Climate Optimists

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Concerned about climate change, but short on time and not sure where to start? We get it. That’s why we created Climate Optimists. Our goal is simple. Provide everyday citizens who are concerned about climate change with opportunities to make a difference. So come along with us on our journey, as we explore the solutions to climate change and how together, we can make them a reality.

Jason Lewis & Todd Tschida


    • Oct 10, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 96 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Climate Optimists

    Why this year's election matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 34:11


    Tiernan Sittenfeld from the League of Conservation Voters joins us to talk about the upcoming election and why it's critical to the future of our climate

    More with Less - The Future of EVs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 35:23


    Listen in as we examine the how EV efficiency is forecast to improve and what it could mean for EV owners and the grid with Geoff Blanford, energy modeling expert at EPRI

    Tapping the Sun

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 38:29


    Bill Eddie from One Energy Renewables joins us to discuss the outlook for solar energy including recent progress, current challenges and how each of us can help support it.

    Circular is Better Than Linear

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 41:05


    Join us as we talk with Marijana Novak & Matthew Fraser from Circle Economy about the value of a circular model and what it's going to take to make the transition.

    circular linear circle economy
    Invasives in a Changing Climate

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 42:22


    This week invasive species expert Tao Orion educates us on how climate change is forecast to impact the spread of invasives and the tools we have available to respond.

    UN Climate Process - Challenges & Opportunities

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 39:14


    Joe Robertson from Citizens Climate International talks with us about the UN climate process including its achievements, fossil fuel influence and potential improvements.

    There's no place like home

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 35:56


    Climate impacts are forcing many to leave their homes. This week we talk about climate displacement & how to minimize it with climate adaptation expert, Chris Fields.

    Clean your plate or no dessert!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 32:53


    Join us this week as we talk to Anne-Marie Bonneau, a zero-waste chef, about food waste and its climate impacts from production to consumption.

    plate dessert anne marie bonneau
    Decarbonizing the Built Environment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 42:29


    Join us as we talk to architect Jon Penndorf about the carbon footprint of buildings and what's needed to drive down their emissions in both new and existing structures.

    The Year Ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2024 20:42


    With 2024 in full swing, we take a look at where things stand with climate change, what more needs to be done, and what types of climate resolutions really matter.

    Drying Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 39:29


    Climate change is making drought more frequent & severe, but it's not all bad news. Tune in as we explore the challenges & potential solutions with Michele Thieme of WWF.

    Cricket, its what's for dinner!?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 33:40


    As a protein source, livestock has a huge resource & carbon footprint. Listen in as we explore the promise of insect protein with Mighty Cricket founder, Sarah Schlafly.

    What about Fast Fashion?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 44:13


    Join us as we talk with fashion industry expert Kate Fletcher about the climate and related environmental impacts of fast fashion and what can be done to reverse course.

    Choosing our Wildfire

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2023 43:09


    Wildfire is a natural part of certain forest ecosystems, but climate change is supercharging it. We talk with wildfire expert Matt Hurteau about ways to respond.

    The Plastics Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 42:10


    Plastics are not just a massive source of pollution but have a significant climate impact. We dive into the problem & solutions with bio-plastics expert Raegan Kelly.

    Fossil Fuel Obstruction

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 34:57


    Big oil has been obstructing climate action for decades. We talk with Kathy Mulvey from the Union of Concerned Scientists about their tactics and how we're fighting back.

    Travel's Climate Baggage

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2023 42:28


    We talk with Jeremy Sampson of the Travel Foundation about the climate impacts of tourism and potential solutions including ways to be a more climate friendly traveler.

    Learning to Adapt

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 43:27


    The team is rejoined by climate scientist Dr. Lisa Schipper to discuss the importance of climate adaptation, its limitations and the keys to doing it well.

    Offsets - Dangerous Diversion or Essential Tool

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 39:28


    Jenny Morgan from Tradewater joins us to break down carbon offsets. Listen in as we explore how they work, their history, and their future in the climate space.

    EV Curious?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 29:38


    Join us as we explore the latest on EVs, debunk some popular myths, and talk about some of the other opportunities of moving beyond the internal combustion engine.

    O Canada

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 40:39


    Climate scientist Simon Donner talks with us about climate change's impact on our friends to the North, what they're doing to cut emissions & what more needs to be done.

    Breaking clean energy gridlocks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 42:03


    Jason Burwen, vice president of policy and strategy at Gridstor, joins us to share his perspective on the challenges facing us as we race toward a carbon free grid.

    Protecting the Vulnerable in a Changing Climate

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 33:56


    Environmental activist Leah Thomas joins us as we discuss the inequities of climate change, what can be done to address them, and where we're seeing progress.

    Going Green or Greenwashing?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 36:55


    What's sustainability? How does it relate to climate? How can you tell if a product's green? We tackle those questions & more with sustainability expert Kate Gaertner.

    Hope for the Amazon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 30:39


    The Amazon is under threat with implications for the climate, biodiversity, and beyond. We talk with Meg Symington from World Wildlife Fund about efforts to save it.

