Cool Solutions: Stories of climate action from the bottom up

The Battle for a Climate Friendly Farm Bill

August 15, 2023 02:40 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MB

This year's Farm Bill will determine whether US agriculture cuts its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. Republicans want to divert $20 billion away from agricultural climate solutions. Farmers who've adopted these practices say they increase soil carbon and climate resilience. We hear stories from farmers about compost, cover crops, prescribed grazing, and more. Sustainable agriculture advocates Renata Brillinger of the California Climate and Agriculture Network and Erik Kamrath fr...

This Is My Home: Women whup petrochemical giant

July 09, 2023 01:01 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MB

The David who fought Goliath had two sisters. This is the modern day story about two women taking on a giant. They started alone, standing up against a huge multinational petrochemical corporation, and won. Diane Wilson, a fisherwoman from Seadrift Texas, won the largest ever penalty in a citizen clean water lawsuit, defending her bay from plastic pollution. Sharon Lavigne of St James Parish, Louisiana, stopped the same company, Formosa Plastics, from building the largest petrochemical plant...

Reviving Repair

June 11, 2023 05:19 - 28 minutes - 39 MB

When we fix what we have, we reduce emissions, and strengthen communities. 80% of the carbon pollution from our laptops, cell phones, and appliances is embodied carbon, emitted before we even open the box. A return to repair means changing our culture and challenging corporate monopoly. We have stories about a repair cafe in Chicago and a coalition of Minnesota techies and farmers who overcame corporate lobbies to win passage of the nation's strongest Right to Repair law. Smartphone re...

Decarbonizing Based on Need, not LEED

May 11, 2023 10:44 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MB

80% of the buildings that will be here in 2050 are already here, producing 30% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Uber sustainable new construction is cool, but the big carbon reductions will come from electrifying old buildings. Chicago plans to retrofit 80,000 homes in the next 7 years. A research collaboration between the city, community organizations, a utility, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is working out a plan that will minimize emissions, maximize justice and lower pe...

Out of Gas, In with Justice

April 11, 2023 04:57 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MB

A pilot study replacing gas stoves with induction stoves in a public housing building in the South Bronx did the expected and decreased indoor air pollution. Two unexpected discoveries were the popularity of the induction stoves and that the building's old wiring could only deliver enough juice to replace stoves in a fraction of the apartments. Replacing all the gas stoves with induction stoves and the building's broken boiler with heat pumps will require an expensive electrical upgrade. To ...

An E-bike Loaves and Fishes Tale: From 13 bikes to 13,000

March 11, 2023 09:13 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

"When I read in 2020 that Colorado ran a pilot program to give away just 13 e-bikes, I scoffed. What difference could that possibly make? Now I have to eat my bike helmet." - Wendy Ring, Cool Solutions Producer and Host. Turns out that mini-pilot laid the foundation for Denver's wildly successful e-bike program by proving that e-bikes cut car trips and emissions and that low income folks want to ride them. Denver's program became the model for a statewide program. That "e" also stands fo...

Throwing Shade: Some crops thrive under solar panels

February 11, 2023 02:49 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MB

With growing conflicts over solar development on farm land, dual use may provide middle ground and enough income to help small farmers keep farming. That's how Byron Kominek found himself putting a solar garden on one of his hay fields and hosting teams of agrivoltaic researchers. Colorado farmers Byron Kominek and Liza McConnell and Jordan Macknick, head of agrivoltaic research at the National Renewable Energy Lab, find some crops grow better and use less water with solar shade than in d...

Community Owned Solar

January 15, 2023 05:19 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Meet a retiree in rural OR and a group of millennials in WA who are spreading community owned solar projects across their states.

A Garment Worker Victory: Slowing Fast Fashion, Part 2

December 11, 2022 04:23 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MB

A small group of garment workers, tired of factory wage theft, organized and won passage of a law that makes fashion brands responsible for unpaid wages. Hourly pay went from a shameful $5 an hour to a minimum of $15 an hour. Now a similar bill is going to Congress.

It's Getting Hot, Let's Wear Less Clothes: Slowing Fast Fashion, Part 1

November 11, 2022 07:42 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Part One of a mini-series exploring potential pathways to a sustainable garment industry. We explore some routes to slow fashion: restoring regional wool production in Pennsylvania, curbside pickup of used clothes in Massachusetts, second hand clothes, and raising garment worker wages

Citizens Beat Utilities in Battle for Clean Energy

October 10, 2022 23:32 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MB

A Michigan environmental justice coalition is putting the "public" back in their state's Public Service Commission; closing coal plants, stopping new gas plants, and elevating the welfare of low income communities.

