The Climate Dispatch

Last episode, we explored the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, a beautiful and vital ecosystem that provides drinking water for 27 million people, supports millions of acres of farmland, and offers essential habitat for countless species. But when the Delta’s waters are overtaxed, the consequences ripple outward: flow declines, water quality worsens, habitat is lost, and farmland is put at risk...

In this episode, we journey to California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, a sprawling estuary that provides drinking water to 27 million people, supports millions of acres of farmland, and serves as a critical habitat for hundreds of species. Despite its importance, most Californians know little about the Delta or the challenges it faces. With staff members from the Restore the Delta campaig...

In this episode we sit down with Don Jolley, a middle school teacher in Point Reyes, CA, who leads community stargazing gatherings to discuss the importance of connecting to the night sky. As light pollution from human developments increases, we learn about what could be lost as with every light that shines in the night, the starry sky above becomes ever more eclipsed. We also sit down with Sierra...

In this episode, we’re joined by Amy Bowers Cordalis of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group to talk about the largest dam removal project in U.S. history along the Klamath River. We explore the long fight to remove four hydroelectric dams, the environmental and cultural impacts they’ve had on the river, and what it has taken legally, spiritually, and collectively, to get to this mo...

Can cities function like living systems? What would it take to get us there? In this episode, we dig into the hidden logic behind how cities are built and why so many of them feel fundamentally disconnected from the land they occupy. We explore how the rise of fossil fuel-powered development has shaped urban environments that prioritize speed, scale, and profit over resilience and community.  Join...

Listen in as we discuss the legacy and controversy surrounding the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), one of the state’s most influential environmental laws. For more than five decades, CEQA has helped safeguard California’s air, water, wildlife, and communities by requiring governments to carefully assess environmental impacts before approving major projects. It’s been a powerful tool f...

Migration has always been a part of life, whether you’re a butterfly, a whale, or a human being. But as the climate crisis accelerates, more and more people are being forced to leave their homes and even their countries in its wake. Wildfires and floods displace entire communities. Shifting ecosystems destabilize local economies. Dwindling resources fuel conflict and violence. So how do we respond...

As this season of  The Climate Dispatch  draws to a close, we turn towards the future. Change starts by harnessing the power of our collective imagination — what could a greener future look like 20, 50, 100 years from now? Through on-the-ground organizing, advocating for policy change, and even exploring climate fiction, there are many ways to envision a healthier path for both people and the plan...

When you think of the term 'methane gas', you may not immediately think of cosy modern homes and sleek kitchens. But decades of clever marketing by the gas industry has firmly cemented the notion that 'natural gas' or 'freedom gas', as it's otherwise known, is a desirable domestic resource — despite emitting toxic pollutants into our daily lives. In this episode we dig...

While US National Parks are — for many — a symbol of people's connection to nature, many would be surprised to learn how the Parks' history and that of the wider conservation movement have often had their origins in racism, discrimination, and land grabbing from Indigenous groups. Today, the barriers to accessing public green spaces echo a history of exclusion for BIPOC communities. In this episod...

This week, we delve into how a city like Los Angeles  –  famous for its reliance on cars  –  could be better built to serve its people, while promoting a healthier environment for all. While modern LA is a spider web of freeways and smoggy skies, it wasn't always this way, so how have we ended up here? In this episode, we learn about LA's transit history, which communities are historically harmed...

How many oil wells lurk throughout the communities of Los Angeles? In a city renowned for blue skies and clean living, many would be shocked to learn it's in the thousands. Beneath its starry exterior, Los Angeles has a historic legacy of oil production that continues to this day. In this episode, we hear first hand how the toxic impact of oil drilling is having lifelong effects on community healt...

In part two of our deep dive into LA’s relationship to water, we turn to the solutions right on our doorstep. As climate change increasingly impacts on water sources, the issues of land management and water conservation are more important than ever. From returning landscapes to indigenous sovereignty to improved infrastructure for harnessing stormwater, solutions to the water crisis do exist. In t...

What’s the story behind the concrete channel running through our city? If Los Angeles doesn’t rely on its own river for water, where does it come from? The truth is, LA imports around 80% of its water supply — a practice that has caused severe ecological damage in regions hundreds of miles away and deeply impacted Indigenous communities, whose lands were drained to meet the city’s needs. In this e...

After the devastating LA fires, it is clear that climate disasters will continue to become more frequent and destructive - and are no longer a distant threat. This episode looks at the history and impact of wildfires in California and the changing landscape of extreme weather events in the climate crisis, plus the importance of community building for emotional resilience. Guests: Nina Knierim, COR...

Have you ever wondered exactly where your water comes from? What it means to break up with fossil fuels? Or what 2100 could even look like?   The Climate Dispatch is a new podcast from the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter and Stranded Astronaut, that tackles these questions and much more. From oil drilling, water conservation, and transportation - to energy, climate anxiety, and wildfires, we take a de...