Go Green Radio

New York Times best selling author, David Lipsky, joins us to discuss his newest book, The Parrot and the Igloo, which explores how “anti-science” became so virulent in American life through a history of climate denial and its consequences. Tune in as David untangles a century and half of science, money and politics that will surely set the guardrails for the remainder of human history.

In May 2023, Washington State Department of Ecology Director Laura Watson signed new rules that, for the first time ever, ban toxic chemicals—including PFAS, phthalates, flame retardants, and bisphenols—put in plastic electronic casings, vinyl flooring, and beverage liners, among other products. These new rules conclude the first cycle of regulations as part of Safer Products for Washington, the nation’s strongest law regulating toxic chemicals in products—a major source of contamination in our homes, food, waterways, and bodies. Our guest today is Cheri Peele, Sr. Projects Manager with Toxic-Free Future, and she will help us understand how this groundbreaking piece of legislation could be the bellwether for greater consumer protection nationwide.

The toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS could be contaminating nearly 20 million acres of U.S. cropland, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimate. Using state data, EWG estimates 5 percent of all crop fields could be using sewage sludge, or biosolids, as a fertilizer, even though it’s often contaminated with PFAS. Once PFAS-contaminated sludge is applied as a fertilizer, the chemicals can build up in food crops, feed crops such as corn and hay, and the animals that eat these feed crops. Several farmers have been forced to euthanize their farm animals due to high levels of PFAS in farm products. PFAS can cause a broad range of health harms to humans, as well. Very low doses in drinking water have been linked to suppression of the immune system and are associated with an elevated risk of cancer and reproductive and developmental harms. Tune in as we talk about this issue with Dr. David Andrews, Senior Scientist at the Environmental Working Group.

California’s new Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) may be the most consequential Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation in a generation. By 2032, the law requires a 25% reduction of single-use plastic packaging and foodservice products; all single-use packaging and foodware (including non-plastic items) be recyclable or compostable; and a 65% recycling rate for plastics. Today we’ll talk with one of a handful of people “in the room where it happened” about how plastic producers agreed to come to help enact this legislation. Heidi Sanborn is the founding Executive Director of the National Stewardship Action Council, and she will also discuss how EPR and managing waste are finally being considered important to addressing climate change.

The Lomakatsi Restoration Project in Alturas, California recently won the $20,000 Edge Prize — a new prize celebrating exceptional projects from Alaska to California which work towards creating resilient communities in the face of climate change. The Lomakatsi Restoration Project engages youth in learning how to build fire-adapted forests and communities. The model creates meaningful, living-wage work that provides a foundation for the next generation of workers in forest product and ecological restoration industries. Tune in as we talk with the organization’s Founder & Executive Director, Marko Bay, and the Tribal Partnerships Director, Belinda Brown!

Environmental justice (EJ) communities are on the frontlines of the adverse impacts of climate change and are disproportionately exposed to a wide range of polluting industries, including fossil fuel infrastructure like coal plants, natural gas plants, and pipelines. Will the use of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) mechanisms and hydrogen co-firing in the power sector will further harm EJ communities that are already overburdened? According to Dr. Nicky Sheats John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University, “EPA’s proposed rule all but recognizes that CCS and hydrogen co-firing will add to toxic air pollution in communities living near power plants, and this is unacceptable when such communities already live with an unfair share of cumulative impacts from pollution.” Tune in as we examine the ramifications of allowing CCS and hydrogen co-firing for America’s most vulnerable populations.

There are grave environmental issues plaguing our world, from pollution to climate change. These global crises can often leave us feeling powerless, questioning: How can one person make a real impact? Drawing from his personal experiences of growing up in a town marred by toxic waste, and his professional journey in the plastic bag manufacturing industry, sustainability expert Trent Romer demystifies the concept of sustainability and how you can make choices that shape our planet’s future. Tune in for our conversation with Trent Romer!

After receiving praise from President Biden for working to address the indoor air quality crisis in Denver Public Schools, Attune deployed its IAQ monitoring systems in 45 school districts and 369 school buildings across the state of Colorado. This CDC- funded initiative aims to improve IAQ environments in Colorado school districts for students, teachers and administrators. Today we will talk with the Co-Founder and CEO of Attune, Dr. Serene Al-Momen, about her company’s technology and the results they expect to achieve with this groundbreaking partnership between school districts in Colorado, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Our guest today is Aneshai Smith, the founder and CEO of GO See The City (GSTC), a platform and app dedicated to combatting food waste and food insecurity across the United States. Aneshai's commitment to sustainability, coupled with her unique approach to addressing critical issues like food waste and hunger, have helped GSTC form a partnership with the City of Gainesville, Florida, and has recently cemented a partnership with Levy Restaurant Group, one of the largest concession managers for stadiums and arenas in the U.S. In just the first few weeks of the Levy partnership, GSTC was able to divert nearly 2,000 lbs. of unsold food from the waste stream and feed nearly 2,000 food insecure people. Tune in and learn how Aneshai uses her expertise and passion for leveraging technology to create a sustainable world!

Boston Public Schools (BPS) has a robust, comprehensive sustainability program that encompasses all aspects of a green, healthy school environment. Our guest today is Katherine Walsh, Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program Director for BPS. She will discuss BPS’s approach to school sustainability and how other school districts can replicate their methodology.

