Exxon Sued Over Climate Risks of Storage
Sea level rise and intensifying storms put coastal homes and ecosystems at risk from a number of dangers, including disastrous industrial spills. The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has won the right to take ExxonMobil to trial over the alleged vulnerability of the company’s Boston Harbor storage facility. CLF President Brad Campbell talks about storm-induced spills from storage tanks, and the threat they pose to local communities and the fragile Boston harbor ecosystem.
Earth Day Checkup
April 22nd, 1970 was the first ever Earth Day, and since then, much has been done to clean up our environment, in the U.S. and around the globe. But the earth isn’t curbing carbon emissions fast enough, and the leadership that the U.S. once showed on the climate change has almost vanished. Jonathan Pershing led the U.S. delegation to the UN climate talks during the Obama Administration. He discusses the current global outlook for addressing climate disruption.
Exploring the Parks: Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
In the remote wilderness of the Alaska Peninsula, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve stands as one of the least-traveled U.S. National Parks. Officially proclaimed a national monument and preserve in 1978, Aniakchak is always open to visitors, with no amenities, no cell service, and no park rangers -- hence its slogan, “No lines, no waiting!” Chris Solomon, who wrote about Aniakchak for Outside magazine, describes his experience there among the grizzly bears and volcanism.
‘Mayor Pete’ and the Climate
Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is riding a wave of media attention during his campaign to be the next President of the United States. On April 5th, during a speaking engagement at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH, “Mayor Pete” highlighted climate change as a key concern for his generation.
Pesticide Risks Ignored at Trump Interior Dept.
David Bernhardt, a former oil and agribusiness lobbyist and former Deputy Secretary, is the Trump Administration’s new Secretary of the Interior. Like his predecessor Ryan Zinke, he’s already come under fire due to alleged ethical missteps, namely 84,000 pages of documents alleging Secretary Bernhardt’s interference with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife report on the risks certain pesticides may pose to endangered species. Brett Hartl, the Center of Biological Diversity’s Director of Governmental Affairs, joins Steve Curwood to talk about these pesticides and the dangers they present.
Greater Peril for the Greater Sage Grouse
In 2015, private landowners, federal agencies, and conservation groups worked out a plan to protect the Greater Sage Grouse by placing some restrictions on grazing and oil and gas drilling in ten Western states. The Trump Administration has recently lifted these restrictions, which the President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, Collin O’Mara, says is dangerous for the Greeater Sage Grouse and other sagebrush-dependent species.
Beyond the Headlines
Peter Dykstra of the Daily Climate and Environmental Health News brings us some far-flung environmental stories from this past week that didn’t make the headlines. This week: salt intrusion in Bangladesh and rare earth mining in Greenland.
Solar Powered Ship
The world’s largest solar powered boat made history by circumnavigating the globe. The ship is now busy in the Atlantic collecting data about the Gulf Stream.
White House Confronts Climate Deniers
Some skeptical pundits have used the recent deep cold snap to suggest that climate change isn’t real. White House Science Advisor John Holdren says not so fast.
Exploring the Parks: Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
In the remote wilderness of the Alaska Peninsula, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve stands as one of the least-traveled U.S. National Parks. Officially proclaimed a national monument and preserve in 1978, Aniakchak is always open to visitors, with no amenities, no cell service, and no park rangers -- hence its slogan, “No lines, no waiting!” Chris Solomon, who wrote about Aniakchak for Outside magazine, describes his experience there among the grizzly bears and volcanism.
Earth Day Checkup
April 22nd, 1970 was the first ever Earth Day, and since then, much has been done to clean up our environment, in the U.S. and around the globe. But the earth isn’t curbing carbon emissions fast enough, and the leadership that the U.S. once showed on the climate change has almost vanished. Jonathan Pershing led the U.S. delegation to the UN climate talks during the Obama Administration. He discusses the current global outlook for addressing climate disruption.
Beyond The Headlines
Looking Beyond the Headlines, Peter Dykstra and Steve Curwood note Norway has decided against drilling in the oil-rich Lofoten Islands. But in Florida, President Trump pushes for offshore oil and gas drilling. Finally, they look back to President Richard Nixon’s environmental policies including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in light of President Trump’s attempts to weaken NEPA.
This Week’s Show
April 19, 2019
listen / download
Exxon Sued Over Climate Risks of Storage
listen / download
Sea level rise and intensifying storms put coastal homes and ecosystems at risk from a number of dangers, including disastrous industrial spills. The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has won the right to take ExxonMobil to trial over the alleged vulnerability of the company’s Boston Harbor storage facility. CLF President Brad Campbell talks about storm-induced spills from storage tanks, and the threat they pose to local communities and the fragile Boston harbor ecosystem.
Beyond The Headlines
listen / download
Looking Beyond the Headlines, Peter Dykstra and Steve Curwood note Norway has decided against drilling in the oil-rich Lofoten Islands. But in Florida, President Trump pushes for offshore oil and gas drilling. Finally, they look back to President Richard Nixon’s environmental policies including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in light of President Trump’s attempts to weaken NEPA.
Earth Day Checkup
listen / download
April 22nd, 1970 was the first ever Earth Day, and since then, much has been done to clean up our environment, in the U.S. and around the globe. But the earth isn’t curbing carbon emissions fast enough, and the leadership that the U.S. once showed on the climate change has almost vanished. Jonathan Pershing led the U.S. delegation to the UN climate talks during the Obama Administration. He discusses the current global outlook for addressing climate disruption.
BirdNote®: What’s Your State Bird?
listen / download
Typically, state birds are among the more common species in a state, but Hawaii’s endangered Nene goose is an exception. As BirdNote®’s Mary McCann reports, in some cases, state birds aren’t even native to the North American continent.
Prepping for the City Nature Challenge
listen / download
The City Nature Challenge is an international bioblitz – a brief, intensive survey of biodiversity over a set area and time. With a handy smartphone app, anyone can participate by cataloging the nature in their neighborhoods. The Boston BioBlitz Initiative for Girls took a trip out to Thompson Island in Boston Harbor to practice their observational skills as they get ready for the competition.
Exploring the Parks: Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
listen / download
In the remote wilderness of the Alaska Peninsula, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve stands as one of the least-traveled U.S. National Parks. Officially proclaimed a national monument and preserve in 1978, Aniakchak is always open to visitors, with no amenities, no cell service, and no park rangers -- hence its slogan, “No lines, no waiting!” Chris Solomon, who wrote about Aniakchak for Outside magazine, describes his experience there among the grizzly bears and volcanism.
Special Features
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
Field Note: Baboon, "The Observer"
Living on Earth's Explorer in Residence Mark Seth Lender reflects on the exercise of trying to see the world through the watchful eyes of a species not unlike our own: the baboon.
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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