The Sweaty Penguin (Ethan Brown)

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, wrapped up in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on Sunday, and the outcome contained good news and bad news. To start, we look at the bad news: India’s proposal to include a phase down of fossil fuels in the final agreement, which was backed by much of the world including the EU, UK, and US, ultimately failed to make the final agreement. This result was disappointing for many reasons, but also led to some over the top takes that global climate targets were officially doomed to fail. Ethan explains why even in spite of this bad news, there is room for optimism and hope around our climate goals and energy transition in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released part two of the 6th Assessment Report, leading to several doom-and-gloom headlines and soundbites saying variations of “we need to act now or it’ll be too late.” But haven’t we been hearing that for decades? When is this supposed time that’s “too late?” Turns out, it’s a lot more nuanced than that, and this IPCC report actually helps clarify this “too late” concept through its in-depth analysis of climate adaptation research. Ethan breaks down what this major report is actually about and some key information we can glean from it in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

Ethan sits down with The Sweaty Penguin’s newest team members Hallie Cordingley, Isabel Plower, and Maddy Schmidt to recap season 4. They’ll share what they do behind the scenes, some takeaways from the season, favorite episodes, and then face off in the third ever Sweaty Penguin finale bonus episode Kahoot! See how much you remembered from season 4 and listen to us crown the next Sweaty Penguin Kahoot champion.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

From Whole Foods announcing they would stop selling Maine lobster due to concerns about right whales last November to people on both sides of the aisle misattributing a humpback whale mortality event off the coast of New Jersey to offshore wind development in early 2023 to a slew of recent orca attacks on boats in the Iberian Peninsula, whales have found themselves consistently in the news, often accompanied by misinformation. The public is right to be concerned: seven out of thirteen species of large whale are endangered. But while unproven claims about wind turbines steal the spotlight, issues of entanglements, ship strikes, and climate change may be slipping under the radar. Today, we explore why whales matter, the real reasons whales are threatened, and how we can conserve these beloved mammals going forward. With special guest Dr. Erin Meyer-Gutbrod: Assistant Professor of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of South Carolina.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ainsley Jane Tambling, Maddie Salman, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Aana Shenai

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Velina Georgi

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Companies, cities, and countries are making new climate plans and setting carbon neutral targets left and right. But how does anyone know if they’ve succeeded? That’s where carbon accounting becomes important, and today, the practice is facing some growing pains, not the least of which being that it is completely voluntary. Today, we explore why carbon accounting is important, what challenges it faces, and how the practice can improve. With special guest Dr. Delphine Gibassier: Professor of Finance at Audencia Business School in France.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Isabel Plower, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

Last week was a big one for the poles of the Earth, with record-shattering heatwaves in both the Arctic and Antarctica followed by the collapse of the Conger Ice Shelf in Eastern Antarctica. Many headlines suggested scientists were surprised, even flabbergasted! Ethan breaks down why these events were surprising, and why surprise does not mean doom-and-gloom in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

To help prevent the indoor spread of coronavirus, buildings around the world have been checking up on their ventilation systems, often for the first time in a while. And unfortunately, many will find old, poorly designed, or otherwise inefficient HVAC systems that waste energy and money. Today, we’ll cover how many ventilation systems are inefficient, why they’re important for preserving indoor air quality, and how we can improve them, both small and large scale. With special guest Dr. Michael Gevelber: Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University.

This episode is part of a four-episode series made possible by the Sustainability Innovation Seed Grant from BU Sustainability and Innovate@BU.

“Hazard NJ” is another environmental podcast from The WNET Group covering Superfund sites in New Jersey. They will be releasing four new episodes this fall to take fresh looks at the relationship between these Superfund sites and climate change, starting on September 28th. We hope you enjoy this episode, and encourage you to subscribe to “Hazard NJ” wherever you get your podcasts.

Our regularly scheduled “Tip of the Iceberg” and “Deep Dive” episodes will resume next week.

About the episode:

The chemical company Diamond Alkali, one of the nations main producers of Agent Orange, spent years dumping chemical waste into the Passaic River and polluting Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood. In the early 80’s, state and federal authorities pledged to clean the mess up but today, nearly 40 years later, toxic mud still lies beneath the water. Now the cleanup is facing a $1.8 billion price tag, an uncertain timeline, and the growing threat that intense storms fueled by climate change could stir the pollution up.

About the show:

New Jersey is home to the largest number of Superfund sites in the country — and while federal cleanup is underway — the bigger threat to them now is climate change. Flooding, fires, and rising sea levels could make life even harder for those who live nearby. Hazard NJ digs through the muck of each contaminated site to give a clearer picture of what the threat is and what it will take to clean it up before it’s too late. Hosted by journalist Jordan Gass-Poore’, produced by NJ Spotlight News.

After some of the latest environmental news updates, Ethan sits down with Leo Brother and Velina Georgi for a bipartisan conversation on episode 33: “Plastic Straws.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons lead to lost homes, wrecked environments, billions in cleanup costs, and even fatalities. And as climate change worsens, these storms are worsening too. Today, we’ll take a look at how tropical cyclones are formed, how climate change is affecting them, and how we can work to minimize the destruction they cause. With special guest Dr. Suzana Camargo: Marie Tharp Lamont Research Professor in the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Over 1,000 scientists in over 25 countries took part in climate protests last week, risking their careers and reputations in the process. Ethan breaks down why this is not normal, why scientists would be compelled to turn to activism, and why these protests are a reminder that climate change CAN be addressed in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Last week, Politico published a leaked draft opinion in the Mississippi abortion case facing the Supreme Court, showing the majority of justices in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade’s precedent of a constitutional right to abortion. In the climate world specifically, this draft sparked many conversations about how sexual and reproductive health is, in fact, a climate issue. So what do these two seemingly unrelated topics have to do with each other? Ethan gives a very truncated summary of the links between climate change and sexual and reproductive health and shares some climate solutions that could help both issues in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Not only does traffic contribute to climate change, but it costs the average American $1,377 per year in lost time. We’ll break down the issue, and debate some possible solutions like mass transit renovations, bike sharing, congestion pricing, and smaller market-based mechanisms. We’re joined by Christian Alberga (Williams College), Matt Grottkau (Washington University), and special guest Dr. Cutler Cleveland: Professor of Earth & Environment at Boston University and Associate Director of the BU Institute for Sustainable Energy.

After pressure from both Democratic and Republican senators, President Biden is invoking the Defense Production Act to encourage domestic production of the minerals used in batteries for electric vehicles and long-term energy storage, minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite. This move has major implications for U.S. national security and the global climate, and also serves as a reminder of some of the fossil fuel dynamics behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ethan breaks down the reasoning for this bipartisan move in the U.S. and examines some other transformations in the global energy sector in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Maple syrup is a staple for every breakfast on Christmas morning, but with climate change harming the health of maple trees, maple syrup is under threat. Today, we’ll break down how climate change affects maple syrup production, what that could mean for maple syrup’s messy economic situation largely run by a maple syrup cartel wrought with illegal activity (one such crime becoming the largest police investigation in the history of Quebec), and how we can protect the future of this delicious condiment. With special guest Dr. Pamela Templer: Professor of Biology at Boston University.

