The Planet Today

Matt and Nick talk about how harmful gas stoves are in smaller homes (Gas Stove Pollution Risk Is Greatest in Smaller Homes, Study Finds), Synthetic coffee made from date seeds (The synthetic coffee revolution: are ground date seeds really as delicious as the real thing), Environmental Justice in Ithaca, New York (Ithaca, N.Y., adopts new climate justice spending pledge), A ban on lab-grown meat in Florida (Florida Bans Lab-Grown Meat), Most top climate scientists do not believe the 1.5 degree goal is still achievable (World’s top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target), And Catan announces a new game - Catan: New Energies (Catan: New Energies challenges players to build — polluting)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt talks about Azerbaijan’s continued fossil fuel investments leading up to COP29 (COP29 climate summit host Azerbaijan defends oil and gas investments), The Oriental Pied Hornbill’s recovery in Singapore (Meet the strange-looking bird making a spectacular recovery amid the skyscrapers of Singapore), Fossil fuels being banned in Federal buildings (Fossil fuels will be banned from new and remodeled federal buildings), Polysilicon will soon begin shipping in the US again (Key Solar Panel Ingredient Is Made in the U.S.A. Again), Emissions limits for coal-burning power plants (E.P.A. Severely Limits Pollution From Coal-Burning Power Plants), And expedited permitting for clean energy projects (Biden Administration Moves to Speed Up Permits for Clean Energy)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt and Nick talk about a progress report for a plastic pollution treaty (During plastic pollution treaty, the U.S. faces calls to do more), There is officially 50% more carbon in the atmosphere than pre-industrial times (Carbon Dioxide Levels Have Passed a New Milestone), Expanded protections for national monuments established by President Obama (Biden plans to expand two national monuments in California), Protections for coal miners (Coal miners have long faced risk of black lung disease. Now they're getting new protections), A new rule requiring higher fees for oil and gas companies to drill on federal land (Oil and gas companies must pay more to drill on federal lands under new Biden administration rule), Europe warming faster than the rest of the world (Climate change means deadly heat for Europe), And bamboo farming in Uganda (Bamboo farming is on the rise in Uganda)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt interviews Sam Schutte of Synthica Energy. Snythica Energy is a company that is developing anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities designed to convert organic waste into renewable gas. Their ambitious goal is to divert one million tons per year of organic waste from landfills and generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 30,000 homes. Sam Schutte is a renowned expert in the fields of anaerobic digestion commercialization and organics-to-energy platform development. You can keep up with Snythica Energy on Facebook and Youtube. Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off.

Matt and Nick have a massive episode today and start by talking about Switzerland being held liable for human rights violations (Switzerland’s Climate Shortfalls Violate Human Rights, European Court Rules), The EPA strengthening its regulations on chemical manufacturers (New EPA rules for about 200 US chemical manufacturers take aim at ‘cancer alleys’), The EPA tightening its requirements for removing PFAS from drinking water (EPA sets new limits for 'forever chemicals' in drinking water), The U.S. still funding and expanding highways (As some countries spurn cars, the U.S. continues to embrace highways), Sand dams in Kenya to retain water (Kenyans build sand dams on seasonal rivers to retain water for dry seasons), Expanding natural farming practices in India (Farmers in India are hit hard by extreme weather. Some say expanding natural farming is the answer), Angola’s push for more solar (Angola makes a huge investment in solar), Deforestation impacting rainforests globally (Global rainforest loss continues at rate of 10 football pitches a minute | Deforestation), An effort to restore swathes of rainforests in Peru (Amazon rainforest in Peru, ravaged by gold mining, is being restored), And deforestation down in Colombia's Amazon (Colombia Amazon deforestation forecast down 25% to 35% last year, ministry says)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt and Nick talk about the rise of secondhand clothing (Secondhand clothing on track to take 10% of global fashion sales | Retail industry), Climate change has endangered certain types of cheese (Camembert and Brie 'could disappear,' scientists in France warn), Restored wildlife protections by the Biden Administration (Biden restores endangered species protections rolled back by Trump), And New England’s last coal-fired power plants are closing (The Last Coal-Fired Power Plants in New England Are to Close)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt and Nick talk about fossil fuel subsidies (The Zombies of the U.S. Tax Code: Why Fossil Fuels Subsidies Seem Impossible to Kill), The first large offshore wind farm in the U.S. (First large offshore U.S. wind farm delivers power to local grid), Protections for the Sage Grouse (Conservationists slam federal proposal for greater sage-grouse protection), U.S. vehicle standards set to phase out most new gas cars by 2032 (New EPA vehicle standards would cut US emissions, ramp up pressure for more EVs), California’s plan to protect indoor workers from heat in jeopardy (California wants to protect indoor workers from heat. Why that may not happen), Breeding coral in labs to restore coral reefs (Thai scientists breed coral in labs to restore degraded reefs), And climate change’s impact on Easter eggs (Easter eggs costs rise as climate change hits crops)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt interviews Wendy Baker of Dynapower. Dynapower is powering the world’s leading brands and institutions with reliable solutions in energy storage systems and other electrical components for renewable energy. Wendy is an award-winning business development professional who is passionate about developing sustainable power options. If you like today’s episode, follow Dynapower on LinkedIn. Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Kitcaster with a special offer for friends of our show to become guests on other podcasts.

