Shows
Bridging the Carbon GapSam Stephenson: the goal of a Cambridge PhDDr. Sam Stephenson has just completed his PhD in Energy, Climate, and Net Zero Policy in the Department of Engineering, Cambridge University.In this episode, Sam describes a benchmark report from the UK government-funded research group he worked with at Cambridge University, known as UK FIRES. The report, Absolute Zero, and others from UK FIRES can be downloaded here. Absolute Zero has been downloaded 175,000 times since it was published in 2019. The top line finding in the report is that in order to decarbonize, the UK should begin to reduce energy demand to 60% of the current u...
2025-08-121h 08
Bridging the Carbon GapPete Sikora on how to make activism workPete Sikora is the Climate & Inequality Campaigns Director at New York Communities for Change (NYCC).Before a big mayoral election in New York City, Pete sat down to talk with high school students Helena Rambler, David Case, and Pierce Siegel in Cobble Hill Park on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Pete explains NYCC's endorsement of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, based on Mamdani's platform for working class New Yorkers and his help in a successful campaign to stop a fracked gas power plant in Astoria, which means less air pollution and fewer cases of asthma for Mamdani's A...
2025-06-1741 min
Bridging the Carbon GapEllie Johnston on Climate Interactive and climate impacts in her hometown of Asheville, NCEllie Johnston is the Director of Programs at Climate Interactive, an organization that builds online simulators to let anyone test out the most effective strategies to limit climate change.Johnston also happens to live in Asheville, North Carolina, a city that bore the full brunt of flooding from Hurricane Helene in late September, 2024. In our interview, which took place two months after the storm, she describes her first hand experience with the most destructive hurricane to strike the US since Katrina in 2005. Many people lost their lives, many homes were washed away, and there was no functioning...
2025-03-3056 min
Bridging the Carbon GapAdam Aron: psychological insights for building the climate movementHelena Rambler, a high school junior, and Adam Aron, a professor of psychology at the University of California San Diego, discuss the emotional challenges of addressing climate change. Adam shares his journey from his rise in the field of cognitive neuroscience, to his growing concern about climate change, and then to his surprising career switch to learn, and teach, what makes movements effective. He emphasizes the importance of collective action, social obligation, and the need for high school curricula to address climate change as a political and social issue. Aron's class at UCSD incorporates collective action projects, a...
2025-03-0844 min
Bridging the Carbon GapGail Whiteman: how to explain climate impacts as a risk to what we loveGail Whiteman is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School, and a social science expert on how decision-makers make sense of systemic global risks from climate change and other environmental threats. Since 2012, Whiteman is the Professor-in-Residence at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and is actively involved in building science-based targets for collective business action. She is a past member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Frontier Risk, keynote speaker at Davos in 2023, “Unlocking the Polar Crisis” with HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, and in 2020, “What’s at Stake: T...
2025-02-1742 min
Bridging the Carbon GapMariana of Climáximo: the importance of emotions, how to face the truth, and climate as contextMariana is an organizer with Climáximo, a climate justice direct action group in Portugal. Cindy Ye and Adeline Sauberli, seniors at Stuyvesant High School, and Helena Rambler, a junior at Hunter College High School, spoke to Mariana on November 17, 2024: after the US election which brought Trump back into the White House, and before the fires in Los Angeles.Mariana describes the anxiety about climate change among young people in Portugal, the short window of time for phasing out fossil fuels, and the need for alternative paths to prevent climate collapse. She highlights the importance of...
2025-02-021h 02
Bridging the Carbon GapCarolyn McGrath and Kate Schapira: An Educator's Guide to Climate EmotionsCarolyn McGrath and Kate Schapira co-authored An Educator's Guide to Climate Emotions, a project from the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America."The human-driven processes and impacts of climate change are disrupting young people’s lives and are putting their homes, institutions, and physical and mental health at risk. While young people may not always talk about these experiences in school or act outwardly distressed, their feelings about climate change are still making their way into the classroom. What can educators do to help young people navigate these difficult emotions?"David Case, a senior at Hu...
2025-01-1450 min
Bridging the Carbon GapChristopher Shaw on the social transformation needed to solve climate changeDr. Christopher Shaw is an independent climate communications expert. Chris was previously Head of Research at Climate Outreach, where among the reports he worked on is the IPCC handbook for climate scientists on how to communicate effectively. Chris is also author of the book Liberalism and the Challenge of Climate Change. (London: Routledge 2023)From the publisher's website:"In this book Christopher Shaw analyses how liberalism has shaped our understanding of climate change and how liberalism is legitimated in the face of a crisis for which liberalism has no answers."...