If and when humans completely stop emitting carbon dioxide, how will the climate respond? For some time, communicators were operating with the misconception that there would be a “carbon lag” — carbon previously emitted would still be in the atmosphere, still be trapping heat, and still be warming the planet, and this lagged warming would continue for several decades. Recently, scientists clarified that this was not quite right. This lagged warming effect does exist, but simultaneously, oceans suck carbon out of the atmosphere creating a cooling effect. The two ultimately cancel out, and the global climate can stabilize as quickly as three years after emissions halt. Today, we explore how the greenhouse effect has worked through history, what this updated science means for both us and our oceans, and why this science should mostly be seen as good news moving forward. With very special guest Dr. Michael Mann: Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science and Director of the Center for Science Sustainability in the Media at the University of Pennsylvania.

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Mikaela Gonzalez, Emma Jones, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Sophie Colbert

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

On August 25, Pakistan declared a state of emergency after a summer that has brought the worst flooding in the country’s history. The floods have affected 33 million people, killed over 1,300 people including 416 children, created an economic loss of 10 billion dollars, and as of August 29, around one third of the country was underwater. Ethan breaks down how climate change made these floods more severe and what lessons we can learn from these floods about extreme weather in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Ysabel Wulfing

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Will Andronico

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

While climate change threatens most marine species, jellyfish could be poised to come out stronger than ever. Research remains ongoing, but many scientists suggest the populations of certain species of jellyfish could be increasing, which could lead to more harmful stings, impeded tourism and fishing industries, and disrupted marine ecosystems. Today, we explore what we know about jellyfish so far, why we may have cause for concern, and how we might adapt moving forward. With special guest Dr. Kylie Pitt: Discipline Head of Marine Science at Griffith University and the leader of the Griffith Sea Jellies Research Laboratory.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

It’s hard to pass policies that aggressively address climate change, public health, and other environmental issues. So when a country does pass them, it’s all the more frustrating that more and more frequently, multinational corporations sue them through an international investment court system for millions, even billions of dollars. And since these cases are decided behind closed doors by a group of commercial lawyers, most of us never even hear about them. Today, we’ll cover what these investor-state dispute settlements are, what threat they pose to climate progress, and how the system could be reformed. With special guest Dr. Kyla Tienhaara: Canada Research Chair in Economy and Environment at Queen’s University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

When people flick a light switch, they expect the light to turn on. And supplying enough electricity to meet that expectation in a climate-friendly, cost-efficient way is a major challenge, which led to the invention of the smart grid—an electrical grid where suppliers also receive data back from customers to help them distribute electricity and avoid power outages. But as promising as this technology seems, there are also some aspects of smart grids that are worth discussing to ensure they don’t become issues, such as cybersecurity and integrating decentralized renewable energy. Today, we explore some of these smart grid dilemmas and consider how to ensure smart grids live up to their full potential. With special guest Dr. Ankit Kumar: Lecturer in Development and Environment at The University of Sheffield.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Caroline Koehl, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

In February, Ethan had the opportunity to travel to Israel and participate in the Jerusalem Press Club’s Climate Innovation Press Tour, meet several clean tech CEOs, and learn about Israel’s cutting edge climate solutions. But despite all these clean energy ideas, shockingly few have actually been implemented in Israel. Instead, Israel’s big energy project has been the Leviathan Gas Field: an offshore natural gas formation about 81 miles west of Haifa in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. With the potential to emit 1.06 billion tons of carbon dioxide, the Leviathan Gas Field is one of the 195  “carbon bombs” identified in last year’s investigative report by The Guardian. Though it has only been in production for three-and-a-half years, the Leviathan Gas Field has already misled on its environmental damage, heightened international tensions in the region, and struggled to live up to its economic promise. Today, we explore what issues have arisen at the Leviathan Gas Field, what solutions Israel has in-house to tackle energy and climate, and what needs to happen to make those innovations a reality. With special guest Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed: Executive Director of the Arava Institute of Environmental Studies.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released the third part of their Sixth Assessment Report last week, titled “Mitigation of Climate Change,” and with it, came the usual doom and gloom reactions. But the report itself was overflowing with reasons to be hopeful, and even excited. Ethan breaks down why he came away from the report feeling more optimistic about the climate than ever before in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.” Plus, a first-time “Reverse Ask Me Anything” segment with Sweaty Penguin Producer Frank Hernandez that you won’t want to miss!

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Monkeypox — a zoonotic disease native to tropical rainforest regions of central and west Africa — has spread outside its usual range, reaching Europe and North America. Seeing the global reaction to this new pathogen prompted a few questions. How serious is monkeypox? Why were we not discussing monkeypox when it was causing dozens of deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year? Why are we not discussing other pathogens in the Global South right now? And as climate change worsens and zoonotic diseases spread more easily, how do we prepare? Ethan contemplates all these questions and more in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

There isn’t anything inherently bad about tea, but the current tea agriculture system faces a number of issues, from excessive pesticide use to deforestation to extremely inhumane working conditions. And as climate change progresses, tea flavor and antioxidant content is worsening, tea yields themselves are decreasing, and the aforementioned environmental and human rights issues are poised to worsen. Today, we discuss all these problems, and consider how we can improve the production of the world’s second-most consumed beverage. With special guest Dr. Yixian Sun: Assistant Professor of International Development at the University of Bath.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Yosemite was set aside as a national park in 1890, and since then, we haven’t done a spotless job preserving and managing it. There’s even a Starbucks in the park! We’ll discuss the economic inefficiencies, inequities, and environmental degradation currently taking place at Yosemite and consider ways to both solve these specific issues and think about the land where we live. We’re joined by Leo Brother (Elon University), Velina Georgi (College of Charleston), and special guest Dr. Sarah Phillips: Professor of History at Boston University and author of “This Land, This Nation: Conservation, Rural America, and the New Deal.”