Matt and Nick talk about climate change impacting the US maple syrup industry (Maple syrup season came weeks early in the Midwest. Producers are doing their best to adapt), Colorado River water rights (Colorado River drought climate change), Record high ocean temperatures in February (Ocean temperature hit record high in February 2024, EU scientists say), The Biden administration delaying climate regulations (Biden backtracks on climate plans and ‘walks tightrope’ to court both young voters and moderates), A fossilized forest found in the UK (World's earliest fossilised forest discovered in Minehead, Somerset), And rehabilitated manatees brought home to Florida (Orphaned Manatees Return to the Wild After 3 Years of Rehab)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt is flying solo for this episode to talk about support for Nuclear Power growing in US federal government (Nuclear Power Bill Passed by House, Support Grows in Congress), Using artificial intelligence to track humpback whale movements (How AI is already helping scientists track threatened humpback whales), France debating whether to fine fast fashion brands (France mulls penalties to rein in ultra-fast fashion brands), The EU preparing for COP29 with a draft calling for fossil fuel companies to pay their fair share (Exclusive: EU wants fossil fuel sector to help pay to combat climate change, draft shows), And Exxon’s CEO says consumers are the ones delaying the clean energy transition (Fury after Exxon chief says public to blame for climate failures)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt and Nick talk about how climate change could impact winter sports (Climate change clouds future of winter sports), Environmental disasters displaced 2.5 million Americans in 2023 (Disasters Forced 2.5 Million Americans From Their Homes Last Year), A 2016 moratorium on new coal leasing has been lifted (Federal appeals court revokes Obama-era ban on coal leasing), And Bangladesh has banned the adoption of Asian Elephants (Bangladesh's critically endangered Asian elephants get court protection)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt and Nick talk about the environmental impacts of solar energy (Can We Invest in Solar Power Without Harming Nature?), Cities on the U.S. east coast are sinking (As Aquifers Are Depleted, Areas Along The East Coast Of The US Are Sinking), The EPA tightening its fine particulate matter regulations (Biden Administration Toughens Limits on Deadly Air Pollution), The EPA loosening its vehicle emissions limits (US to soften tailpipe rules, slow EV transition through 2030), Coral bleaching is worse than we thought (NOAA Coral Reef Watch extends alert scale following extreme coral heat stress in 2023), And medical marijuana for sick mammals (Curing Pets With Cannabis as Veterinarians Try CBD and THC)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt interviews Matthew Krayton, the founder and Principal of Publitics. Publitics is a political consulting, strategy, and media company that focuses on strategy, communications, public relations, and public affairs. Their blog can be found on InfluenceIQ and you can follow them on Instagram and TikTok with these links. Matthew has been working on projects on the political side of the clean energy space, specifically the political risk that clean energy faces today. Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Kitcaster with a special offer for friends of our show to become guests on other podcasts.

