Podcast appearances and mentions of terra verde

After an extended stretch of dry, record-warm weather, California is finally seeing cooler, wetter conditions—a rapid swing the state is increasingly facing. Image credit: NASA Worldview Snapshots. California is lurching between extremes—from record-breaking heat and low mountain snowpack to torrential atmospheric river events and catastrophic wildfire. In this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton speaks with climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain about the phenomenon of “hydroclimate whiplash” and what it reveals about the future of the American West. Dr. Swain unpacks how atmospheric dynamics are being amplified by climate change, what we learned from Los Angeles's devastating fires last year, and why rapidly shifting wet-to-dry cycles are challenging water management and disaster preparedness across the state. The conversation also explores what's at stake for American science as institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research face potential dismantling—and why California may have an opportunity to lead in rebuilding climate research capacity. You can follow Dr. Swain's work through his widely-read Weather West blog, where he offers real-time perspectives on California weather and climate, as well as on X, Bluesky, and YouTube. The post California's Climate Whiplash appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – February 6, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

As the world races to transition away from fossil fuels, demand for lithium and other “green” minerals is exploding—reshaping landscapes, supply chains, and geopolitics in the process. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Hannah Wilton speaks with political scientist and author Thea Riofrancos about the hidden costs and contested promises of the green energy boom. In her new book, Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism, Riofrancos examines how the push for renewable energy connects to the expansion of extractive frontiers, often at the expense of environmental justice communities, workers, and fragile ecosystems. From Chile's lithium-rich salt flats to the deserts of Nevada, her research investigates how national policies, corporate interests, and legacy mining laws determine where and how extraction occurs—and why addressing these dynamics is critical for a just energy transition. This conversation also explores how supply chains can become sites of solidarity and political transformation, linking frontline communities across borders, and why addressing the global extractive economy—not just greening consumption—is essential to a truly just energy transition. The post Green Energy's New Frontiers appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – January 23, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Old vs New: Robert F. Kennedy Jr's new red meat- and dairy-heavy food pyramid (right) versus an earlier iteration of the US Department of Agriculture's food pyramid. Images courtesy of USDA. On January 7, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced new dietary guidelines for Americans, which upend the food pyramid as we know it. The new pyramid emphasizes red meat and whole-fat dairy — both of which past guidelines have long recommended we limit because of their saturated fat content. Kennedy called the new guidelines the “most significant reset of nutrition policy in history.” But what kind of reset? Good? Bad? Confusing? In this episode of Terra Verde, Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with three experts in the field of nutrition, food policy, and advocacy — Anupama Joshi, vice president of programs at Center for Science in the Public Interest; Miguel Villarreal, interim co-executive director of the National Farm to School Network; and Anna Lappé, executive director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food and an internationally recognized expert on food systems — who break down the public health and environmental implications of the new guidelines. Here are some other sound dietary resources for listeners: Is Saturated Fat Good or Bad? The Uncompromised DGAs The Planetary Health Diet The post Dissecting RFK's Meat-Heavy Food Pyramid appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – January 9, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Young people will inherit a world in which fire is far more prevalent than it has been for generations before. Yet when it comes to fire management and policy, the most impacted stakeholders — including young people and Indigenous communities — have historically been excluded, with little representation to this day. In the face of increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, a broad coalition of young Indigenous fire practitioners, wildland firefighters, and researchers have come together to reshape the culture of decision-making surrounding fire. Guided by a vision for a future with “good fire,” their work centers Indigenous knowledge and young people in frontline and marginalized communities in order to shift policy; restore Indigenous land stewardship; and heal relationships between fire, land, and people. This week on Terra Verde, Ryan Reed, Ayuthea LaPier, and Kyle Trefny — co-founders of the FireGeneration Collaborative — join host Fiona McLeod to discuss how empowering Indigenous leadership and diverse young generations is critical for a fire resilient future.  This is Part Two of this series on fire resilience and stewardship. Listen to Part One at kpfa.org or on the Earth Island Journal podcast page. The post The Fire-Resilient Future (Part II) appeared first on KPFA.