Weeks of unprecedented wildfires across Canada have scorched millions of hectares, displaced over 100,000 people, and pushed the nation into a crisis as crews fight hundreds of blazes. Smoke from the fires also crossed the U.S. border into cities such as New York City and Detroit, and on June 7, New York City registered the worst air quality in the world. While orange skies and unbreathable air appeared nothing short of apocalyptic to many New Yorkers already anxious about climate change, it is essential to not lose sight of the fact that there are ways we can significantly reduce the risk of wildfires. Ethan gives a reprieve from the doom-and-gloom wildfire conversation and explores the many causes of wildfires, what solutions are in our toolbox, and how those solutions could be implemented politically in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Madeleine Salman, Mo Polyak

Fact Checker: Emma Jones

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Avocados are rising in popularity fast. Over the past two decades, consumption of avocados in the United States tripled to more than eight pounds per person per year. Unfortunately, the avocado industry is up against several challenges, from high water demand to deforestation to extortion and violence at the hands of Mexican drug cartels. Today, we explore what issues avocados face, how climate change may exacerbate some of them, and how to improve the production of this beloved, valuable fruit. With special guest Dr. Roman Grüter: Research Associate at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences’ Geography of Food Research Group.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ysabel Wulfing, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Sarika Sawant

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

World leaders are currently gathered in Montreal for the fifteenth UN Biodiversity Conference, or COP15, working toward a global treaty to help stave off mass extinctions, mitigate climate change, and conserve economically important natural resources for decades to come. But there’s one notable absence from this effort: the United States. Though not invisible at COP15, the U.S. is the only country in the world that has not yet ratified the 1992 treaty that established the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity. Ethan breaks down why the convention is in line with the United States’ existing conservation priorities, what misconceptions have stalled our involvement, and how joining the convention would benefit us and the rest of the world in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

A few months ago, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. Six of those projects are at the Ghawar Oil Field: a site in Saudi Arabia that is considered the largest oil field in the world. This region is home to the government-owned fossil fuel giant Saudi Aramco, but it is also one of the most climate vulnerable regions in the world. Saudi Arabia is now grappling with the question of how to stay relevant in global energy markets as the world transitions toward clean energy and their country is on track to be too hot to inhabit by 2070. Today, we explore what makes the Ghawar Oil Field so lucrative, what environmental and economic challenges face the region, and some possibilities for Saudi Arabia’s energy future. With special guest Dr. Dan Rabinowitz: Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Tel Aviv University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Isabel Plower, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Maxwell Pociask

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In the last few months, catastrophic floods have ravaged parts of Libya, Myanmar, Cameroon, India, and Somalia, not to mention several such disasters in the United States. Climate change and floods have an interesting relationship — scientists contend climate change may be leading to fewer floods overall, but the floods that do happen become much more intense, particularly in urban areas. As overwhelming as this reality can be, it’s equally important to remember that even in a changing climate, floods have solutions. Ethan explores how climate change will impact future floods and how communities can assess flood risk, prevent floods, adapt to floods, and rethink floods in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio

Fact Checker: Aana Shenai

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

After a scientist found a plastic straw lodged in a sea turtle’s nose, sea turtles rose to fame in the environmental world, and became the mascots of anti-plastic campaigns. But the issues facing sea turtles go well beyond plastic. Today, we’ll take a look at how sea turtles are impacted by climate change, commercial fishing, illegal trade, and more issues, what sea turtles mean for our oceans and economy, and what we might be able to do about these challenges. With special guest Dr. Mark Hamann: Associate Professor of Marine Biology at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

It’s the environmental issue everyone’s talking about, with companies and cities banning plastic straws all over the world. But while it’s often played up as either a super simple environmental issue that cities and companies can get tons of clout for single handedly fixing or a stupid issue that we should stop wasting our time on, the reality is that neither of those are really the case. Plastic straws, like every other episode topic on The Sweaty Penguin, are a surprisingly complex problem that demand a nuanced solution. Today, we’ll discuss to what extent plastic straws actually are a problem, and a variety of solutions (beyond the more newsworthy bans, paper straws, and pasta straws) for how the problem can be improved. With special guest Dr. Travis Wagner: Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Southern Maine.

For drought-stricken regions of the world such as India, Australia, West Africa, and the American Southwest, the monsoon rainfall is a welcome gift. But as climate change worsens, the amount of rain may increase, and the actual rainstorms may become less frequent and more severe, leading to less water retention, damage, and even casualties. This week, we explore what monsoons are, how climate change affects them, and what we could do to adapt moving forward. With special guest Dr. Michela Biasutti: Lamont Associate Research Professor of Ocean and Climate Physics at Columbia University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

In the first ever Ethan-less episode, Producers Shannon Damiano and Megan Crimmins sit down for a conversation about the children’s book “What Is Climate Change.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Almonds have become the world’s most popular nut, and with almond milk on the rise, that demand is only expected to grow. But 80% of the world’s almonds are grown in California, where drought, climate change, and the loss of honeybees have made it increasingly difficult for the industry to keep up. Today, we explore the relationship between almonds and their environment and consider how this important crop can become more sustainable and resilient in the coming decades. With special guest Dr. Alissa Kendall: Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Naomi Rubin, Ethan Brown

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Research presented at the American Geophysical Union this month found cracks on the ice shelf holding back the Thwaites glacier: a mass of dense, landlocked ice the size of Florida. When the shelf collapses, which scientists now estimate will happen in five years, Thwaites will start moving toward the ocean, leading to sea level rise that exceeds even our worst-case scenario projections and would threaten coastal cities and communities around the world. Ethan breaks down this new research and contemplates what level of panic is appropriate in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

Powering everything through clean, carbon-free energy to mitigate climate change requires not just decarbonizing electricity, but actually making several things like cars, furnaces, and factories electric. But with the positives of electrification comes some questions. How do you store and transmit clean energy? How do you meet the skyrocketing demand for electricity? How do you avoid blackouts? Today, we’ll dive into some of the challenges of electrification and consider how they can be addressed. With special guest Dr. Peter Fox-Penner: Founder and Director of the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy and Professor of Practice at the Questrom School of Business.

This episode is part of a four-episode series made possible by the Sustainability Innovation Seed Grant from BU Sustainability and Innovate@BU.

From old petroleum sites to chemical dumping grounds, toxic waste sites are disproportionately located in low income and minority communities, and carry lots of adverse health and environmental impacts. And today, climate change threatens to make it even worse, with floods, hurricanes, and wildfires ravaging brownfields and spreading toxins into these communities. Today, we cover what brownfields and Superfund sites are, what problems they create, and some strategies for how to clean them up. With special guest Dr. Lemir Teron: Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. This episode is part of Covering Climate Now’s Living Through the Climate Emergency joint coverage week, reporting on the realities of climate change and its solutions through the week leading up to Earth Day 2021.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Between malaria and a long list of other diseases, mosquitoes are responsible for a million global deaths per year, making mosquitoes the most deadly animal in the world. And due to climate change, among other factors, mosquito populations are on the rise. Today, we explore what threats mosquitoes present, why their populations are increasing, and what we might be able to do about it. With special guest Dr. Amanda Tokash-Peters: Assistant Professor of Biology at Centenary University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Haley Cronin, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Frank Hernandez