SB 903 has been introduced to the California legislature and would provide a comprehensive approach to phasing out unnecessary uses of over 14,000 toxic, “forever” chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Today we’ll speak with Andria Ventura, CA Legislative and Policy Director, Clean Water Action, and Dr. Anna Reade, Director, PFAS Advocacy, Environmental Health, Natural Resources Defense Council, about the bill and why it is so important to public health.

Today we will be speaking with environmental attorney, Dave McCay, about some of the legal questions that are surfacing because of PFAS contamination in water supplies across the U.S. Some of the most pressing questions are: who will pay to remove PFAS from the public water supply - taxpayers?; if the water supply is contaminated and a town supplies bottled water to residents, who pays for that?; and can a resident sue their local government if their illness is connected to PFAS in the drinking water? Tune in and find out what your rights are if PFAS is found in your local water supply.

On February 3, 2023, five train cars containing 887,400 pounds (115,000 gallons) of vinyl chloride¹ ² ?, the key building block for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, derailed and were subsequently burned, setting off a major environmental health disaster that sickened area residents and first responders³, killed wildlife4, and contaminated East Palestine, Ohio and surrounding communities.5 A similar disaster struck Paulsboro, New Jersey in 2012. In both cases, the train cars carrying cancer-causing vinyl chloride were on their way to plastics manufacturing plants in New Jersey owned by OxyVinyls (a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum)¹ 6, where factories make PVC plastic for flooring and other building materials sold at major retailers like The Home Depot. OxyVinyls is responsible for the transport of rail cars filled with vinyl chloride across an enormous distance and through a number of major and minor population centers, putting communities across the country at risk. A new report quantifies that risk, and today we will talk with one of the authors, Mike Schade, as well as Jess Conard, a resident of East Palestine turned activist after the disaster near her home.

Today’s guest is Ginny Leary, the Zero Waste and Sustainability Project Manager for Boston Public Schools (BPS). We will discuss how BPS strives to reduce the amount of waste generated by building occupants and reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste that is hauled to and disposed of in landfills or incineration facilities. BPS’s Zero Waste program is comprehensive and can serve as a role model for other school districts across the country. Tune in to learn about their proven, pragmatic approach!

Healthy learning environments and high-quality school buildings are the keys to environmental equity and academic achievement. By leveraging sustainability strategies, these outcomes are possible. By improving indoor air and water quality, reducing solid waste, minimizing non-renewable energy usage, and providing nutritious food, urban schools can ensure environmental equity and close the opportunity gap for students. Today we will talk with the author of a new book, “Environmental Equity: Closing the Opportunity Gap in Urban Schools,” which demonstrates how school districts in even the most financially strapped regions can improve learning environments, lives, and achievement of every member of a school community.

Palm oil is included in a broad range of products that many of us purchase on a routine basis: food, cosmetics, paints, pills, and even hand sanitizer. With over 200 different names, palm oil is tough for the average consumer to spot in the ingredients lists of common consumer goods, but there is good reason to try. Palm oil has been linked to environmental devastation and human rights abuses. Tune in today as we talk with David Bass, co-founder of Peet Bros., about the problem with palm oil, and some steps you can take to ensure your purchases are not supporting the palm oil industry.

Palm oil is included in a broad range of products that many of us purchase on a routine basis: food, cosmetics, paints, pills, and even hand sanitizer. With over 200 different names, palm oil is tough for the average consumer to spot in the ingredients lists of common consumer goods, but there is good reason to try. Palm oil has been linked to environmental devastation and human rights abuses. Tune in today as we talk with David Bass, co-founder of Peet Bros., about the problem with palm oil, and some steps you can take to ensure your purchases are not supporting the palm oil industry.

HALEVAI is a new American boat manufacturer focused on creating and building sustainable and high-performance electric boats. Founded in 2020, their mission is to create safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective boating experiences. At the heart of the company’s mission is the ambition to revolutionize the marine industry by adopting and promoting renewable energy sources. Tune in for our conversation with the founder and CEO, Frank Heidinger!

Parkinson’s disease, is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. Over the past 25 years, the number of people with the condition has jumped from 3 million to over 6 million. In addition to impacting millions of lives and livelihoods, Parkinson’s is poised to crush our healthcare system and our economy. This, while harmful pesticides and other toxic chemicals that contribute to Parkinson’s surround us, disproportionally affecting our farmers, our veterans, and even those in Silicon Valley. The most effective treatment is now a half century old, yet research funding stagnates. In short, we’re failing to stop a runaway train. Tune in as we talk with Dr. Ray Dorsey, co-author of the book, Ending Parkinson’s: A Prescription for Action, about what needs to be done to stem the tide of rapidly increasing Parkinson’s cases.

Parkinson’s disease, is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. Over the past 25 years, the number of people with the condition has jumped from 3 million to over 6 million. In addition to impacting millions of lives and livelihoods, Parkinson’s is poised to crush our healthcare system and our economy. This, while harmful pesticides and other toxic chemicals that contribute to Parkinson’s surround us, disproportionally affecting our farmers, our veterans, and even those in Silicon Valley. The most effective treatment is now a half century old, yet research funding stagnates. In short, we’re failing to stop a runaway train. Tune in as we talk with Dr. Ray Dorsey, co-author of the book, Ending Parkinson’s: A Prescription for Action, about what needs to be done to stem the tide of rapidly increasing Parkinson’s cases.