2024-12-0147 min
Bridging the Carbon GapGianluca Grimalda on international travel without flight, and the impact of climate change on Pacific islandsDr. Gianluca Grimalda was fired by his employer, a German research institute, after refusing to travel by plane for his return from Papua New Guinea, where he was conducting research on the social impacts of climate change. To reduce his own carbon footprint Dr. Grimalda instead chose to make his way back to Germany by ferry and then overland, a trip that took 72 days, but saved 9/10ths of the emissions that he would have been responsible for by using air travel.In his journey he crossed many borders and met dozens of friendly traveling companions, and his...
2024-06-0148 min
Bridging the Carbon GapDrew Pendergrass: physicist, climate scientist, writer, activist, game developerWith Troy Vettese, Drew Pendergrass is the co-author of the book Half-Earth Socialism, which comes with a free online video game, play.half.earth.Pendergrass graduated summa cum laude from Harvard in 2020 with a BA in Physics and Mathematics and a minor in English, and is now doing his Ph.D in Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard's Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His research in atmospheric physics includes work on real time satellite tracking of pollutants."My work imagines how humanity can democratically govern itself in an age of environmental crisis. In...
2024-04-0843 min
Bridging the Carbon GapGaya Herrington: from working in finance to studying paths to global sustainabilityWhile working at the consulting firm KPMG, the econometrician Gaya Herrington undertook an update of the social and environmental projections in the 1972 MIT report "Limits to Growth."Her research formed her thesis for her Masters in Sustainability at Harvard, and then gained attention in the press after being published in 2020. In this episode, Gaya describes her path to studying sustainability and the solutions proposed in her free book, "Five Insights for Avoiding Global Collapse: What a 50-Year-Old Model of the World Taught Me About a Way Forward for Us Today." The abstract of...
2024-03-1948 min
Bridging the Carbon GapAlice Hu on becoming a full time climate activist after graduating from Columbia UniversityAlice Hu works with New York Communities for Change and has participated in several of their most visible actions, including storming the Hamptons with plastic pitchforks to call attention to the enormous carbon footprints and destructive investments of the billionaires that vacation there. Hu also joined with fellow protestors to visit a live broadcast of the morning show The View and interrupt Ted Cruz, to spotlight the lack of coverage of climate change on ABC.In this episode, Alice describes her path to becoming a full time climate activist after graduating from Columbia University.Hosts...
2023-08-2841 minBridging the Carbon GapJulien Dossier on climate politics in France and making a 14th c. fresco into a vision of sustainabilityJulien Dossier is an expert in climate policy and the co-author of the 2017 carbon neutrality plan for Paris. He founded Quattrolibri, a consulting firm that designs low carbon transition strategies for clients. His current project is a book and a program, Renaissance Ecologique, for which he created a modern version of a 14th century Italian fresco to give us a view of what an ecological Renaissance might look like. Nicolas Wu, Daniel Schneider, and Ajani Stella spoke to Julien on May 4, 2022, just a few weeks after the French presidential election. In re-presenting this interview, we've placed his answers i...
2023-03-1135 min
Bridging the Carbon GapRebecca Willis on solving climate change with more democracyRebecca Willis is a Professor in Energy & Climate Governance at Lancaster Environment Centre, where she leads the Climate Citizens project. In 2020 she was an Expert Lead for Climate Assembly UK, the Citizens’ Assembly established by the UK Parliament. Rebecca is a Trustee of the New Economics Foundation and an adviser to the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. She features on the Woman’s Hour Our Planet Power List which highlights 30 women making an impact by helping to protect our planet. Her book, Too Hot To Handle? The democratic challenge of climate change was published by Bristol University Press in March...
2023-03-1051 minBridging the Carbon GapJulien Dossier on climate politics in France and making a 14th c. fresco into a vision of sustainability [Season 2, Episode 3]Julien Dossier is an expert in climate policy and the co-author of the 2017 carbon neutrality plan for Paris. He founded Quattrolibri, a consulting firm that designs low carbon transition strategies for clients. His current project is a book and a program, Renaissance Ecologique, for which he created a modern version of a 14th century Italian fresco to give us a view of what an ecological Renaissance might look like. Nicolas Wu, Daniel Schneider, and Ajani Stella spoke to Julien on May 4, 2022, just a few weeks after the French presidential election. In re-presenting this interview, we've placed his answers i...
2023-03-1035 minBridging the Carbon GapJulien Dossier on climate politics in France, the Paris 2050 plan, and making an ecological renaissance [Season 2, Episode 2]Julien Dossier is an expert in climate policy and the co-author of the 2017 carbon neutrality plan for Paris. He founded Quattrolibri, a consulting firm that designs low carbon transition strategies for clients. His current project is a book and a program, Renaissance Ecologique, for which he created a modern version of a 14th century Italian fresco to give us a view of what an ecological Renaissance might look like. Nicolas Wu, Daniel Schneider, and Ajani Stella spoke to Julien on May 4, 2022, just a few weeks after the French presidential election. In re-presenting this interview, I've placed his answers i...
