The Planet Today

Matt and Nick talk about a potentially fungus spreading in the US ( ‘Very disturbing’: What to know about the potentially deadly fungus spreading in the US | The Hill ) And penguins given cataract surgery for the first time in Singapore ( Singapore: The penguins given world-first cataract surgery - BBC News )! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Kitcaster with a special offer...

Matt and Nick talk about President Biden’s veto and its impact on ESG funds ( Biden used first veto to save a 401(k) investment rule. Here's what it does ( msn.com ) ), Pure DDT found off the coast of Los Angeles ( Scientists uncover startling concentrations of pure DDT along seafloor off L.A. coast ( yahoo.com ) ), UK lawyers say they won’t prosecute peaceful climate protestors ( Top lawyers defy...

Matt and Nick talk about the EPA’s move to limit PFAS in drinking water for the first time ever ( EPA To Limit PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' in Drinking Water | Time ),Earth projected to reach a critical climate threshold within the next decade unless immediate action taken ( World on 'thin ice' as UN climate report gives stark warning | AP News ),The Green Climate Fund approving financing for Herencia...

Matt interviews Dr. Ruth Backstrom . Ruth is an accomplished author, speaker, and educator who is an expert in facilitation methods that foster deeper conversations. She is a trained coach in the Dynamic Facilitation technique, a method designed to help people address and solve impossible-seeming issues through collaboration. Her book, Igniting a Bold New Democracy: Empowering Citizens Through Gam...

Happy birthday to Nick! Matt and Nick talk about President Biden approving the Willow Project ( Willow Project: Biden administration approves Alaska oil project - CNNPolitics ), President Biden closing the Arctic to oil drilling after the Willow Project ( Biden closes Arctic to oil — after Willow - E&E News ( eenews.net ) ), A vaccine for bees ( Vaccine could save billions of bees from deadly...

Matt and Nick talk about the UN treaty to protect the high seas ( Nations reach accord to protect marine life on high seas | AP News ), The environmental harm caused by Boreal forest fires ( Record-Breaking Boreal Fires May Be a Climate 'Time Bomb' - Scientific American , Big Oil’s weak attempts at net-zero emissions are not working so far ( Big Oil gets failing grade on credible net-zero promises...

Matt and Nick talk about REI’s move to phase out PFAS, a.k.a. forever chemicals, from the products they sell ( KUOW - REI to stop selling clothes, cookware with 'forever chemicals' ) And whales washing up on the Atlantic Coast is fueling misinformation from opponents ( Dead whales on east coast fuel misinformation about offshore wind development : NPR )! Make sure to check out our sponsor for toda...

Matt and Nick talk about Amazon deforestation setting a February record in Brazil ( Worst-ever February rainforest data for Brazilian Amazon ( phys.org ) ), Rio Verde Foothills, Arizona being cut off from its water supply ( A suburb in Arizona lost its source of water. Residents warn: We're only the beginning | CBC News ), The animal death toll due to Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in Ohio (...

We would encourage everyone who is financially able to donate to look into Doctors Without Borders or another charitable aid program assisting the survivors of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Matt and Nick talk about David Malpass resigning as head of the World Bank ( Factbox: Who could replace World Bank President David Malpass? | Reuters /), Global fossil fuel subsidies reached $1 trillion...

For the second time on TPT, Matt interviews James Leitner, the Founder and Executive Director of Mission Clean Water. Their first episode first interview aired on May 23, 2022. James recently returned from a trip to Uganda, where Mission Clean Water has installed clean water wells and engaged the local community to ensure continued success in clean water accessibility. Mission Clean Water aims to...

Matt and Nick talk about the earthquake in Turkey and Syria and how climate change is causing more earthquakes ( Climate change is triggering more earthquakes. Big Oil's interests are a factor ( msn.com ) ), A train derailment in Ohio has led to hydrochloric acid raining onto people ( Ohio train derailment: environmental disaster quietly unfolding ( fastcompany.com ) ), Danish wind company Vestas...

Matt and Nick talk about the Biden Administration’s endorsement of the Willow project ( Biden administration recommends major Alaska oil project ( nbcnews.com ) ), Monarch butterflies numbers increased slightly last year but fell short of five year goal ( Latest Count of Western Monarch Butterfly Highlights Steep Toll of Climate-Fueled Disasters ( nwf.org ) ), Hawaii’s push to ban plastic water bo...

