Congestion Fee for NYC
New York City is the first in the nation to adopt a congestion pricing plan, predicted to cut down some of the city’s infamous traffic and raise about a billion and a half dollars yearly. That money comes from a $12 or so fee for drivers in certain areas, and most of the revenue will be put towards NYC’s public transportation system. Transport economist Charles Komanoff explains why he believes congestion pricing will make getting around New York City more efficient, reliable, and humane.
Cutting Emissions From NYC Skyscrapers
New York City has passed a series of laws that will reduce carbon emissions from the city in a major step for climate protection. The centerpiece of the Climate Mobilization Act requires skyscrapers and other buildings of over 25,000 square feet to cut emissions 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. John Mandyck, CEO of the Urban Green Council, which helped develop this legislation explains how these buildings can get started on their low-carbon path.
Bipartisan House Vote For ‘Climate Action Now’
With three Republicans joining all Democrats present on May 2, the US House of Representatives passed The Climate Action Now Act, a landmark bill in the fight against climate change. It asks President Trump to plan for how the U.S. will keep its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement, and also prevents the President from using federal funds to pull the U.S. out of the agreement, as he has vowed to do. Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce for the House explains what’s next.
Goldman Prizewinner Vanquishes Oil Terminal Project
When the Tesoro-Savage oil terminal project threatened to bring polluted air and the risk of devastating oil spills to her hometown of Vancouver, Washington, community organizer Linda Garcia and her neighbors got to work and stopped the project. Garcia’s protection of her community against fossil fuel interests has led to her being recognized with one of the prestigious 2019 Goldman Environmental Prizes. She tells how her community fought and won against Tesoro-Savage, and why even threats and harassment couldn’t silence her.
Exploring The Parks: North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park, just a three-hour drive from Seattle, is at the heart of one of Washington State’s most expansive and exquisite wild ecosystems. Despite having more glaciers than Glacier National Park, North Cascades is one of the least visited parks in the United States.
A Refugee Camp Becomes a City
Driven by civil war, in the last few years, hundreds of thousands of families have fled South Sudan to the neighboring country of Uganda. There, the Bidibidi refugee camp has progressive policies so that local Ugandans and refugees alike can live, farm, and work freely, all in the hopes to build a future city that can last even when the refugees return home. Nina Strochlic, a staff writer for National Geographic Magazine, sits down with Steve Curwood to discuss how temporary refugee camps can be transformed into rising cities.
Prairie Rattlesnake
A few months ago writer Mark Seth Lender met his first Prairie Rattlesnake up close and personal, and found the snake fascinating, and though venomous, not a threat.
Russia Nixes Antarctic Marine Reserve
Negotiators from 25 countries met in Germany recently in a bid to create a massive marine reserve in the seas around Antarctica. But at the last minute, Russia backed out of the deal.
Australia May Scrap Carbon Tax
China is the world’s largest emitter, and much of its coal comes from Australia. With the election of a new Prime Minister, Australia looks set to revoke its carbon tax, leaving many environmentalists worried about their country’s contribution to climate change. (photo: Bigstockphoto.com)
Julián Castro Campaigns
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro is running for president as a Democrat. Climate change is one of his key issues on the campaign trail, and at a recent meet and greet in southern New Hampshire, Secy. Castro laid out his climate agenda.
Cutting Emissions From NYC Skyscrapers
New York City has passed a series of laws that will reduce carbon emissions from the city in a major step for climate protection. The centerpiece of the Climate Mobilization Act requires skyscrapers and other buildings of over 25,000 square feet to cut emissions 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. John Mandyck, CEO of the Urban Green Council, which helped develop this legislation explains how these buildings can get started on their low-carbon path.
Protecting the Cook Islands from Overfishing
99% of the Cook Islands’ territory in the South Pacific is ocean, home to threatened coral reefs and marine species. The Marae Moana, or “Sacred Ocean”, Act has recently made it so the Cook Islands’ entire ocean territory is managed for sustainability. Goldman Environmental Prize recipient Jacqueline Evans, the marine conservationist who led the campaign to protect her country’s waters, explains how she rallied local communities to join the fight.
This Week’s Show
May 17, 2019
listen / download
Julián Castro Campaigns
listen / download
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro is running for president as a Democrat. Climate change is one of his key issues on the campaign trail, and at a recent meet and greet in southern New Hampshire, Secy. Castro laid out his climate agenda.
Remembering the Legacy of Jim Fowler
listen / download
Naturalist, conservationist, Tonight Show regular and star of the Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Jim Fowler passed away May 8, 2019, at the age of 89. For decades, he brought animals to American television, educating viewers across the country about conservation.
Congestion Fee for NYC
listen / download
New York City is the first in the nation to adopt a congestion pricing plan, predicted to cut down some of the city’s infamous traffic and raise about a billion and a half dollars yearly. That money comes from a $12 or so fee for drivers in certain areas, and most of the revenue will be put towards NYC’s public transportation system. Transport economist Charles Komanoff explains why he believes congestion pricing will make getting around New York City more efficient, reliable, and humane.
Cutting Emissions From NYC Skyscrapers
listen / download
New York City has passed a series of laws that will reduce carbon emissions from the city in a major step for climate protection. The centerpiece of the Climate Mobilization Act requires skyscrapers and other buildings of over 25,000 square feet to cut emissions 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. John Mandyck, CEO of the Urban Green Council, which helped develop this legislation explains how these buildings can get started on their low-carbon path.
BirdNote®: Unlikely Places to Go Birding
listen / download
Traditional birding often lures birdwatches deep into the wilderness, but sometimes the least expected places can provide birders with a diamond in the rough. BirdNote®’s Mary McCann tells us about the unlikely places that can be a birder’s goldmine.
Beyond the Headlines
listen / download
For this week's trip beyond the headlines, Peter Dykstra and Steve Curwood look at a statement by a Joe Biden aide that the Democratic presidential candidate would take a "middle ground" approach to climate change. Then, they discuss a United Nations agreement to eliminate plastic waste, but the United States is not in the deal. Finally, the pair reflects on the Lacey Act, a major conservation law signed by President McKinley in 1900 that prohibits illegal wildlife trade.
Leopard Seal Says Hello
listen / download
During a frigid expedition through the Antarctic Ocean, Living on Earth’s Explorer-in-Residence Mark Seth Lender saw chinstrap penguins aplenty. Then, on the seventeenth and final day of his trip, he finally encountered the king of the South Pole: the mighty and fearsome leopard seal.
Protecting the Cook Islands from Overfishing
listen / download
99% of the Cook Islands’ territory in the South Pacific is ocean, home to threatened coral reefs and marine species. The Marae Moana, or “Sacred Ocean”, Act has recently made it so the Cook Islands’ entire ocean territory is managed for sustainability. Goldman Environmental Prize recipient Jacqueline Evans, the marine conservationist who led the campaign to protect her country’s waters, explains how she rallied local communities to join the fight.
Special Features
Field Note: Leopard Seal Says Hello
Living on Earth's Explorer in Residence Mark Seth Lender was astounded when a huge leopard seal swam right up to his small Zodiac boat on a trip to Antarctica. He muses on the rare close encounter.
Blog Series: Mark Seth Lender Field Notes
Field Note: Fearsome Bull Elephant Musth
Living on Earth's Explorer in Residence Mark Seth Lender reflects on witnessing a bull elephant when he comes into musth, and becomes a force of nature that demands respect.
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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