2023-02-1935 minBridging the Carbon GapStuart Capstick and the Center for Climate Change and Social TransformationsIn the first episode of the second season, Daniel Shneider and Ajani Stella, students at Hunter College High School in NYC, talk to Dr. Stuart Capstick, Deputy Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST Centre). Dr. Capstick researches public understanding of climate change, and the ways in which citizens’ involvement can lead to action. He co-leads a research theme with the CAST Centre focussed on real-world trials to inform low-carbon transformations; this work involves collaborations with NGOs, industry and the Welsh Government. He is a lead author of the UN Environment Programme 2020 ‘Emissions Gap’ report chapte...
2022-06-1949 minBridging the Carbon GapRo Randall on the psychology of climate change concern & actionIn this episode, we speak with Rosemary Randall, a British psychotherapist who researches how people respond emotionally to information about climate change. With Andy Brown, Randall developed the award winning Carbon Conversations project which uses a psychological, small-group approach to helping people reduce carbon emissions.Gabriel, Kevin, and Adam talk about their personal feelings about the climate crisis, and Ro explains how they may not have reached their “epiphany moment,” in which someone has a sudden realization, often triggered by an event, story, or piece of media, that causes people to realize, and face, the severity of clim...
2022-04-2252 minBridging the Carbon GapKim Nicholas on wine and climate change [Season 1, Episode 5]In this episode, we join Professor Kim Nicholas of Lund University's Centre for Sustainability Studies to talk about her work and experiences as a climate researcher and activist. Dr. Nicholas is an expert on high impact actions one can take to reduce one’s carbon footprint. We also talk to her about her earlier research on wine, as a Californian from Sonoma Valley with a Stanford PhD focused on climate and agriculture.Send us a text
2022-04-2225 minBridging the Carbon GapDavid Bookbinder on teaching climate change in high schools, and Massachusetts v. EPA [Season 1, Episode 6]In this episode, we speak with David Bookbinder of the Niskanen Center, who as Sierra Club's Chief Climate Counsel initiated Massachusetts v. EPA, the foundational climate law in the United States.We talk about how a climate change-focused high school curriculum could be built, shifting our attention away from specific degree targets, and instead thinking about how education can help change our carbon-intensive lifestyles and prepare students to adapt to a less stable climate. We also discuss the significance of Massachusetts v EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), a 2007 Supreme Court case which held (5-4) that the EPA had...
2022-04-2240 minBridging the Carbon GapWhen do rising temperatures pose a risk to us? Climate scientist Radley Horton on how extreme heat and humidity can combine to threaten human health [Season 1, Episode 2]In this episode, we speak to Dr. Radley Horton of Columbia University about the danger of high wet bulb temperatures, which happen when heat waves and high humidity combine . We go into the impact of rising temperatures on different geographical locations, and how increasing temperatures can impact people living in certain parts of the world. In addition, we touch on the problem that wealthy countries who contribute the most to environmental problems often have means to protect against the consequences. Thank you for listening to Bridging the Carbon Gap!Send us a text
2022-04-1421 minBridging the Carbon GapMeteorologists and Climate Change with Jeff Berardelli [Season 1, Episode 3]In this episode, we interview meteorologist Jeff Berardelli of CBS in New York City, who views himself as a teacher of climate change to viewers of the weather on TV. We talked about a story he did on the Dust Bowl, his knowledge about the California wildfires, and how climate change intersects with weather reporting. Thank you for listening to Bridging the Carbon Gap!Send us a text
2022-04-1415 minBridging the Carbon GapShipping, aviation research, and climate change with Alice Larkin [Season 1, Episode 4]In this episode, we speak with climate researcher Alice Larkin, Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy and Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester. Dr. Larkin describes her research on reducing the emissions from the vital sectors of shipping and aviation. We also learn about the wide-reaching social impact of discussing sustainability with peers. Thank you for listening to Bridging the Carbon Gap!Send us a text
2022-04-1427 minBridging the Carbon GapAarne Granlund's Personal Emission Reductions in North Karelia [Season 1, Episode 1]In the first episode of Bridging the Carbon Gap, we talk to Finnish climate activist Aarne Granlund about personal choices he has made to cut down his individual carbon emissions, from dramatic changes like moving from Helsinki to North Karelia, a region in which there is more concrete action addressing climate change, to smaller changes like being conscious about unnecessary driving. We discuss why Mr. Granlund made these choices, even though they will have little effect on total emissions: he has been able to talk about his experience and encourage others to make the lifestyle changes that they are...
2022-04-1321 min