Fox in the Henhouse: Getting Oily Hands Off Climate Research

August 05, 2022 04:20 - 28 minutes - 39 MB

For decades university departments, liberally lubricated with fossil fuel dollars, have been turning out research that adds a scholarly veneer to the industry's policy agenda. First that was opposing the regulation of oil and gas; now it's promoting carbon capture so they can keep selling their product. Students and faculty are shining a light on fossil fuel infiltration of academia and organizing to ban fossil fuel dollars from climate and energy research. We talk with undergrads and PhD ...

Save the Planet, Go Solar With a Friend

August 05, 2022 04:20 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Solar coops bridge the partisan divide, raising panels on rooftops and building a broad movement to transform our energy system. Solar United Neighbors provides the technical know how, community groups do the organizing, and together they're removing the practical and political barriers to a clean energy transition. It's a movement which brings together conservatives and progressives and they're winning battles against powerful utilities.

Solar Cooperatives Bridge Partisan Divide

August 05, 2022 04:20 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Solar coops bridge the partisan divide, raising panels on rooftops and building a broad movement to transform our energy system. Solar United Neighbors provides the technical know how, community groups do the organizing, and together they're removing the practical and political barriers to a clean energy transition. It's a movement which brings together conservatives and progressives and they're winning battles against powerful utilities.

When One Door Closes: Climate action post-SCOTUS

July 10, 2022 23:11 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

With federal climate policy blocked by Congress and the Supreme Court, we look at opportunities to advance climate action at state and local levels. Caroline Spears explains how the Climate Cabinet uses big data to find pivotal elections and help pro climate candidates win. Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project explains why state and local elections are a great opportunity for the climate movement to strengthen its political muscle. And we meet Lauren Kuby, who the Climate C...

Harvard (finally) Divests

June 11, 2022 04:11 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

This is what it took to get the wealthiest university in the world to break its ties with the fossil fuel industry.

Irresistible Force Overcomes Immovable Object: Harvard (finally) Divests

June 11, 2022 04:11 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

This is the story of what it took to get the wealthiest university in the world to break ties with the fossil fuel industry. It took 9 years, and student, faculty, and alumni actions ranging from conventional to confrontational to creatively original. In the end, it was likely fear of having its own reputation besmirched by association with an already stigmatized fossil fuel industry, that led the Harvard Corporation to divest. Students, faculty, and alumni tell their stories.

Irresistible Force Beats Immovable Object: Harvard (finally) Divests

June 11, 2022 04:11 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

What did it take to get the wealthiest university in the world to break ties with the fossil fuel industry? 9 years and the combined force of students, faculty, and alumni engaged in everything from scholarly debate, to civil disobedience, to legal action. In the end, Harvard's divestment was most likely due to fear of having its own reputation besmirched by association with an already stigmatized fossil fuel industry. Students, faculty, and alumni tell their stories.

Inter-Tribal Electric Highway Greens Rural Charging Desert

May 11, 2022 18:18 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

The inter-tribal charging network will connect upper midwest reservations with jobs, opportunities, healing, and each other. Project leaders Robert Blake of Native Sun (Red Lake Ojibwe) and Joseph McNeill of SAGE (Standing Rock Sioux) talk about connections: to environmental and economic justice, clean energy, eagles, dreams, and more. We explore other barriers to rural EV adoption with Matt Fitzgibbon of the Tri States Electrical Cooperative.

Clean Trucks Coalition Puts Pedal to the Metal

April 10, 2022 18:54 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Activists accelerate states' switch to clean big rigs. A story about the power of coming together and speaking out for climate and justice.

Old Docs Take New Patient: The Climate

March 10, 2022 22:28 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Bill McKibben launches new climate group for seniors. Doctors devoting their retirement years to climate action talk about what motivates them and how they found their place in the movement. Their activities range from registering low income patients to vote to getting arrested over pipelines. Bill McKibben introduces Third Act, a new climate organization for seniors, and explains why this demographic is key to climate action.

Farewell to Factory Farms

February 11, 2022 11:11 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

We talk with former contract farmers for Tyson, Perdue, and Pilgrim's Pride; the founder of a farmers' cooperative that outperforms Big Meat by a mile, and an animal welfare organization turning chicken houses into grow houses.

