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29th UN Climate COP Kicks Off
Delegates from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 29th Conference of the Parties. Alden Meyer of the climate think tank E3G is a longtime observer of these meetings, and he joins to share his first impressions as these talks kick off.
A win for Indigenous Groups Protecting the Planet
Although the UN biodiversity summit ran overtime before a quorum could be reached, earlier in the talks, a decision was reached to give indigenous communities a proper seat at the table moving forward. Carmen Rosa Guerra Ariza is delegate from one such indigenous community, the Kankuamo people, and she joins us to discuss this win.
Puerto Rico’s Solar Power Problem
After Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico’s power grid in 2017, much of the island was left without electricity for up to a year, leaving vulnerable populations in the lurch. Many Puerto Ricans are pushing for a reliable, sustainable electricity system, but a proposed utility-scale solar project has sparked concerns, explains environmental attorney Ruth Santiago.
Climate and Trump's Re-Election
The re-election of Donald Trump casts US climate action into doubt. President-elect Trump has vowed he will again pull the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement, cancel President Biden’s climate policies and unleash American fossil fuels. Our colleagues at Inside Climate News join us for a roundtable discussion about what’s next for the climate, environmental policy and journalism.
Biodiversity Talks Unfinished
The latest summit for the UN’s biodiversity treaty to attempt to avert mass extinctions was recessed when it ran out of time to make major decisions. Vox journalist Benji Jones was at the meeting in Cali, Colombia and joins us to talk about what it did achieve and what is still unresolved.
Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History, with Eels
Eels play an important ecological role in many rivers and streams, but they’re so eel-usive that even eel scientists have been challenged to observe them mating in the wild. Ellen Ruppel Shell is author of the 2024 book Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History, with Eels, and she joins Living on Earth’s Paloma Beltran to shed light on the eel’s murky ecology and path through the seafood industry.
Climate Goal in Trouble
The UN says the current plans of nations to reduce global warming emissions would result in a destructive three degrees Celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels, far higher than the 1.5 C goal set by the Paris Climate Agreement. We discuss the widening gap between these plans and the ambition that’s needed to prevent catastrophic climate impacts.
Join the Living on Earth Book Club on October 13th!
Bestselling science journalist Ed Yong joins us to talk about his new book. Click here to learn more and register!
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Celebrating 30 years of Living on Earth!
Host Steve Curwood in the Living on Earth studio
29th UN Climate COP Kicks Off
Delegates from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 29th Conference of the Parties. Alden Meyer of the climate think tank E3G is a longtime observer of these meetings, and he joins to share his first impressions as these talks kick off.
A win for Indigenous Groups Protecting the Planet
Although the UN biodiversity summit ran overtime before a quorum could be reached, earlier in the talks, a decision was reached to give indigenous communities a proper seat at the table moving forward. Carmen Rosa Guerra Ariza is delegate from one such indigenous community, the Kankuamo people, and she joins us to discuss this win.
Puerto Rico’s Solar Power Problem
After Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico’s power grid in 2017, much of the island was left without electricity for up to a year, leaving vulnerable populations in the lurch. Many Puerto Ricans are pushing for a reliable, sustainable electricity system, but a proposed utility-scale solar project has sparked concerns, explains environmental attorney Ruth Santiago.
This Week’s Show
November 15, 2024
listen / download
29th UN Climate COP Kicks Off
listen / download
Delegates from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 29th Conference of the Parties. Alden Meyer of the climate think tank E3G is a longtime observer of these meetings, and he joins to share his first impressions as these talks kick off.
Earth’s Fever
listen / download
Although the global average temperature has been steadily increasing for decades, in 2023 there was a sudden jump of 0.2 degrees Celsius. Dr. Jennifer Francis, Senior Scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, joins us to discuss the temperature spike and its implications for the climate crisis.
A win for Indigenous Groups Protecting the Planet
listen / download
Although the UN biodiversity summit ran overtime before a quorum could be reached, earlier in the talks, a decision was reached to give indigenous communities a proper seat at the table moving forward. Carmen Rosa Guerra Ariza is delegate from one such indigenous community, the Kankuamo people, and she joins us to discuss this win.
BirdNote®: Great Tinamou
listen / download
The jungles of Colombia are home to a bird with a haunting call. BirdNote’s Mary McCann reports.
Puerto Rico’s Solar Power Problem
listen / download
After Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico’s power grid in 2017, much of the island was left without electricity for up to a year, leaving vulnerable populations in the lurch. Many Puerto Ricans are pushing for a reliable, sustainable electricity system, but a proposed utility-scale solar project has sparked concerns, explains environmental attorney Ruth Santiago.
Special Features
Field Note: Eagle!
Rise early in the morning and head out to a nearby national wildlife refuge, and you’ve got a good shot of being rewarded with the sights and sounds of all kinds of birds. And on this birdwatching trip, you might be watched back.
Blog Series: Mark Seth Lender Field Notes
Field Note: Tree Swallow Funnel
Living on Earth's Explorer-in-Residence Mark Seth Lender elaborates on the huge airborne gatherings of tree swallows called "murmurations."
Blog Series: Mark Seth Lender Field Notes
...Ultimately, if we are going prevent large parts of this Earth from becoming not only inhospitable but uninhabitable in our lifetimes, we are going to have to keep some fossil fuels in the ground rather than burn them...
-- President Barack Obama, November 6, 2015 on why he declined to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.
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