    Unlocking your Climate Superpower

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023 34:45


    Join us as we talk with Flannery Winchester of Citizens Climate Lobby about the power each of us has to drive the government response we need to solve climate change.

    From Gray to Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 33:00


    While electric cars & solar panels might be sexier, decarbonizing concrete is equally important to a livable climate. Tune in as industry expert Chris Bataille explains.

    Should we be Flying?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 41:54


    Join us as climate journalist Jocelyn Timperley educates us on aviation's climate impact, what airlines are doing, the challenges ahead, and how each of us can help.

    Perspectives on Climate and Congress

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 35:22


    We sit down with Representative Earl Blumenauer to discuss the FOREST Act, making climate progress with divided government, and the value of individual activism.

    Panic over Population Decline

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2023 42:48


    Despite mainstream media coverage of China's population peak, a declining population can have real benefits. Join us as Hannah Evans from Population Connection explains.

    china panic population decline population connection
    Closing the Gap

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 39:14


    The IRA is great, but the U.S. will need additional measures to meet its climate targets. Tune in as we talk with Dr. Jonathan Foley of Project Drawdown about ways to close the gap.

    The Power of Outdoor Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 39:55


    Join us as Taylor Luneau from the American Alpine Club talks about their journey to climate advocacy, the work they're doing, and why personal action alone isn't enough.

    What about Biodiversity Loss?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2023 45:58


    What's behind the biodiversity loss crisis? How bad is it? How does it relate to climate change? We explore these questions and more with Dr. Rebecca Shaw of the WWF.

    Housing as a Climate Solution?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 40:56


    What if we could make urban communities more livable, affordable & part of the climate solution? Join us as we discuss the prospect with architect Vishaan Chakrabarti.

    Weeding out Food's Emissions

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 30:25


    Our food system is ripe with opportunities to weed out carbon emissions. Join us as we explore solutions for decarbonizing agriculture while making it more sustainable.

    All Aboard for High-Speed Rail

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 37:14


    We talk with Rick Harnish from the High-Speed Rail Alliance about the benefits of high-speed rail for our climate, our cities and what's needed for the U.S. to catch up.

    Meteorologists - Trusted Climate Messengers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 37:35


    Join us as meteorologist and author Mike Nelson talks about the links between climate and weather, meteorologist's role as science communicators and his reasons for optimism.

    Why We Should All Care About Methane

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022 37:06


    Methane emissions may not be the sexiest topic, but how well we address them has huge implications for the climate. Rachel Cleetus, policy director for UCS, explains.

    The Midterms and Implications for the Climate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 26:50


    With U.S. midterm elections less than a month away, we look at the potential implications for the climate and how each of us can help elect a climate friendly majority.

    What's the Deal with Hydrogen?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 37:19


    Energy and climate policy expert Dr. Chris Bataille joins us to explain why hydrogen is a powerful tool in our quest to decarbonize and what's behind all the colors.

    Oceans - The Climate X Factor

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 40:11


    We talk with Johan Bergenas from WWF about our ocean's climate vulnerabilities, its strengths as a solution and why the stakes of our climate response couldn't be higher.

    Local Actions Matter Too

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 39:22


    Climate scientist and IPCC author Sarah Burch explains the value of community level action in helping us achieve a more sustainable, just and carbon-free society.

    Spending Green to Go Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 37:34


    Whether we succeed in hitting global climate targets could all come down to the flow of money. Join us as Dimitry Gershenson of Enduring Planet explains.

    spending go green enduring planet
    The Power of Trees

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2022 37:31


    Our forests can be a powerful ally in our fight against climate change. Kerry Cesareo from the WWF educates us on what's needed to realize their full potential.

    U.S. Climate Action - Better Late than Never

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2022 28:55


    34 years after the first Senate hearing on climate change, Congress has finally taken real action. Come along as we dig into the details as well as what work remains.

    Eight Billion of Us?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 38:44


    We sit down with Hannah Evans from Population Connection to talk about overpopulation, climate change, why they're rarely discussed together and why that needs to change.

    billion population connection
    A Short - Toyota's Dirty Secret

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 15:53


    Although the Prius has enabled Toyota to brand itself as pro-environment, it's efforts behind the scenes have made it a global leader in obstructing climate action.

    Plan B - Declaring a Climate Emergency

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 11:06


    While pressure is mounting for Biden to declare climate change a national emergency, what would it actually mean and is it a viable plan b? We set out to find answers.

    Climate Adaptation - A Beginner's Guide

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 33:20


    Listen in as climate scientist Lisa Schipper breaks down the complex topic of climate adaptation including what it is, why it matters and the keys to getting it right.

    Meat 2.0 - Plant-based Proteins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 31:54


    Listen in as Chris Dennett from Tofurky educates us on the benefits of meat alternatives, the exciting growth underway, and what's needed to unlock their full potential.

    E-bikes - Changing How We Move

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 34:13


    Eric Bjorling from Trek Bicycle joins us to explain the rapid growth in e-bikes, their promise as a climate solution and why we should all be riding one.

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