Matt and Nick talk about greener playgrounds in New York City ( An Overlooked Climate Solution? Greener Playgrounds ( citylimits.org ) ) And Texas Republicans continuing to push natural gas in the face of growing renewables ( Renewables are growing on the Texas power grid. Republicans want more natural gas. - Vox )! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode at Kitcaster with a special...

Yesterday was Matt's birthday so share this episode with a friend to wish him a happy birthday! Matt and Nick talk about a new study showing new renewable energy facilities are cheaper than maintaining coal ( US renewable energy farms outstrip 99% of coal plants economically – study | US news | The Guardian ), Oak trees dying rapidly in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland ( Oaks are dying at reco...

Matt and Nick talk about the indoor air pollution problem from gas stoves ( Are gas stoves really dangerous? What we know about the science | Air pollution | The Guardian ), No Indian Rhinos poached in 2022 ( A Conservation Success As Zero Indian Rhinos Were Poached In 2022 Making It The First Time In 45 Years - World Animal News ), UCLA working towards better climate modeling ( UCLA Researcher De...

Matt interviews Graham Hill, the founder and CEO of The Carbonauts , a company that teaches people how to reduce their carbon footprints in under six weeks while saving money and influencing others. Their clients include giant companies like Amazon, Chanel, News Corp, Toyota, AT&T, Warner Brothers, Discovery, Netflix, Dow Jones, and HarperCollins, whose employees have taken their online course...

Matt and Nick talk about Exxon accurately predicting what would happen to the global climate decades ago ( Exxon scientists accurately predicted global warming from burning fossil fuels. : NPR ), COP28’s president - Sultan Al Jaber of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ( UAE appoints oil company boss as president of the COP28 climate conference, alarming climate groups | CNN ), 2023 is going to be...

Matt interviews Samantha Zwicker, founder of Hoja Nueva , a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Peru that combats wildlife trafficking, rescuing and rewilding key species and runs a first-of-its-kind ecological research station and education in the Madre de Dios region. Samantha is a PhD candidate who has turned her love of animals into a meaningful career and has spent the past seven yea...

Matt and Nick talk about the Biden Administration's push to reduce emissions from soot ( Biden Administration Moves to Tighten Limits on Deadly Air Pollution - The New York Times ( nytimes.com ) ), The EU’s ban on goods linked to deforestation ( EU ban on deforestation-linked goods sets benchmark, say US lawmakers | Deforestation | The Guardian ), Major flooding in Australia and California ( Austr...

Matt and Nick talk about the Guardian’s list of the top conservation issues for 2023 ( Harvesting human pee and DIY fertiliser: top conservation issues in 2023 | Conservation | The Guardian ) And how green spaces can impact immune systems in children ( Daycares in Finland Built a 'Forest', And It Changed Kids' Immune Systems : ScienceAlert )! Make sure to check out our sponsor for today’s episode...

The boys are back after their Holiday break! Matt and Nick talk about the COP15 Biodiversity Conservation Plan ( COP15 Biodiversity Talks: Countries Sign On to “30x30” Conservation Plan - The New York Times ( nytimes.com ) ), More wetlands, lakes, and rivers to qualify for federal protections in the US ( EPA issues new rule to strengthen water protections in the U.S. ( nbcnews.com ) ), Germany and...

Matt talks about three interviews that meant a lot to him this year. He introduces each one and why it stood out to him, then plays the answer to his first question for each interview: “what got you first interested in environmentalism and sustainability?” Links to each full interview below: September 19: Hal Harvey (Energy Innovation) and Justin Gillis (New York Times) August 8: @SustainablyMaija...

Matt talks about three interviews that meant a lot to him this year. He introduces each one and why it stood out to him, then plays the answer to his first question for each interview: “what got you first interested in environmentalism and sustainability?” Links to each full interview below: February 21: Sandy Gibson (Better Place Forests) May 23: James Leitner (Mission Clean Water) November 28: M...

Matt is joined by recurring guest co-host Dan Walsh for the final quick hits episode of 2022. Matt and Dan discuss The Lightyear 0 solar car ( Dutch startup begins production of world’s first solar car ( gulfbusiness.com ) ), A major fusion energy development in the US ( US scientists boost clean power hopes with fusion energy breakthrough | Financial Times ( ft.com ) ), How bacteria can help make...

Matt interviews Graham Stewart , an international textile and apparel production fiber to brand specialist. For the past two years, Graham has developed and patented a more sustainable process to bleach and dye cotton. Fibre52 is environmentally- and cost-conscious processing for cotton that can impact global cotton production. It can replace traditional and outdated cotton preparation methods in...