Music: Brett Sawka

Drought is one of the most commonly cited impacts of climate change, leading to water shortages, crop failures, wildfires, and social inequalities. But why do droughts happen? And how does climate change play in? Today, we’ve got a “Drought 101” as it were — we’ll explore the science behind droughts, a variety of their consequences, and some possible solutions. With special guest Dr. Karletta Chief: Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center at the University of Arizona. The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise. Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. CREDITS Writers: Megan Crimmins, Madeleine Salman, Ethan Brown Fact Checker: Ysabel Wulfing Editor: Megan Antone Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt Music: Brett Sawka The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Is nuclear energy good or is it bad? Is it the answer to our climate woes or is it Chernobyl 2.0? Or, maybe, is it a little bit more nuanced than that? Today, we break down some of the criticisms of nuclear energy such as safety, radioactive waste, water use, and cost, consider to what degree these criticisms are issues, and discuss the future of nuclear energy in a carbon-free world. With special guest Dr. Jacopo Buongiorno: TEPCO Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Unlike plant-based proteins like Beyond Meat or Impossible Burgers, lab-grown meat is actually meat. Scientists take stem cells from a cow, chicken, or any other animal, culture them in a lab, and create anything from steak to seafood to leather to egg whites. The process hasn’t been perfected yet, and Americans can’t buy lab-grown meat in the supermarket, but startups and investors have flooded this market with the hope that lab-grown meat could become a safer, more ethical, and more sustainable competitor to conventional meat. That said, lab-grown meat still faces many hurdles to get there, from cost to public perception to a part of the production process that still leads to the slaughter of animals. Today, we explore how lab-grown meat is made, what the barriers are, and how the industry could overcome them. With special guest Dr. David Block: Ernest Gallo Endowed Chair of Viticulture and Enology and Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of California, Davis.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Learn more at solutionsjournalism.org.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Olivia Amitay, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Last week, Milwaukee hit a record June high of 109°F. North Platte, Nebraska hit a June record of 108°F. Phoenix hit 114°F. Death Valley hit 123°F. And to boot, there were 30 active wildfires in various parts of the United States. Ethan reflects on the brutal weather entering summer 2022 in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Naomi Rubin

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Maxwell Pociask

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

For many people, sustainable housing brings to mind either show heads and toilets with zero water pressure or futuristic buildings that look like a spaceship. In reality, sustainable houses can actually look quite normal, and achieve carbon emission cuts, water conservation, and long-term cost savings. But what will it take to make millions of houses sustainable? Today, we explore what sustainable housing could look like, what stands in the way of making it happen, and how any of those hurdles could be overcome. With special guest Dr. Andréanne Doyon: Assistant Professor of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Located in northeastern Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical forest in the United States, the home to many rare species such as the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot, and the source of 50% of the water supply for the San Juan metro area. It also is one of the most important destinations in the Caribbean for ecotourism, hosting one million visitors and contributing $5.5 billion to the Puerto Rican economy every year. But between more severe droughts and more extreme hurricanes such as Maria, the forest is undergoing several changes that could put many of these important ecosystem services at risk. Today, we explore the significance of El Yunque, what risks hurricanes and droughts pose to the forest and nearby communities, and how the forest and island can adapt for the future. With special guest Dr. Maria Uriarte: Professor of Biology at Columbia University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Isabel Plower, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Why is it so difficult to achieve effective environmental policy in the United States? Is it just a lack of willpower, or is there a little more to it? Today, we explore some of the lesser-discussed procedural barriers to environmental policy development such as the amendment process, the recent preference for omnibus bills, and certain state preemptions, and consider if there are ways around these challenges to allow for more innovative, nuanced, and popular environmental policy in the future. With special guest David Johnson: Lecturer in Law at Stanford University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

A couple weeks ago, world leaders descended on Dubai for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) — a reminder of the fact that the United States cannot mitigate climate change alone, and needs China and India to curb their emissions too. But that’s not an argument to slow climate progress at home. Ethan explains that while global participation is necessary for the climate, smart climate solutions also have benefits for local environments, health, justice, security, and the economy in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

**Note: This episode was written prior to COP28, so the opening references some pessimism I was feeling going into the conference. As it turns out, the conference had some pretty exciting successes, which we’ll break down in Tip of the Iceberg 62. However, due to some delays in editing, we were not able to release this episode before the conference as planned. The rest of the episode remains relevant though, so we hope you still enjoy!**

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio

Fact Checker: Aana Shenai

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Velina Georgi

Music: Brett Sawka

Spanning over 100,000 square miles off the coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, providing a home to thousands of marine species, sequestering millions of tons of carbon, and creating 64,000 jobs and 56 billion dollars in economic value. But it’s under threat, from climate change, coastal development, and a coral-eating starfish whose population is out of control. Today, we discuss why the Great Barrier Reef is important, what challenges it faces, and what we can do about them. With special guest Dr. Michael Kingsford: Distinguished Professor of Marine Biology at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia.

A few months ago, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. One project site is the Haynesville Shale: a sedimentary gas play that lies more than 10,000 feet underground in parts of northwestern Louisiana, southwestern Arkansas, and eastern Texas. Given how far underground it is, the Haynesville Shale never became popular until the fracking boom in 2008. Now, it accounts for almost 13% of natural gas production in the United States. But for all the prosperity Haynesville brought to the region, it also has brought a number of climate, water, health, and justice challenges. Today, we explore why the Haynesville Shale is so special, what issues it has exacerbated, and what a fair and sensible path forward might look like for this significant fossil fuel site. With special guest Keith Hall: Nesser Family Chair in Energy Law at Louisiana State University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Isabel Plower, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Will Andronico

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Last week saw a list of climate misconceptions floating around the Internet, including a story that 90% of Atlantic Ocean plankton had disappeared, a suggestion that a national emergency on climate would lead the country back into lockdown, text from a 1922 Washington Post article on ice loss in the Arctic, and the idea that this summer’s heat waves have been nothing out of the ordinary. Ethan breaks down why all of these myths are dead wrong in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maxwell Pociask, Naomi Rubin, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Will Andronico

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

A few months ago, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. For our eighth deep dive on carbon bombs, we take a look at the Marcellus Shale: a 90,000 square mile natural gas formation spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, and Maryland and home to the second highest emitting oil and gas project in the world, with the potential to emit 26.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide. The project has also led to air pollution, water pollution, and several social injustices. Today, we explore what challenges have been presented by fracking in the Marcellus Shale, why the project has had shockingly little benefit to the Pennsylvania economy, and where the region could go from here. With special guest Dr. Dave Yoxtheimer: Assistant Research Professor of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Pennsylvania State University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Olivia Amitay, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Seasons 2, 3, and 4 of The Sweaty Penguin each ended with a Kahoot competition, and now, the three winners face off in the Winners’ Circle. Which of our team members is the true expert on all things climate? See how much you remember from the podcast and listen to us crown the ULTIMATE Sweaty Penguin Kahoot champion.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

