Topic: Environment

[ Episode #93 // Climate Agreements ]

After years of mediocre negotiations on an international agreement to limit future climate change, it is easy to be cynical about the viability of a global strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What do these large conferences really mean for the future of the planet? Our correspondent reports back from the December 2015 COP21 meeting in Paris to discuss the context and the content of large-scale climate negotiations.

In Extraenvironmentalist #93 we speak with Mark Dixon to discuss his take on the COP21 Paris climate conference. We hear interviews Mark recorded at the meeting, including one with climate scientist Kevin Anderson on the problem with ambitious projections of carbon capture technology. We also discuss Mark's conversations with the attendees who voiced their perspectives on the future of the planet's climate.

 

//Additional Links

Carbon Capture in Pathways to 1.5˚?

//Clips (in order of appearance)

What is COP21?
President Obama Addresses Climate Change at COP21
Climate deal in Paris: everything you need to know

// Music (in order of appearance)

St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Midnight on the Earth via IndieShuffle
Saint Motel - Move via Paste
Coast Modern - The Way it Was via Pigeons and Planes

// Production Credits and Notes

Our editor Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel
Cover photo via Mark Dixon's Flickr

Episode #93 was supported by donations from the following generous listeners:

Stacey in Utah
Jason in British Columbia
Christian in Massachusetts
Lorenzo in California

(more…)

[ Episode #83 // Degrowth 2014 // Part B ]

The degrowth movement seeks to decolonize a cultural imaginary that is currently directed to expand the scale and scope of a materially extractive economy. Through adopting strategies like voluntary simplicity and convivial activities, degrowth advocates aim to create an economic system that is compatible with the biosphere. Are the ideas and concepts of degrowth ready for a wider debate?

In Extraenvironmentalist #83 we publish a much belated podcast to wrap-up our two part series on the 2014 International Degrowth Conference where The Extraenvironmentalist team was livestreaming and recording sessions. We first hear from post-growth researcher André Reichel about whether solutions for climate change are cheap and easy. Then, we speak with three of the Degrowth 2014 organizers, Christopher Laumanns, Jonas Streicher and Malo Vidal about the state of the conversation on growth in Germany. Next, we hear a recap from our chief blog editor and EU correspondent Louisa Clarence-Smith as she interviews Federico Demaria about how he balances academic work on degrowth with living those concepts on an organic olive oil cooperative. To close out 2015 for the XE podcast, Seth and Justin discuss views on whether the Global North should degrow so the Global South can grow, as highlighted by the viewpoints of Sunita Narain and Giorgos Kallis.

 

// Links and News Items

Paul Krugman: Could fighting global warming be cheap and free
Paul Krugman on whether energy is a limit to growth
New Climate Economy Report

// Books

Degrowth: A Vocabulary for a New Era by by Giacomo D'Alisa, Federico Demaria & Giorgios Kallis

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)

[Breaks]

Conversations with degrowth conference attendees as recorded by Louisa Clarence-Smith

[End]

Nate Hagens on Degrowth vs. Limits to Growth?

// Music (in order of appearance)

Caribou - Back Home (umami edit)
The Avener - Fade Out Lines (Synapson Remix)
Indiana - Only The Lonely (Fred Falke Remix)
Ed Sheeran - I See Fire (Kalev Remix)
Son Little - The River (DGTO Remix)

// Production Credits and Notes

Our correspondent and editor Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel

Episode #83 was supported by donations from the following generous listeners:

Ian in Australia
Dave in British Columbia
Joseph in Missouri
Linda from Canada

(more…)

[ Episode #82 // Degrowth 2014 // Part A ]

The degrowth movement seeks to redefine a cultural imagination focused on expanding the scale and scope of a materially extractive economy. Through adopting strategies like voluntary simplicity and convivial activities, degrowth advocates aim to create an economic system that is compatible with the biosphere. Are the ideas and concepts of degrowth ready for a wider debate?

In Extraenvironmentalist #82 we look at Part A of a two part series on the 2014 International Degrowth Conference where The Extraenvironmentalist team was livestreaming and recording sessions. We first hear from Hartmut Rosa on ideas for subverting the motivations in our own lives which replicate the logic of unsustainable growth. Then, we talk to Geoff Garver, one of the lead organizers of the 2012 Montreal Degrowth conference, about the ideas of degrowth and the general assemblies that worked on moving the developing the concept further.

// Links and News Items

Grist.org article on Degrowth
Transcript of interview with Gail Tverberg by Nathan
Paul Krugman on climate change and degrowth

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)

[Break] - 31m

What is Degrowth? for Grist.org edited by Sam Bliss

[End]

Naomi Klein @ the Degrowth 2014 Opening Session

// Music (in order of appearance)

Cloud Castle Lake - Sync
Pablo Paolo Kilian
Susie Suh x Robot Koch - Here With (Bearson Remix) via IndieShuffle
Carole King - I Feel The Earth Move (Senior Citizens Remix)

// Production Credits and Notes

Our correspondent and editor Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel

Thomas Victor for the photograph used as the cover image on this episode

Sam Bliss
for the edited break made from our videos at the 2014 Degrowth Conference

Episode #82 was supported by donations from the following generous listeners:

Gordon in British Columbia
Jay in Maryland
Dana from the noosphere
Carla in Quebec
David in Michigan

(more…)