Young people will inherit a world in which fire is far more prevalent than it has been for generations before. Yet when it comes to fire management and policy, the most impacted stakeholders — including young people and Indigenous communities — have historically been excluded, with little representation to this day. In the face of increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, a broad coalition of young Indigenous fire practitioners, wildland firefighters, and researchers have come together to reshape the culture of decision-making surrounding fire. Guided by a vision for a future with “good fire,” their work centers Indigenous knowledge and young people in frontline and marginalized communities in order to shift policy; restore Indigenous land stewardship; and heal relationships between fire, land, and people. This week on Terra Verde, Ryan Reed, Ayuthea LaPier, and Kyle Trefny — co-founders of the FireGeneration Collaborative — join host Fiona McLeod to discuss how empowering Indigenous leadership and diverse young generations is critical for a fire resilient future.  This is Part One of a two-part conversation. Tune in to Terra Verde again next week for Part Two. The post The Fire-Resilient Future (Part I) appeared first on KPFA.

Um dos vikings mais temidos da Idade Média foi Erik, o Vermelho.Famoso por seu temperamento explosivo, Erik cresceu em uma sociedade moldada pela violência. Afinal, na Europa medieval, os vikings eram chamados de “terror do norte”.⚔️ Foram eles que saquearam mosteiros na Inglaterra, atacaram cidades na França, navegaram pelos rios da Rússia, sitiaram Paris e chegaram até o norte da África, destruindo emirados na região da atual Tunísia e Marrocos.Em todo caso, os vikings não eram só invasores. Na verdade, a maioria deles nunca saiu de suas fazendas, vivendo como simples camponeses medievais durante toda a vida.

Across the U.S., there are well over a million contaminated brownfields and superfund sites such as abandoned factories, industrial facilities, and former gas stations where toxic materials have accumulated in the soil. Many of these sites sit polluted for decades because cleanup is expensive and still relies on excavating the soil, hauling it away, and dumping it somewhere else. California alone exports more than half a million tons of contaminated soil every year, much of it to hazardous waste landfills in other states. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Hannah Wilton speaks with environmental toxicologist and mycologist Dr. Danielle Stevenson about nature-based remediation as an alternative to costly “dig and dump” cleanup. Drawing from her research at three highly contaminated brownfields in Los Angeles, Stevenson describes how she works with fungi, plants, and microbes to pull heavy metals from soil, break down petrochemicals, and restore life to polluted sites. Stevenson also discusses her post-fire bioremediation research, where she is using “myco-wattles,” native plantings, and hyperlocal fungal inoculum to rebuild soils in landscapes scorched by the Palisades and Eaton fires. The post Can Fungi Help Heal the Earth? appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – November 28, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Popular for their water- and oil-resistant properties, PFAS are found in countless consumer products, including rain gear. Photo by Gabriel Almanzar. Popular for their water and grease resistance, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in countless everyday products, from cookware and cosmetics, to rain gear and cleaning supplies. They are sprayed on crops, added to food packaging, utilized in electronics, and much more. As a result, these substances — which have been linked to serious health impacts and have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment — are now widespread in our water, soil, and air. Several states have begun to take action on the issue. But the road to PFAS regulation has proven challenging, including in the Golden State. Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal managing editor Zoe Loftus-Farren speaks with Andria Ventura, legislative and policy director with Clean Water Action, and Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president for California with the Environmental Working Group, about ongoing efforts to reign in our use of these toxic substances California.   The post Tackling PFAS in California appeared first on KPFA.