In 2022, climate activists around the world engaged in a string of protests throwing food at famous artworks such as Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” Monet’s “Grainstacks,” and da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” The protests received their fair share of criticism for failing to engage new people in the climate movement, but what may have been overshadowed was the actual environmental messages hidden in these pieces of artwork. In fact, from today’s prolific environmental artists to famous Renaissance figures to Mayas who didn’t even use the word “artist” to cry magnons 20,000 years ago etching animal reproductive cycles onto caves, so many pieces of art tell an environmental story and teach us something about the survival and resilience of humanity. Today, we explore what it might mean to be “environmental art,” some of the environmental impacts of art, and how we can appreciate a connection between environment and art that goes beyond throwing mashed potatoes on famous paintings. With special guest Geraldina Wise: Artist in Residence at the University of Houston Cullen School of Engineering.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This episode is the fourth in our four-part series collaborating with the Gulf Climate Listening Project covering environmental issues on the Gulf Coast. If you are interested in learning about stopping LNG exports and creating a better future on the Gulf Coast, visit GulfCoastMurals.com.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Emma Jones

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Among a flurry of major climate news stories last week, one really big one failed to make front page news. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring that access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a universal human right. Ethan breaks down the significance of this resolution and considers the impact of this odd lack of news coverage in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

International environmental treaties are a fantastic start, but they also regularly struggle because even when a country signs a treaty, they still don’t actually have to do anything. There is no global governing body to enforce agreements, meaning countries often fail to uphold their end of agreements, which is concerning since environmental issues are not isolated to any one country—everyone contributes, and everyone is affected. So how do countries then hold each other accountable? Today, we’ll explore some of the strategies currently used, why they often fail, and some options countries could consider from here to promote environmental progress on the global level. With special guest Dr. Susan Park: Professor of Global Governance at the University of Sydney.

Last year, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. For our eleventh deep dive on carbon bombs, we take a look at the Bovanenkovo Gas Field: a major natural gas formation in Arctic Russia. The Bovanenkovo Gas Field holds 6.05 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, giving it the potential to emit 11.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide. But beyond climate and environmental issues, Bovanenkovo presents another major concern: revenue from that natural gas is funding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today, we explore how Bovanenkovo gas affects the surrounding community, how it ties into the war in Ukraine, and what needs to happen for Russia, Ukraine, and NATO to achieve a more sustainable and peaceful future. With special guest Dr. Katarzyna Zysk: Professor of International Relations and Contemporary History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Emma Jones, Owen Reith, Velina Georgi, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Alia Bonanno

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Owen Reith

Ad Voiceover: Maddie Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Ultraviolet radiation has a few upsides in small quantities, but too much can cause a slew of health effects from sunburns to skin aging to even skin and eye cancer. Luckily, due to an unprecedented international treaty called the Montreal Protocol, the issue is improving, but as climate change worsens, there are still some reasons to be concerned. Today, we discuss where we’re at now with UV, what issues we still need to think about, and where we might go from here. With special guest Dr. Cédric Fichot: Assistant Professor of Earth & Environment at Boston University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

The 49-day period between July 3 and August 21 (when this episode was recorded) marks the third longest gap between named Atlantic tropical storms since 1995. Does this uncharacteristically slow start to hurricane season disprove climate change? Not at all. Ethan breaks down why 2022 has been a lucky year up to this point and how climate advocates could bring more nuance and sensitivity to the hurricane conversation in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Yesterday was World Wetlands Day, and salt marshes are some of the most important wetlands in the world. Found along the entire U.S. coastline (and every continent except Antarctica), salt marshes absorb carbon, protect coastlines from erosion, filter pollutants, provide many economic benefits, and provide habitats for many important fish and shellfish species we eat. They also act as natural buffers when floods and hurricanes hit, making them a really important climate solution. But they're under threat due to historic human ditching, invasive green crabs, and worsening sea level rise. Today, we explore why salt marshes are important, what challenges they face, and how we can help them moving forward. With special guest Dr. Sergio Fagherazzi: Professor of Earth & Environment at Boston University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ysabel Wulfing, Madeleine Salman, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

The spotted lanternfly — an insect native to Asia — has invaded fourteen states mostly in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The pest is not toxic to humans, but threatens many important plants and crops, including apple trees, cherry trees, peach trees, and grapevines. Ethan breaks down the latest on this invasive species and contemplates if the issue is being communicated properly to people in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Naomi Rubin, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

When we talk about natural resource issues whether they be food, water, energy, land, or materials, we typically discuss them one at a time and craft policy for them one at a time. Because of that, it’s easy to forget that all these resources are interconnected and interdependent. As climate change worsens, those interconnections become more important than ever, as resource scarcity issues can lead to global conflict and even violence. Today, we discuss why resources are so intertwined and what that means for our future. With special guest Dr. Stacy VanDeveer: the Chair of the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

On this week’s bonus episode, we’re discussing the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, reflecting on last week’s Rethinking Climate Change episode as Frank’s home in Puerto Rico experiences a tropical storm, sharing some behind the scenes stories about the making of “The UNEP Song,” and more. With Sweaty Penguin Researcher Olivia Amitay and Producers Frank Hernandez and Caroline Koehl.

In the early morning of February 6th, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit just east of Nurdagi, Turkey, followed by over 125 aftershocks including ones clocking in at 6.5 and 7.5 on the Richter scale. The earthquake led to over 5,700 building collapses in Turkey, more than 75,000 injuries, and more than 20,000 deaths. Earthquakes are not caused by climate change or particularly worsened by them, but in reflecting on how Turkey could, perhaps, have been better prepared for this catastrophe, one trend became clear: many earthquake solutions also happen to be climate solutions. Ethan explores how sturdier buildings can be more energy efficient, cleaner energy sources can better withstand natural disasters, and more just societies can experience smoother disaster recoveries in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Madeleine Salman, Maddy Schmidt

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Madeleine Salman

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

A few months ago, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. For our tenth deep dive on carbon bombs, we take a look at the Eagle Ford Shale: an oil and gas formation near the Gulf Coast of Texas. The U.S. portion contains 6.5 billion barrels of oil, 5.7 billion barrels of natural gas liquids, and 1.3 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which together would have the potential to emit 5.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide. Beyond the global climate impact, Eagle Ford has run into several local issues, from water shortages to highly polluting flaring systems to economic inefficiencies that have driven several companies that explored Eagle Ford into bankruptcy. Today, we’ll explore what problems the Eagle Ford Shale presents, how climate change impacts the Gulf Coast of Texas, and how the region can move forward in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. With special guest Dr. Rabi Mohtar:  Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This episode is the third in our four-part series collaborating with the Gulf Climate Listening Project covering environmental issues on the Gulf Coast. If you are interested in learning about stopping LNG exports and creating a better future on the Gulf Coast, visit GulfCoastMurals.com.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Mo Polyak, Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Nicknamed “forever chemicals,” PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have spread all throughout our environment, and have been linked to a long list of health problems including cancer. But according to a new paper in Science, an industrial solvent called dimethyl sulfoxide can actually break down a subset of PFAS chemicals. Ethan breaks down how this solvent works, how much this solution could help combat the PFAS crisis, and what science enthusiasts can take away from this discovery in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Ysabel Wulfing