New Year's Pledge Helps Millions Eat Healthier

January 11, 2022 21:30 - 1 second - 145 KB image/jpg

Two January diet challenges are remarkably effective at enticing people to try (and keep eating) more plant based meals. A 31 day vegan pledge gives our co-hosts a push to try new things.

Got Methane?

December 12, 2021 01:37 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

We take a deep dive into dairy digesters: their impact on farms, climate, and communities; and the intersections between Big Gas, Big Ag, and government programs which are driving their proliferation. To get to the bottom of this complex topic, we had to talk to a lot of people. Storytellers: John Hanselman -Vanguard Renewables Natasha Duarte -Composting Association of Vermont Brenda Platt- Institute for Local Self Reliance Mary Beth Kirkham- KSU Professor of Agronomy J Jordan-Le...

When in Vermont, Watch Where You Throw Your Apple Core

November 11, 2021 21:50 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MB

In Vermont it's now illegal to throw your apple core in the trash. Vermont's Universal Recycling Law aka "the landfill ban" went into effect last year. It cuts landfill methane by diverting food to feed the hungry and the soil, as well as banning other recyclables. How did they do that? How is it going? What does it matter where that apple decomposes? A soil scientist, 2 farmer-composters, the head of Vermont's Food Cycle Coalition and the guy in charge at the state will tell you. S...

Kiss Your Gas Goodbye

October 12, 2021 06:02 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

An innovative community energy center, cities with natural gas bans, and a crusading HVAC contractor are all on a mission to electrify our homes. To be zero carbon by 2050, we have to start now and retrofit millions of buildings each year.

Is Your Money Fueling Wildfires?

September 11, 2021 04:07 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

There's a movement to close accounts at big Wall Street banks and move money to smaller banks with better values.

Playing Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis

August 12, 2021 04:55 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

Most folks don't want to get down and nerdy about climate solutions, but what if we could make it fun? Co host Wendy Ring decides to make a game. She talks with a climate scientist, a professional game designer and a mechanical engineer who are each designing other climate games, to get previews and explore how games could mobilize players into action. Co host Brian Curtis joins a group playing Wendy's game and hilarity ensues.

Playing For Answers

August 12, 2021 04:55 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

Most folks don't want to get down and nerdy about climate solutions, but what if we could make it fun? Co host Wendy Ring decides to make a game. She talks with a climate scientist, a professional game designer and a mechanical engineer who are each designing other climate games, to get previews and explore how games could mobilize players into action. Co host Brian Curtis joins a group playing Wendy's game and hilarity ensues.

You Don't Have to be Rich to Drive Electric

July 11, 2021 23:42 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Sliding scale electric car shares and rising numbers of used EVs are making them more accessible. A startup is answering the question: How good is that used EV battery?

When Barricades Don't Spell Safety

June 11, 2021 06:47 - 28 minutes - 39 MB

Slow Streets barricades triggered trauma in Black East Oakland. Activists get city to address dangerous intersections instead. Brytanee Brown, Marquita Price, Warren Logan

When you see a barricade, do you feel safe?

June 11, 2021 06:47 - 28 minutes - 39 MB

When barricades for a Slow Streets program appeared in Black East Oakland, residents said "That's not what we need." Working together with the city, the program was revised to create safer crossings at dangerous intersections. We talk with Oakland Black urban planners and community members about street inequity, racial trauma, and community self determination. Warren Logan, Marquita Price, Brytanee Brown

Saving COVID's Car Free Streets

May 11, 2021 20:56 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Personal stories from 3 activists fighting to preserve slow and car free streets in San Francisco. A little known federal manual is keeping streets car-centric while pedestrians and cyclists die in record numbers. While activists battle for improvements block by block, Pete Buttigieg has a chance to rewrite the whole book and spur nationwide transformation. So far, he's going with the Trump version. Find out what you can do. Storytellers: Activists Matt Brezina, Peter Belden, and...

Funding Cool Communities

April 11, 2021 20:39 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

3 stories about the power of community to raise and multiply funding for climate action. A town taxes itself for free transit. Communities crowdfund for composting (and more). A Green Bank spurs 400 MW of solar. Storytellers: Robert Pollin-Political Economy Research Institute, Clark Gilman- Mayor ProTem Olympia WA Ann Freeman Manzanares- InterCity Transit, Abe Salorio- Sustainable CT, Bryan Garcia- Connecticut Green Bank

Land for New Farmers

March 11, 2021 01:35 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MB

There's a lot of farmland about to change hands. We can make sure it's distributed fairly to good stewards. This show looks at agricultural land trusts and conservation easements aimed at helping young and under-resourced farmers get access to land, and at the history of Black land loss and the Justice for Black Farmers Act. We also explore an anti trust provision in that land grant bill that would break up consolidation in the meat packing industry. Storytellers: Holly Ripon Butl...