Youth movements are at the forefront of the fight for a livable future. Around the world, young people are reimagining solutions to urgent environmental challenges and taking bold action to build a more sustainable and just world. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Fiona McLeod is joined by two young environmental leaders — Sophie Tipper and Lily YangLiu — to discuss their work advancing youth representation in environmental policy and decision-making. Lily YangLiu, a 17-year-old from British Columbia, leads initiatives to expand early climate education and increase youth participation in global governance spaces, including the United Nations and international financial institutions. Sophie Tipper, an 18-year-old from Colorado, helped draft and pass a state bill guaranteeing youth representation in environmental justice governance. Both recently received the 2025 Brower Youth Award in recognition of their environmental achievements. Together, they reflect on the power and necessity of youth leadership in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future. The post Youth Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Environmental Policy appeared first on KPFA.

Kire szavaztunk volna pusztán gazdasági alapon a new yorki polgármesterválasztáson, honnan lehet magabiztosságot szerezni, jó együttes volt-e az Omega, kevesebben cigiznének-e 15 ezres dobozár mellett, bűn-e egy pedofilnak AI generálta képeket nézegetni, a budaörsi Terra Verde logója igénytelen-e és ha az, ez utal-e az igénytelen pizzára is, Náray Tamásnak miért nem mondják meg, hogy középszerű, miért nem terjedt el hazánkban a konyhamalac, mi újság manapság Zeusszal, hogyan tud kiemelkedő teljesítményt nyújtani egy könyvtáros, csak a méhek csinálnak-e mézet, mit evett a ruhamoly az emberiség megjelenése előtt, mi értelme az erdő szélén a szemét lerakása tilos táblának, hová kérnénk repjegyet a szüleinktől karácsonyra?

On this week's Terra Verde episode, host Hannah Wilton speaks with Amy Bowers Cordalis about her new memoir, The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family's Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life. Amy shares stories from the Klamath River and the Yurok homelands, tracing her family's multigenerational struggle to protect the river, restore the salmon, and defend Indigenous sovereignty. From witnessing the largest fish kill in U.S. history in 2002, to watching the Klamath flow free again after the last dam came down in 2024, Amy reflects on the long arc of loss and healing, and how the river's restoration offers a model for environmental justice and reconciliation. Amy Bowers Cordalis is a member of the Yurok Tribe, an attorney, fisherwoman, and advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental restoration. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, leading efforts to protect tribal sovereignty, lands, and waters—including the historic Klamath Dam Removal project. Former general counsel for the Yurok Tribe and an attorney at the Native American Rights Fund, Amy has earned honors as a UN Champion of the Earth and Time 100 climate leader. The post A Story of Indigenous Resistance and Renewal from the Klamath River appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – October 31, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Islanda, 986 d.C. Arni è destinato a una vita da schiavo. Libertà e avventura sembrano sogni irrealizzabili nella sua condizione. Questa la trama del libro di narrativa inserito nella campagna di crowdfunding terminerà il giorno 19 Novembre 2025

It is widely recognized that climate change is the biggest global health threat that we face today. But one piece of information that gets relatively little attention is the question of: how does climate change affect our brains? Dr. Burcin Ikiz is a neuroscientist and global health advisor who studies exactly that. On this episode, she joins Terra Verde host Fiona McLeod to discuss how climate change and environmental factors like air pollution, extreme heat, and malnutrition affect neurological and mental health. Burcin Ikiz, PhD is the founder of EcoNeuro and the International Neuro Climate Working Group. She leads a network of over 250 researchers, physicians, and policymakers with the goal of expanding research on how climate change impacts neurological and mental health, and on translating these insights into tangible global health solutions. She is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and an Affiliate of the Center for Human and Planetary Health at Stanford University, where she contributes to transdisciplinary efforts linking neuroscience, mental well-being, and climate resilience to advance brain and planetary health. In 2025, Dr. Ikiz was named a Grist 50 Fixer alongside other climate and justice leaders building sustainable and hopeful futures. The post How Does Climate Change Affect Our Brains? appeared first on KPFA.