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

There have been a string of stunts recently with climate activists targeting artwork, from Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting to Monet’s “Grainstacks” painting to Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” painting last week. These protests have reinvigorated conversations about the “3.5% rule,” which suggests a movement needs only 3.5% of the population involved to be successful. Or, at least that’s what some climate activists have claimed. Ethan argues why the 3.5% rule might not be applicable to climate advocacy and why leading with the goal of inspiring as many people as possible could produce more success in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Madeleine Salman, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Ysabel Wulfing

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

People have always migrated due to changes in their environment, but as climate change has exacerbated droughts, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, crop failures, and more, increasing numbers of people are being forced to move rather than choosing it for themselves. Climate migration disproportionately affects many developing countries in the Global South, but is also increasingly prevalent within the United States after disasters such as the Camp Fire and major hurricanes. On Earth Day 2022, we take a look at this important human dimension of climate change and consider how we prepare for more climate migration in the future. With special guest Dr. Gregory White: Mary Huggins Gamble Professor of Government at Smith College.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Artificial intelligence is most often discussed in the environmental world as a sustainability solution capturing invasive starfish and detecting the sound of illegal loggers. But in addition to these exciting developments, AI has the potential to cause environmental problems and inhibit environmental progress. Today, we discuss a few of the many challenges AI poses for the environment, and consider where to go from here to make AI more of an environmental good and less of an environmental bad. With special guest Dr. Peter Dauvergne: Professor of International Relations at the University of British Columbia and author of “AI in the Wild: Sustainability in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

This week, we bring you our top environmental news headlines, and then sit down with The Sweaty Penguin’s Producers Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, and Caroline Koehl to share updates and reflections on Beef and Natural Gas Compressor Stations.

Monarch butterflies are a scientifically unique, economically valuable, and culturally significant species. But due to climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, and more, Monarchs are under threat. In fact, just a couple weeks ago, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature officially declared the Monarch butterfly an endangered species. Today, we explore why Monarch butterflies are important, how they’ve reached endangered status, and what we can do to save them. With special guest Dr. Karen Oberhauser: Director of the University of Madison-Wisconsin Arboretum.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Maddy Schmidt, Ysabel Wulfing, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Owen Reith

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Will Andronico

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In 1991, 78 percent of Americans identified as environmentalists. By 2021, it had dropped to 41 percent. Why, in the last few decades, has environmentalism experienced this steep decline in popularity? In the final deep dive of season 4, we consider some of the reasons why environmentalism might have rubbed people the wrong way and where the movement might go from here as it works to generate swift climate progress. With special guest Dr. Jenny Price: Research Fellow at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis and author of “Stop Saving the Planet: An Environmentalist Manifesto.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

As cute plants that survive on very little water, succulents are rapidly gaining popularity as houseplants. But despite their ability to live with minimal water and inhospitable conditions, many succulent species are actually threatened or endangered, facing challenges from climate change, habitat loss, and a global illegal trade market where rare succulents can be poached and sold for up to $1,000 per plant. This week, we discuss these threats to succulents, contemplate if casual plant parents need to be concerned or not, and consider where we go from here. With special guest Dr. Jared Margulies: Assistant Professor of Political Ecology at the University of Alabama.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Last week, 50,000 people in and around Sydney, Australia were ordered to evacuate their homes as eight months worth of rain hit the region in about four days. The magnitude of this flood prompted a TikTok conspiracy theory that the Australian government was controlling the weather via a process called cloud seeding. Ethan breaks down why cloud seeding can’t really drive a flood of this magnitude, how climate change played into the flood, and the significance of the fact that the general public is thinking about the weather in new (if inaccurate) ways in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maxwell Pociask, Naomi Rubin, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

A few months ago, The Guardian did a five-month investigation into “carbon bombs,” or fossil fuel projects that would, over the course of their life, emit over one billion tons of carbon. They found that there are 195 planned oil and gas carbon bombs around the world, and if they proceed as planned, these projects alone would blow past internationally agreed upon climate targets. For our third deep dive on carbon bombs, we take a look at the Rovuma Basin: a 64,000 square kilometer region primarily off the coast of northern Mozambique. The Rovuma Basin is home to a 30 billion dollar offshore liquefied natural gas project set to emit about a billion tons of carbon dioxide over the next three decades. In addition to the global climate impact, this project has damaged crucial surrounding ecosystems, displaced hundreds of families, and potentially worsened an armed insurgency that has been playing out in the region for years. And unfortunately, while local Mozambicans have had to endure these consequences, they have seen none of the jobs, money, or electricity resulting from this project. Today, we explore what is happening at the Rovuma Basin, how it has impacted the local community, and what a path forward might look like. With special guest Dr. Ruy Blanes: Associate Professor of Global Studies at the University of Gothenburg.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Owen Reith, Isabel Plower, Maxwell Pociask, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Sarika Sawant

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Believe it or not, “overpopulation” is not the cause of all the world’s environmental woes. Saying so would be to deny the notion that humans can live sustainably. But the idea that the world is overpopulated has gained a lot of traction regardless, and has led to some disastrous policy attempts around the world to limit population growth. This week, we explore where the idea of overpopulation came from, why it’s misguided and actually damaging, and what some more pertinent population dynamics might be. With special guest Dr. Jennifer Sciubba: Associate Professor of International Studies at Rhodes College and Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Hallie Cordingley, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Last weekend, the Inflation Reduction Act passed the Senate in a 51 to 50 vote. The bill would invest an estimated 369 billion dollars into climate change and energy security over the next ten years. Ethan breaks down what the bill aims to do and what climate change and inflation (in theory) have to do with each other in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano 

Ad Voiceover: Shannon Damiano

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Although most experts agree that carbon capture and storage strategies cannot combat climate change on their own, carbon capture absolutely has the potential to offset some of the “tough-to-get” emissions and possibly even make the world carbon negative. In order to achieve that potential though, each method of carbon capture has some challenges to overcome. Today, we break down ten methods of carbon capture, discuss the hurdles they face, and consider how they might improve. With special guest Wake Smith: Lecturer at Yale University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Learn more at solutionsjournalism.org.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Caroline Koehl, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Frank Hernandez

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water shortage emergency last week and ordered outdoor water usage be restricted to just one day a week for about 6 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties. From a policy perspective, the move may make sense. But when climate change clearly shows water availability in Southern California is only going to get worse, is framing the problem as an “emergency” giving false hope of a future day where the water shortage is over? Ethan reflects on why it may be less overwhelming to acknowledge the tough reality and put more emphasis on strategic, collaborative, money-saving water conservation solutions in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Frank Hernandez