Matt and Nick talk about just how powerful hurricanes are becoming due to climate change (Dial it up to Category 6? As warming stokes storms, some want a bigger hurricane category), Tragic forest fires in Chile (At least 112 dead in as Chile’s deadliest ever forest fire rages on), John Podesta named new U.S. Climate Envoy (John Podesta: Biden’s new top climate diplomat is ‘uniquely qualified’), Planting trees to restore a lost rainforest in the UK (Devon tree planting: Work to recreate lost rainforest), The fight over whether to pave a road through a forest in Kenya (Kenya's leader wants a paved road to cut through a forest, a key water source. Scientists don’t), Pandora moving to using only recycled metals for its jewelry (Pandora Now Only Sources Recycled Metals for Its Jewelry), And a prototype sun-shield for use in outer space could be ready in the next few years (Could a Giant Parasol in Outer Space Help Solve the Climate Crisis?)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt and Nick talk about how in vitro fertilization could save the northern white rhino (World first IVF rhino pregnancy could save northern white rhinos from extinction, scientists say), The benefits of sustainable food systems (Move to sustainable food systems could bring $10tn benefits a year, study finds), Protections for whales near offshore wind farms (U.S. sets plans to protect endangered whales near offshore wind farms; firms swap wind leases), Hawaii’s aggressive clean energy push (How one state is quickly becoming America's clean energy paradise), And President Biden pausing liquified natural gas exports (Biden pauses LNG export approvals after pressure from climate activists)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt and Nick talk about the Biden Administration imposing fines on oil and gas companies over their methane production (Biden Administration to Fine Oil and Gas Companies for Excess Methane), Greenland losing ice much faster than previously understood (The more scientists study Greenland, the worse its ice melt looks), John Kerry stepping down as U.S. Climate Envoy (John Kerry to step down as Biden's climate envoy), Canada formally giving Nunavut control over its precious metal reserves (Canada gives mineral-rich Arctic region of Nunavut control over its resources), Refugees restoring forests in Uganda (In Uganda, refugees' need for wood ravaged the forest. Now, they work to restore it), Mark Zuckerberg’s Hawaiian cattle ranch and its environmental harm Zuckerberg derided for his ‘high quality beef’ ranch where cows are fed macadamia nuts and beer), And a new national park in Colombia (A New National Park is Born in Colombia) (In Colombia, a Park for Anacondas and Anteaters, Where Ranchers Are Now Rangers)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta using this link” for 15% off.

Matt interviews Jeffrey Rissman, Senior Director of Industry at Energy Innovation. His new book “Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity” is available for pre-order now before its February 27, 2024 release date. Zero-Carbon Industry unpacks the complex challenges presented by climate change and offers clear, actionable insights on how we can revamp the industrial world’s heaviest emitters using cutting-edge technologies and intelligent policy. Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Kitcaster with a special offer for friends of our show to become guests on other podcasts.

Episode 200! Matt and Nick talk about The Guardian’s biodiversity issues list for 2024 (Printable DNA to bird-bashing towers: 15 looming issues for biodiversity in 2024), Air pollution in Pakistan causes schools to close (Pakistan’s air pollution rivals India’s, so authorities try seeding clouds), Carbon capture wells in Louisiana (Biden administration grants Louisiana power to approve carbon capture wells), Changes for the Electric Vehicle tax credit in 2024 (The $7,500 EV tax credit will see big changes in 2024. What to know), COP29’s President has been announced (Azerbaijan names a former oil exec to lead climate talks), 2023’s wine harvest was the lowest in 60 years (World wine harvest 2023: Lowest volume in 60 years), And ice cover on the Great Lakes is the lowest it’s been in 50 years (Great Lakes ice cover is nearly non-existent, reaches 50-year record low)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta at www.valaalta.co/TPT for 15% off.

Episode 200! Matt and Nick talk about The Guardian’s biodiversity issues list for 2024 (Printable DNA to bird-bashing towers: 15 looming issues for biodiversity in 2024), Air pollution in Pakistan causes schools to close (Pakistan’s air pollution rivals India’s, so authorities try seeding clouds), Carbon capture wells in Louisiana (Biden administration grants Louisiana power to approve carbon capture wells), Changes for the Electric Vehicle tax credit in 2024 (The $7,500 EV tax credit will see big changes in 2024. What to know), COP29’s President has been announced (Azerbaijan names a former oil exec to lead climate talks), 2023’s wine harvest was the lowest in 60 years (World wine harvest 2023: Lowest volume in 60 years), And ice cover on the Great Lakes is the lowest it’s been in 50 years (Great Lakes ice cover is nearly non-existent, reaches 50-year record low)! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Vala Alta at www.valaalta.co/TPT for 15% off.

Matt kicks off 2024 with 3 more snippets of guest interviews from 2023! July 14, 2023: Martha Hunt Handler (Wolf Conservation Center) October 20, 2023: Tom Blue Wolf (EarthKeepers) July 21, 2023: Sean B. Carroll (Wild Hope)