California's 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was designed to stabilize the state's groundwater resources, but its implementation has posed significant challenges, particularly for small-scale farmers. Many of these producers across the state face barriers to accessing technical support and taking part in decision-making processes under SGMA. While large agricultural operations can invest in efficient irrigation systems or purchase extra water, small-scale farmers stand to be hit the hardest by water caps and overuse fees. On this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton is joined by Catherine Van Dyke, Deputy Director of Water Policy at the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), and Ngodoo Atume, SGMA Small Farms Technical Assistance Coordinator with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Small Farms Network. They discuss how SGMA is playing out on the ground and share their insights on how policy actors can work together to ensure the state's most vulnerable farmers aren't left behind. The post Managing Groundwater: From Policy to Practice appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – October 10, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – October 3, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – September 26, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – September 19, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Photo by Bango Architecture and Design. In recent years, the movement to decarbonize the buildings where we live, work, and otherwise spend our time has picked up speed. It's no wonder. The climate crisis is escalating, and building operations account for a significant portion of our greenhouse gas emissions here in the United States, somewhere around 30 percent. Reducing these emissions could go a long way towards mitigating global climate change. It could also come with significant benefits for our health. Alongside the push to decarbonize is a growing movement to ensure that it is done equitably. Community advocates are drawing attention to the fact that, if not handled thoughtfully, the transition could leave lower-income residents behind. In an effort to prevent this, they are piloting projects to bring the benefits of decarbonization to underserved communities. In this episode of Terra Verde, Earth Island Journal managing editor and show cohost Zoe Loftus-Farren talks about equitable decarbonization in California's San Francisco Bay Area with Edith Pastrano, lead organizer for the Contra Costa office of ACCE Action, and Chris Selig, director of the Health Resilient Homes initiative at PODER.   The post Centering Equity in Home Decarbonization appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – September 5, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – August 29, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Our best hope for a new civilization is one that points a mirror to the sun to fuel our world, says climate activist Bill McKibben. Photo by Nancie Battaglia / 350.org. In his latest book, Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, veteran climate activist and author Bill McKibben makes a deeply-researched and passionate argument that the path out of our planetary crisis s lit by the sun. Additionally, he says, a massive, and rapid, pivot to solar power will come with some key co-benefits, including a chance to build a healthier and more just world. On this episode of Terra Verde, Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and show cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with McKibben about his new book, the opportunities for and roadblocks to the energy revolution that's underway, and why he believes that “if you don't put up a field of solar panels now the world will break.” Note: Check out McKibben's call for Sun Day celebrations on September 21 at sunday.earth.   The post To Avert Climate Chaos, Turn to the Sun appeared first on KPFA.

Scrap SF, pictured, diverts about 1,000 pounds of material a day from the waste stream. Photo by Benjamin Pender. Here in the United States, most of us have a lot of stuff. We have things that we use everyday, and keep using for years, and others that we use a few times and then outgrow. We have books and magazines we've read but don't want to discard, and junk drawers filled with trinkets that we don't want to throw out, but aren't quite sure what to do with. What we do with all this stuff can have real implications for the environment. As the guests on this episode of Terra Verde can speak to, it can also make a difference when it comes to community building, arts, education, and more. Terra Verde co-host Zoe Loftus-Farren digs into the reuse economy with Lela Means, co-founder of Strange Exchange SF, which aims to extend the life of small household items, and Danielle Grant, programs director at Scrap SF, a nonprofit working at the intersection of art, the environment, and education. The post Giving New Life to Old Stuff appeared first on KPFA.