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

The chocolate industry is under the control of three companies called the cocoa traders who essentially force the cocoa farmers in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana to sell their cocoa at ridiculously low prices. This setup pushes farmers into poverty, and many of them resort to illegal deforestation and child labor in order to grow enough cocoa to survive. And as climate change intensifies, the problems for these farmers only stand to worsen. Today, we explore what issues the chocolate industry faces, how climate change affects them, and why there’s absolutely reason to be optimistic that these problems can be fixed. With special guest Dr. Sophia Carodenuto: Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Victoria.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority in regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. How was this ruling decided, and what was its significance for future climate policy in the United States? Ethan walks through a history of some of the regulations and precedents that played into the West Virginia v. EPA and reflects on what comes next in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Shannon Damiano, Maxwell Pociask, Naomi Rubin, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Isabel Plower

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano

Ad Voiceover: Naomi Rubin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

As fibers like cotton and polyester became cheaper to procure, fast  fashion stores began creating items that appeared fashionable at a  fraction of the price. In doing so, they created a culture where people  buy a lot more clothes and wear them for much longer periods of time,  and that over-consumption has spurred countless environmental, economic,  and humanitarian problems. Today, we touch on a few of those problems,  and discuss where governments, companies, and individuals can make  improvements. With special guest Dr. Jennifer Le Zotte: Assistant Professor of U.S. History and Material Culture at the University of  North Carolina, Wilmington.

When organizations and governments create climate plans, they often contain the same phrase: carbon neutral. And carbon neutrality is a major piece of mitigating climate change. But carbon neutrality plans regularly fail to act quickly on more feasible short-term objectives, offset the amount of carbon they intend to, and actually count every single source of emissions. Today, we’ll discuss some of the issues associated with carbon neutrality, and how plans can sidestep them moving forward to create the most positive impact possible. With special guest Dennis Carlberg, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Earth & Environment and Associate Vice President of University Sustainability at Boston University.

This episode is part of a four-episode series made possible by the Sustainability Innovation Seed Grant from BU Sustainability and Innovate@BU.

We often think of lead paint as a problem of the past, but in reality, any house built before 1978 could have lead paint on the walls, and when they do, the health risks are enormous, especially for young children. We’ll discuss the environmental and health problems lead paint poses and consider ways to test for and abate lead in our homes. We’re joined by Frank Serpe (Boston University), Katherine Wright (Boston University), and Rick Reibstein: Lecturer at Boston University and Founder and Director of the Coalition for a Public Conversation on Lead.

This week, we bring you our top environmental news headlines, and then sit down with The Sweaty Penguin’s Producers Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, and Caroline Koehl to discuss some updates and clarifications on our Traffic, Lawn Pesticides, Yosemite National Park, and Lead Paint episodes, as well as how each issue has developed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Known for their monogamous relationships and male pregnancies, the seahorse was the Ocean Conservancy’s 2019 Father of the Year. But due to fishing for traditional medicine, curios, and aquariums, the ocean’s superdad is under threat, and climate change only stands to make matters worse. Today, we explore why seahorses are important, what factors have driven steep population declines in several seahorse species, and where we go from here. With special guest Dr. Sarah Krejci: Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Bethune-Cookman University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Isabel Plower, Shannon Damiano, Ethan Brown

Editor: Will Andronico

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

We often hear about light pollution preventing us from seeing the night sky, but it is responsible for so much more, from massive economic costs to catastrophic human health impacts to disrupting mating and migrations of birds, frogs, and insects to causing the deaths of baby sea turtles. Today, we break down why light pollution causes all these issues, and discuss some ideas for how to mitigate them. With special guest Dr. Douglas Arion: Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Donald D. Hedberg Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Carthage College.

As Hurricanes Idalia and Lee hit Florida and ocean temperatures reach record highs across the world, there's much reason to be concerned about the state of our oceans. Unfortunately, some in the media took this sentiment way too far. A few weeks ago, several news outlets published stories with headlines saying the Gulf Stream could collapse as soon as 2025, sparking global climate chaos. The study they reference found that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) — not the Gulf Stream — could collapse sometime in the next century, with error bars spanning from 2025 to 2095. Moreover, this was one study, far from scientific consensus. An AMOC collapse would be very bad, but it is extremely unlikely to happen in two years. Ethan breaks down the current state of our oceans, the difference between the Gulf Stream and AMOC, and why this mixup damages the public’s understanding of climate change in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Emma Quarequio

Fact Checker: Aana Shenai

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Emma Quarequio

Music: Brett Sawka

For many living on or by mountains, cliffs, or other slopes, landslides pose a huge risk. The ground itself can come crashing down or slip out from under you. Globally, landslides kill thousands of people per year and rack up costs in the billions. And while they are a natural phenomenon, human activities like deforestation, mining, and climate change could make them more frequent. Today, we discuss why landslides happen, how we’ve exacerbated them, and how we can both mitigate them and prepare for them in the future. With special guest Dr. Žiga Malek: Assistant Professor in Land Use and Ecosystem Dynamics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

In 1962, Rachel Carson published the famous book “Silent Spring,” which explored the impacts of the pesticide DDT on the environment and human health and catalyzed a movement that led to the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act, establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the ban of DDT in the U.S. in 1972. But DDT is still poses problems today: all the DDT we used to spray still persists in the environment, and some parts of the world still need to use DDT to control malaria and don’t yet have a viable alternative. Today, we discuss why we’ve used DDT, what impacts it’s had, and how we might improve. With special guest Dr. Jessica Templeton: Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science at the London School of Economics.

Certifications such as organic and fair trade are great ways to quickly inform consumers that a product they want to buy was made at a high environmental and ethical standard and give producers meeting those standards an edge in the market… that is, if the certifications use proper, well-enforced criteria, producers can actually obtain the certification, and consumers actually know what the labels mean. Today, we break down some of the challenges facing certification schemes, as well as some specific issues with organic and fair trade, and ponder how these programs could improve. With special guest Dr. Graeme Auld: Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University in Canada and author of “Constructing Private Governance: The Rise and Evolution of Forest, Coffee, and Fisheries Certification.”

Following last year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, The Guardian did a five-month investigation piecing together as clear a picture as possible of planned future oil and gas exploration and production. They found that the world’s biggest fossil fuel firms are quietly planning 195 projects nicknamed carbon bombs, due to the fact that they would emit over a billion tons of carbon from start to finish. If they proceeded as planned, these 195 projects together would produce 646 billion tons of carbon emissions and make global climate targets all but impossible to achieve. Ethan breaks down The Guardian’s report, discusses why the economic interests of oil and gas companies aren’t aligned with those of the overall economy, and considers what comes next in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

**Correction: In the "Ask Me Anything" segment, Ethan mistakenly says that to have a 50:50 chance of containing global warming to 2°C, the world would be able to emit 1.5 trillion tons of carbon. The correct figure is 1.35 trillion tons.**

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maxwell Pociask, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez

Ad Voiceover: Lindsay Cronin

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Even before the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow started, many in the environmental movement were ready to call it a failure, feeling world leaders would just spend the two weeks making empty promises. But while frustration about climate change to this point is warranted, is COP26 the right outlet? In The Sweaty Penguin’s first ever edition of “Tip of the Iceberg,” Ethan breaks down some of the challenges facing global environmental governance and considers why COP26 may be meaningful even if the resulting pledges and treaties don’t seem groundbreaking.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin. Get your environmental questions featured on “Tip of the Iceberg” by contacting us on Patreon, email, or social media. Questions from patrons move to the front of the line!

