson/

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...

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...

Governments around the globe have committed to enacting policies that regulate the emission of air pollutants. Such regulation is made more difficult, however, when emissions cannot be accurately recorded and monitored. There is a need to create novel strategies to keep track of pollution from factories and facilities. We spoke to Gavin McCormick, the co-founder of the environmental tracking company Climate Trace, about the use of satellite imagery and real-time modeling as one of the major...

In an effort to combat the increasing use of non-recyclable plastics, Martin Bourque and the Ecology Center in Berkeley advocate for laws and programs that reduce plastic consumption. Their strategies, including a bag reduction initiative and a disposable foodware ordinance, have been adopted at state levels and by other cities. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/tackling-the-plastic-crisis-with-martin-bourque/

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...

As demand for electricity increases drastically, California is in need of innovative, sustainable sources of energy. Electric vehicles, with their high-capacity batteries, demonstrate high potential, not only as a portable energy source but also as backup for emergency scenarios. We spoke with CEO of Climate Center, Ellie Cohen, to learn more about the future of bidirectional charging. For a transcript of this episode, please visit...

The Earth's carbon emission levels have been on the rise since the Industrial Revolution, showing no signs of slowing down especially as developing countries rise to prosperity. A series of new policies must be made to proactively alleviate the effects of climate change. We spoke to Mayor Manuel de Araujo of Quelimane, Mozambique, about his administration's innovative vision of paving extensive bike lanes throughout the city as a means of encouraging sustainable transportation. For a...

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...

As cities around the world grew in size, population, and development over the past decades, green spaces receded and ecosystems were damaged. Restoring urban waterways to support habitats threatened by climate change has become a crucial step in sustaining the prosperity of nearby communities. We spoke to Nick Wesley, the executive director of Urban Rivers, an organization installing floating gardens and eco-parks on the Chicago River, about his goal of seeding new, climate resilient habitats...

Weather complications have always been a major concern to farmers around the world. Crops’ frequent exposure to freezing temperatures or extreme heat often prevent farms from operating at optimal capacities, with farmers having to devote extra resources in irrigation and sheltering to counter the effects of crop loss. Agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar panels and regenerative agriculture to help maintain crop yields and protect biodiversity while simultaneously increasing solar output,...

Petroleum-based plastics have a profound impact on human health and the environment. The production of greenhouse gasses from the creation of plastics and the sheer quantity of plastic waste yielded from human activities significantly contribute to climate change, disrupting marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Bioplastics are a promising solution, upholding the strength of petroleum-based plastics but compostable and biodegradable. We spoke with Raegan Kelly of Better for All about shifting...

Unlike nuclear fission made famous by the atomic bomb, nuclear fusion produces energy by fusing together hydrogen isotopes. It’s been an elusive but ultimately unattainable goal. That is until a recent breakthrough at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Physicist Annie Kritcher led the team that made this advance. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/the-clean-energy-potential-of-nuclear-fusion-with-annie-kritcher/

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/

When grassland ecosystems are healthy, they can hold a lot of carbon. But these days, most are degraded. UC Berkeley ecologist Whendee Silver says that by using compost to restore grasslands, we can help local ecosystems and draw down more carbon from the atmosphere at the same time. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sequestering-carbon-using-compost-and-grasslands-with-whendee-silver/

Climate change is intensifying flood risk around the world, with potentially devastating consequences for communities and infrastructure. Listen to Dr. Daniel Swain describe strategies to mitigate and adapt to this growing risk. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/recharging-aquifers-with-flood-waters-with-daniel-swain/

Heat pumps are a more sustainable and efficient way to heat homes than to conventional gas heat, but they're often too expensive for homeowners to install. Meet the GeoGrid, an underground geothermal heat pump network that could make the technology more efficient and accessible. Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) is a nonprofit working with utilities to develop GeoGrids in residential neighborhoods. We spoke to HEET Executive Directors Audrey Schulman and Zeyneb Magavi about heat pumps and...

California's ambitious goal to achieve 60% renewable energy by 2030 brings new challenges in managing grid stability due to the variable nature of solar and wind energy. With growing demands from electric vehicles and energy-efficient buildings, enhancing energy storage capacity becomes crucial for a sustainable transition. For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/balancing-the-grid-californias-shift-to-renewable-energy-sources/