In what advocates call the most significant rollback in decades, California has enacted sweeping changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a landmark environmental law that has shaped land-use decisions since 1970. These changes came as part of the 2025 state budget deal, with Governor Newsom signing state budget bills into law that exempt a wide range of developments from critical environmental review. This week on Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton is joined by Raquel Mason, Senior Legislative Manager at the California Environmental Justice Alliance, and Asha Sharma, State Policy Manager at Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. Together, they unpack what CEQA is, how the new rollbacks were pushed through, and why these changes pose serious threats to environmental justice communities. This conversation explores how framing CEQA as a “barrier to progress” overlooks the law's vital protections for public health, transparency, and climate justice—and why advocates warn that California is veering toward dangerous deregulation just as federal safeguards are also under threat. The post California Rolls Back Landmark Environmental Law appeared first on KPFA.

Protestors at the Stand up for Science march in Washington DC, in March 2025. Photo by Geoff Livingston. Researchers at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recently released a report documenting more than 400 attacks on science by the Trump administration in the first six months since his inauguration. Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and Terra Verde cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with two of the four coauthors of the report — Darya Minovi and Kristie Ellickson of UCS' Center for Science and Democracy — about the insidious ways in which this administration is silencing the work and voices of scientists, and the implication of these attacks on the environment, public health, and our democracy. The post Silencing Science appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – July 25, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – July 18, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

The Palisades and Eaton fires scorched more than 40,000 acres and destroyed at least 12,000 buildings, sending remnants of household appliances, batteries, flame retardant, debris and other chemicals into coastal waters. Scientists and advocates are racing to assess not only the immediate contamination and public safety risks but also the long-term ecological consequences that threaten biodiversity, fragile habitats, and the marine food chain. On this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton speaks with Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay, and marine ecologist Dr. Zoë Kitchel about the challenges of post-fire water monitoring, the gaps in federal and state response, and the early warning signs of ecological disruption unfolding offshore. They unpack what we're learning from this disaster—and what needs to change to better protect our oceans in the future. The post After the Fires, Under the Waves appeared first on KPFA.

Berkeley is home to a number of innovative recycling and zero-waste programs that aim to divert waste from landfills. The city's Recycling Team works with residents, restaurants, schools, hospitals and more, to provide education and support businesses to comply with local, state, and national mandates.  Host and producer Fiona McLeod speaks with two members of Berkeley's recycling team on this episode of Terra Verde. Julia Heath and Bella Bertaud join the show to discuss how the city is working with local businesses and residents to implement its Zero Waste Strategic Plan, and the role we can play as individuals in reducing landfill waste and living more sustainably. The post Berkeley's Path to Zero Waste appeared first on KPFA.

Photo by Chris Yarzab. We are just entering summer and already some parts of the country are under heat advisories. The first heat wave of the season started last Friday, literally, on the first official day of summer and has been impacting about 128 million Americans from Louisiana to Maine. The US West, including California, hasn't been impacted by this particular heatwave. But it's only a matter of time. In fact, what you might not know is, extreme heat is now the leading climate-related health hazard in California. It claims more lives annually than any other climate threat. To understand what this growing climate threat means, who is at most risk, and to learn about some actions we can take to protect ourselves, Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and Terra Verde cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with Bibiana Martinez, a public health researcher with Heluna Health, a California-based public health research organization that works to improve health equity, and Walker Wieland, manager of the California's new CalHeatScore program, a pilot project that ranks risk from extreme heat by ZIP code and seeks to protect vulnerable populations from heatwaves. Resources: Use the CalHeatScore tool to check out heat conditions in your region and also join the program's listserv to get notices of upcoming webinars and workshops on the issue. Read this Heluna post to lear learn more about staying safe in the heat and identifying signs of heat illness.       The post Coping with Extreme Heat appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – June 20, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Chuckwalla Box Canyon in the Chuckwalla National Monument, one of six monuments the Interior Department is considering shrinking. Photo by Bob Wick / Bureau of Land Management. Last year, an estimated 330 million people visited our national parks here in the United States. Tens of millions more visited national wildlife refuges, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands, connecting with our wild places, our shared history, and the wildlife these lands protect. Despite broad public engagement with our protected places, public lands have been in the Trump Administration's crosshairs since Day 1 of his second term. The administration has announced far-reaching layoffs at the federal agencies that manage our public lands. It has proposed massive budget cuts to the National Park Service. It has taken action to open protected places to increased drilling, mining, and logging, and has embraced the idea of outright selling public lands. Luke Basulto, the Ruth Hammett California Desert Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, and Josh Hicks, Conservation Campaigns Director for The Wilderness Society, join Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal managing editor Zoe Loftus-Farren to discuss the state of our public lands amid this onslaught. The post Trump's Public Lands Grab appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – June 6, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – May 30, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Water for Life tells the story of three Indigenous activists in Central and South America, who have fought to protect their communities' water rights and ancestral lands from mining, hydroelectric projects, and large scale agriculture. The three individuals profiled in the film are Berta Cáceres, a leader of the Lenca people in Honduras; Francisco Pineda, a subsistence farmer in El Salvador; and Alberto Curamil, an Indigenous Mapuche leader in Chile — all of whom were previous recipients of the Goldman Environmental Prize.  The 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony took place this week on Monday, April 21 in San Francisco, California. On this episode of Terra Verde, filmmakers Will Parrinello and María José Calderón join host Fiona McLeod to discuss the stories shared in the film, which is airing on PBS this month after 12 years of production.   Featured Image Photo Credit: Courtesy of Goldman Environmental Prize The post ‘Water for Life' brings Indigenous water issues to the big screen  appeared first on KPFA.

