People, Planet, Progress

Today's show, we revisit the topic of Pioneer Community Energy, and we also revisit the Nevada County Energy Action Plan. -- For questions, comments, or links to news we read, please email climatereport@kvmr.org Feel free to visit The Climate Report Facebook social media page for daily news headlines in between shows. Host Martin Webb also offers a casual weekly video podcast every Wed at 5:30pm o...

The Climate Report for 12/5/23 starts off talking about next year’s anticipated large utility rate hike for PGE customers, as a result of undergrounding power lines in high fire threat areas, plus we mention a letter written to humanity by almost 1,500 climate scientists, pleading with the public to begin taking action in light of decades of political failures. Then we revisit how important person...

The Climate Report for 11/21/23 features useful tips for listeners. We talk about various utility rate plans and their benefits, plus mention a handy one-stop shop website for last years federal climate law. Then we revisit how our pet’s food can make a climate difference, and close with a quick list of ways to reduce water use. -- For questions, comments, or links to news we read, please email cl...

The Climate Report for 11/7/23 features an interview with Gina Stassi-Vanacore, the Director of Public Affairs, Marketing & Programs at Pioneer Community Energy, a new Community Choice Aggregation provider of electricity for Nevada City and Grass Valley. We talk about what exactly is a Community Choice Aggregator, and what it means for Pioneer to begin serving select areas of Nevada County. --...

The Climate Report for 10/26/23 covers some old ground regarding basic myths and misperceptions of electric vehicles. Then we talk about a series of records that were just set by EVs, before wrapping up with some history on how prevalent EVs were in the US over 100 years ago. We remind listeners that this is our last show at the old Thursday time slot, as we move in November to the 1st and 3rd Tue...

The Climate Report for 9/28/23 covers the latest climate headlines, as well as some of the climate-related impacts of the looming federal government shutdown. Then, we close with a recent article on what the climate is telling us through our insurance companies. Tune in every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:30-7pm following the KVMR News, and visit The Climate Report social media page for daily news h...

The Climate Report for 9/14/23 covers some of the latest ground breaking laws being passed in CA, as well as new research on our planetary boundaries. Then, we cover highlights on latest headlines, including $1 billion worth of trees being planted around the country and global fossil fuel support from the U.S. We close with ways to access new federal rebates for home efficiency and electrification...

The Climate Report for 8/24/23 covers some of the local nonprofit groups and organizations acting on climate change locally, as well as a couple of the lesser-known rate plans available to PG&E electric customers, as a way to save money during the summer months. Then, we close with a longer piece published by The Guardian back in June about how one small rural county - literally caught in the...

The Climate Report for 8/10/23 covers the latest news on our global carbon budget, plus fungus as a climate sink, China, CA insurance woes, PG&E, and pets. Then, as a way to help listeners make a difference, we close by touching on the new Energy Savings Hub, a one stop website released by the Dept of Energy that allows property owners, renters, and vehicle drivers to quickly figure out what f...

The Climate Report for 7/27/23 covers the latest news, info and opinions about climate doomism, pumped water storage, climate financing and solar activity around the world, volcanoes and green energy, and how tall to make a commercial building if you want it to be 100% solar-powered. Then we close with an inspiring story about how a group of indigenous women in Long Island, New York partnered with...

The Climate Report for 6/22/23 covers the latest science on carbon emissions, tipping points, AI, and e-bike batteries. Then we close with more information on how what we eat can drastically affect climate change, as well as the data around whether or not eating local makes a climate impact. Tune in every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:30-7pm following the KVMR News, and visit The Climate Report soci...

The Climate Report for 6/8/23 covers as many headlines as we can in our last show for spring 2023. From EVs to solar to tax credits to farming to food, and from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times to the Guardian, we run through a lightning round of all the latest news. Tune in every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:30-7pm following the KVMR News, and visit The Climate Report social media pag...