Last Wednesday, nineteen states announced that they had subpoenaed JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs, asking for documents relating to the companies’ involvement with the UN Net-Zero Banking Alliance. These states felt it was against their best interests for these banks to blackball the fossil fuel industry, going so far as to call the banks “corporate activists.” But after doing some digging, it appears these companies are far from “corporate activists,” ranking number 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, and 14 in the world in fossil fuel financing. Ethan argues why the banks’ decision to join the NZBA was more a financial decision than a political one, and how this subpoena has already caused damage to the global banking community’s climate ambitions in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Maddy Schmidt

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Solar energy is clean, cheap, renewable, and surprisingly land-efficient, making it a really exciting technology to scale up. But to do that as effectively as possible, solar has some challenges to confront, from human rights and geopolitical dilemmas in the manufacturing process to siting challenges to the fact that people’s electricity use spikes in the evening when the Sun isn’t shining. Today, we consider the potential of solar power to improve the climate and energy sector overall, contemplate some of the challenges in the supply chain, and consider how solar can achieve its full potential. With special guest Dr. Dustin Mulvaney, Professor of Environmental Studies at San José State University.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems. Learn more at solutionsjournalism.org.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Caroline Koehl, Maddy Schmidt, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Frank Hernandez

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Frank Hernandez, Dain Kim, Caroline Koehl

Ad Voiceover: Robert Branning

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

In addition to being a tasty appetizer, oysters produce $186 million dollars and supports 1.7 million jobs in the U.S. each year. They’re also essential role players in the global nitrogen and carbon cycles, making them building blocks for life on earth. Unfortunately, climate change and other human activities have posed some serious threats to these important mollusks. Today, we explore why oysters matter, what challenges they face, and how we can best conserve them moving forward. With special guest Dr. Wally Fulweiler: Professor of Earth & Environment and Biology at Boston University.

Now more than ever, The Sweaty Penguin needs your help to continue! Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Dare Fitzpatrick, Maddie Salman, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Mikaela Gonzalez

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Megan Antone

Ad Voiceover: Mo Polyak

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

This week, the United States blocked all future oil and gas exploration in our Arctic Ocean, and blocked leases on more than half of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, a massive step in reducing potential future carbon emissions from the world’s second-highest emitting country. But unfortunately, that huge news has been all but ignored, as it was accompanied by a scaled-down approval of Willow: a drilling project in Alaska’s North Slope by ConocoPhillips. Though Willow was unanimously supported by Alaskan government officials in both parties and supported by a majority of neighboring Indigenous communities, activists and TikTokers in the Lower 48 fiercely opposed the development, amassing over 3.7 million signatures on a Change.org petition urging the government to block the project. Ethan discusses the problems with Willow, the reasons locals support the project, the importance of listening to local communities, and the massively underreported climate wins that accompanied Willow in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writer: Ethan Brown, Velina Georgi, Mo Polyak, Madeleine Salman

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Olivia Amitay, Ethan Brown, Hallie Cordingley, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Velina Georgi

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

As one of the world’s largest international organizations, the World Bank’s economic development activities have far reaching implications for the environment. Of course, the World Bank has done plenty to help the environment, but they also fund projects that contribute to fossil fuel growth, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, all while preaching a steadfast commitment to climate change mitigation and sustainable development. Today, we go over what the World Bank is, why some of their work has led to environmental problems, and how they can improve moving forward. With special guest Dr. Teresa Kramarz: Associate Professor of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and author of Forgotten Values: The World Bank and Environmental Partnerships.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from PBS flagship station The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

Whether it’s for heat, cooking, or electricity, most Americans use natural gas regularly. But before arriving at your home, natural gas traveling through a long pipeline enters a compressor station, and compressor stations release greenhouse gases, neurotoxins, carcinogens, and an absurd amount of noise. To make matters worse, compressor stations are disproportionately built in low income and minority communities, causing devastating economic and health impacts. Today, we break down what compressor stations are, why they’re harmful, and some ideas to both regulate them and make them obsolete. We’re joined by Nell Curtin (Boston University), Jack Kelly (Northeastern University), and special guest Dr. Nathan Phillips: Earth & Environment Professor at Boston University and Acting Director of BU’s Sustainable Neighborhood Lab.

Plastic bags have been a surprisingly hot topic in the environmental world, with eight states having gone so far as to enact single-use plastic bag bans. Plastic bags do present issues across their supply chain from climate, health, and justice concerns in the manufacturing process to pollution and biodiversity concerns after their disposal. But are bans or paper bags or tote bags actually viable solutions? Today, we explore what issues plastic bags create, why many proposed solutions have major shortcomings, and some lesser known possibilities for how our grocery bag use could become more sustainable. With special guest Dr. Rebecca Taylor: Senior Lecturer of Economics at the University of Sydney.

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Sarika Sawant, Ethan Brown

Fact Checker: Hallie Cordingley

Editor: Megan Antone, Trevor Snow

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Megan Antone

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.

Next Tuesday, October 18th marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. What’s its anniversary present? A 15 year long legal battle that is now being decided in the Supreme Court. The case in question is called Sackett v. EPA, and it concerns whether or not Chantell and Michael Sackett were allowed to build a home on a wetland in Idaho, or if they first needed a permit under the Clean Water Act. Many observers predicted the Supreme Court would definitively rule against the EPA in this case, but after oral arguments on October 3, the outcome may turn out to be more nuanced. Ethan breaks down the history of Sackett v. EPA and the key takeaways from oral arguments in this week’s “Tip of the Iceberg.”

The Sweaty Penguin is presented by Peril and Promise: a public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York, reporting on the issues and solutions around climate change. You can learn more at pbs.org/perilandpromise.

Support the show and unlock exclusive merch, bonus content, and more for as little as $5/month at patreon.com/thesweatypenguin.

CREDITS

Writers: Ethan Brown, Maddy Schmidt

Fact Checker: Megan Crimmins

Editor: Megan Antone

Producers: Ethan Brown, Megan Crimmins, Shannon Damiano, Maddy Schmidt

Ad Voiceover: Sabrina Rollings

Music: Brett Sawka

The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Peril and Promise or The WNET Group.