The Palisades Fire that started in the City of Los Angelas, January 2025. Photo courtesy of Cal FIRE. California is being hit with increasingly frequent, climate change-turbocharged wildfires and much of the disaster-recovery costs are being passed on to taxpayers and ratepayers in the form of higher, and increasingly unaffordable, insurance rates, housing costs, property taxes, utility bills, and health expenses. Some lawmakers, backed by environmental and citizen rights groups, aim to change that. Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and Terra Verde cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks about ongoing legislative efforts to make the main drivers of climate disruption — fossil fuel companies and other corporate polluters — pay up with Maya Golden-Krasner, deputy director of the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute, and Sierra Lindsey Kos, co-founder and co-executive director of Extreme Weather Survivors, a climate disaster survivor support group. You can lend your support for the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act here.   The post Making Climate Polluters Pay appeared first on KPFA.

The 2016-2017 Standing Rock protests aimed to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photo by Lucas Zhao / Oceti Sakowin Camp.​ In March, a North Dakota jury found against Greenpeace in a highly watched trial, ordering the environmental group to pay pipeline company Energy Transfer more than $660 million in damages. The case stems from the Standing Rock protests in 2016 and 2017, an Indigenous led movement to stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.  Energy Transfer alleges that Greenpeace defamed the company and orchestrated criminal behavior at the protests. Greenpeace denies these claims, describing the suit as an attack on First Amendment rights. Many experts agree that the case could have a chilling effect on public protest. Longtime environmental attorney and human rights advocate Steven Donziger, who has himself been the target of fossil fuel industry-led litigation, was part of an independent monitoring committee for the trial. He joins Earth Island Journal managing editor and Terra Verde host Zoe Loftus-Farren to discuss what he saw at the trial, his own experience with Big Oil, and what the industry's weaponization of the court system means for the future of free speech and environmental advocacy. The post Energy Transfer v. Greenpeace and the Right to Free Speech appeared first on KPFA.

Grizzly bears once roamed California in large numbers, with populations reaching up to 10,000 before they were driven to extinction by human activity in the early 20th century. Now, over a century later, efforts are underway to reintroduce grizzlies to the state. Building on decades of research and advocacy, the California Grizzly Alliance is set to release a groundbreaking feasibility study this spring that explores the potential for grizzly recovery in California. In this episode of Terra Verde, Hannah Wilton is joined by Peter Alagona, a professor at UC Santa Barbara and lead scientist for the California Grizzly Alliance, to dive into the details of the study. They discuss the history of grizzlies in California, opportunities and strategies for their reintroduction, and what this effort could mean for our collective social and ecological healing. The post Bringing Back the Grizzly appeared first on KPFA.