The Climate Report for 5/11/23 covers the complicated subject of EVs. From fast adoption rates statewide in CA, to the world’s first delivery of Tesla EV semi trucks to Sacramento, to the comparison of EVs to gas cars, we discuss some of the latest research, including the challenge of mining for the minerals required for EVs. Tune in every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:30-7pm following the KVMR News...

The Climate Report for 4/27/23 covers a few related subjects. First we cover opportunities to take personal action, whether it’s exploring green energy rate plans, or career openings with climate fellowships at the state and local level. Next we cover the news about our warming oceans and the recent record setting pace of warming, along with the impacts to marine life. Then we talk about current u...

The Climate Report for 4/13/23 features a couple of interesting interviews in full. We recently sat down and interviewed two inspiring local women. First was Christine Newsome, co-president of Nevada City Rotary and member of the Nevada County chapter of Climate Action Now, about a unique and relatively new local event that recycles lithium, cobalt, and other minerals found in home gadgets. And th...

The Climate Report for 3/23/23 puts a focus on the recently released final report being issued this decade from the worlds largest and leading body on climate change, the IPCC. We read two different news reports and ask listeners to guess which news outlet wrote them, CNN or Fox News. And then we talk about “how to talk about” the IPCC report and climate change in general, which is what research s...

The Climate Report for 3/9/23 revisits a report from four months ago on research showing the importance of community social connections during extreme weather and climate calamities. We also talk about the latest science behind the disappearing forests of the Sierra Nevada, leaving behind what are called “zombie forests.” We start off by interviewing a local retired minister who is spearheading ou...

The Climate Report for 2/23/23 revisits our recent special report for the KVMR Evening News. We talk about the significant new changes expected to alter the economics of solar here in CA as a result of a new major rule change at the state Utilities Commission. We also interview three local solar companies and ask them the same four questions: - what just happened at the CPUC - how does it affect h...

The Climate Report for 2/9/23 shines a light on the statewide effort to transition to a new climate-friendly economy. We talk about both the new ground-breaking statewide policies enacted just this last December, as well as the political whiplash that happened one month later, as a result of disappointing budget cuts proposed to those same programs announced by the Governor only four weeks later i...

The Climate Report for 1/26/23 shines a light on the worldwide efforts to transition to a new climate-friendly economy. We talk about all the venture capital pouring into the climate sector and the diversity of approaches they fund, as well as all the new jobs and careers opening up, including an article on the Climate Quitters who are quitting careers to switch to a climate-active job. Tune in ev...

The Climate Report for 1/12/23 is the first show of the year, so we recap some more of the research and Good News that happened in 2022 for the climate, the environment, and energy. We also talk about new studies that show the importance of menu labeling for climate-smart food choices. Tune in every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:30-7pm following the KVMR News, and visit The Climate Report social med...

The Climate Report for 12/22/22 is the final show of the year, so we recap some of the Good News that happened in 2022 for the climate, the environment, and energy. We also talk about new studies that show the importance of neighborhoods, both how they’re designed and how people connect in them, in the fight against climate change. Tune in every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:30-7pm following the KVM...

The Climate Report for 12/8/22 is the fifth and final show of a multi-part special series on a just-released ground breaking new report on the Sierra Nevada region and the impacts of climate change. The first ever comprehensive and scientifically-backed “Sierra Nevada Regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment” was recently released, and it’s a multi-year effort by the Sierra Climate Adaptation and...

The Climate Report for 11/10/22 is the fourth of a multi-part special series on a just-released ground breaking new report on the Sierra Nevada region and the impacts of climate change. The first ever comprehensive and scientifically-backed “Sierra Nevada Regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment” was recently released, and it’s a multi-year effort by the Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation P...

The Climate Report for 10/27/22 is the third of a multi-part special series on a just-released ground breaking new report on the Sierra Nevada region and the impacts of climate change. The first ever comprehensive and scientifically-backed “Sierra Nevada Regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment” was recently released, and it’s a multi-year effort by the Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Pa...