Land for New Farmers

March 11, 2021 01:35 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MB

A lot of farmland is about to change hands. We can make sure it's distributed fairly to good stewards. This show looks at how agricultural land trusts and conservation easements can help young and under-resourced farmers get access to land, and at the history of Black land loss and the Justice for Black Farmers Act. We also explore an anti trust provision in the Justice bill that would break up consolidation in the meat packing industry. 00:58 National Young Farmers Coalition - Holly R...

This Is My Home

February 12, 2021 07:00 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MB

Meet the women defending their Texas and Louisiana communities from petrochemical pollution; in the courtroom, on the water, and in the streets.

Stories from the Great NJ Plastic Ban

January 28, 2021 17:50 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MB

When Teaneck NJ Girl Scouts saw pictures of birds tangled in plastic bags, they got to work and sparked a movement that led to the strongest state plastic ban in the US. This is an engaging story about how big change happens when local efforts add up; with side trips into the chemistry of plastics, the importance of plankton poop, and comics as a metaphor for life. Storytellers: Judith Enck Beyond Plastics John Weber Surfrider Foundation Steve Jasiecki Sustainable Downbeach Monica C...

Re-Localizing Food: Transforming US Agriculture, Part 2

December 12, 2020 17:39 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

Food hubs are not just for foodies. These homegrown networks provide markets for farmers moving beyond corn,soy, and CAFOs to regenerative modes of farming. This past spring, when supply chains failed, those lifelines kept communities fed. Founders of two Virginia food hubs tell their stories.

Healthy Soils for a Healthy Planet

November 10, 2020 09:03 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

How do we turn farming from climate pollution to climate solution? In Part 1 of this mini-series we learn how changes in farming and ranching could remove gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere. A carbon farmer and rancher tell their stories and we begin our search for ways to spread these farming innovations across the country. First we talk with the directors of two startups helping farmers sell soil carbon credits. But farmers and soil carbon experts tell us that turning carbon into a co...

Vampires Shut Down Power Plant

October 10, 2020 06:17 - 28 minutes - 41.6 MB

You don't need solar panels to be part of greening the grid. Our refrigerators, hot water heaters, and air conditioners can shift energy use to when the sun is shining and decrease the need for fossil fuel.

Campaign Giving for Climate Action

September 12, 2020 00:15 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MB

Climate and science super PACs are a donor's best bet for getting climate leaders elected to public office. While 50% of direct progressive campaign contributions go to waste, these super PACs focus resources where they can do the most good, training and supporting climate candidates. We talk with RL Miller of Climate Hawks Vote, Shaunessy Naughton of 314 Action, and Mary Lynn Cesar of Blueprint about the need to replace Democrats who are beholden to fossil fuel interests, the trials of t...

Little Green Engines That Could - Elect Climate Leaders

September 12, 2020 00:15 - 28 minutes - 38.7 MB

Climate and science super PACs are a donor's best bet for getting climate leaders elected to public office. While 50% of direct progressive campaign contributions go to waste, these super PACs focus resources where they can do the most good, training and supporting climate candidates. We talk with RL Miller of Climate Hawks Vote, Shaunessy Naughton of 314 Action, and Mary Lynn Cesar of Blueprint about the need to replace Democrats who are beholden to fossil fuel interests, the trials of t...

Dear Non-Voting Environmentalist

August 12, 2020 02:49 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

There are millions of Americans who care deeply about climate change but rarely cast their ballots. A home-based army of volunteers is changing that. The Environmental Voter Project and Vote Forward both target and motivate these infrequent voters. Their founders, Nathaniel Stinnett and Scott Forman, explain how this began, why it's working, and how you can join in.

Small Forests, Big Carbon

July 11, 2020 04:51 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MB

The best way to store more carbon in forests is to stop cutting down big trees. Families own more US forest land than timber companies or the government. A new program pays them not to log their big trees and to help new trees grow.

Join the Fight Against Voter Suppression

June 11, 2020 08:07 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MB

Reclaim Our Vote volunteers are sending millions of postcards to people purged from voting rolls in recent years, often in error and without their knowledge. NextGen America's young organizers look for ways to find and register young voters online while campuses are closed by the pandemic.

Cool Solutions: Stories of climate action from the bottom up

Episodes