Not only is the fashion industry is the world's second biggest polluter after the fossil fuel industry, but many of the textiles we surround ourselves with (in our clothing, bedding, and home upholstery) are also made of petroleum-based products and/or contain PFAS—or “forever-chemicals”—which pose an enormous threat to our health and the environment.  On this episode of Terra Verde, host Fiona McLeod speaks with Patty Grossman, co-founder and CEO of Two Sisters Ecotextiles, and Smita Paul, founder of Indigo Handloom—both of whom are leaders in the movement for safer, more ethical and environmentally-friendly fabrics. They discuss the broader consequences of fast fashion, the hidden costs of what we wear, and what solutions exist for a healthier, more sustainable textile and clothing industry. The post The Toxic Truth About Our Clothing appeared first on KPFA.

Of the estimated 10,000 chemicals used in beauty products, the US federal government has banned or otherwise restricted only 11. Photo by Jaime Street. The average adult in the United States uses somewhere around 12 personal care products a day, with women typically using more than men. Those products can expose us to more than a hundred chemicals on a daily basis, some of which come with serious health risks. These risks are not borne equally. Black women in particular bear a disproportionate burden when it comes to chemical exposure through cosmetics and other personal care products, a burden that has been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, among other things. Yet the industry remains woefully unregulated. Of the estimated 10,000 chemicals used in beauty products, the federal government here in the US has banned or otherwise restricted only 11. Dedicated advocates are trying to change this. And in the meantime, they are offering guidance for those looking to reduce their exposure on their own. Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal Managing Editor Zoe Loftus-Farren talks with Arnedra Jordan, a project manager with Black Women For Wellness who leads their Beauty Justice Campaign, and Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group who recently co-authored a report digging into the disparate impact of hazardous cosmetics chemicals, about their work for beauty justice. The post Beauty, Wellness, and Environmental Injustice appeared first on KPFA.

Protestors at the 2017 March for Science in San Francisco. Photo by Tom Hilton. Environmentalists and civil rights activists are strategizing and pushing back against the Trump administration's moves to dismantle our democracy, but a lot of this work is not yet visible to all and we are left with the sense that, so far, resistance to Trump 2.0 has been rather lack-luster. But has it, really? To delve further into this question Earth Island Journal editor-in-chief and Terra Verde cohost Maureen Nandini Mitra talks with Dana R. Fisher, the Director of the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity and Professor in the School of International Service, who has been analyzing data collecting data from activists engaging in protests around climate change, systemic racism, and the American resistance. Among other things, Fisher's research has uncovered that a growing number of left-leaning Americans now believe political violence may be necessary to save our democracy. Note: Dana is the author of several books, most recently Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action. KPFA listeners can get a 20% discount on the book at the linked website by using the code CUP20.  The post Resistance 2.0 in Trump 2.0 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – February 28, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – February 14, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

A weekly public affairs show that delivers news and views about the most important environmental issues in California and globally. The post Terra Verde – February 7, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

California's growing wildfire crisis has impacted nearly every corner of the state in recent years, and this month we've witnessed a series of deadly, destructive, and unprecedented January wildfires in southern California. Governor Gavin Newsom created the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force in 2021 to introduce a more holistic, integrated approach toward effective forest management. The Task Force is a collaborative effort that unites federal, state, local, and tribal organizations to better manage forests, protect communities, and adapt to California's fire-prone reality. On this episode of Terra Verde, host Fiona McLeod speaks with Patrick Wright, Director of the Task Force, to discuss their progress, challenges, and how we can all play a part in building a safer, more fire-resilient future in California.  The post Confronting California's Wildfire Crisis appeared first on KPFA.